Take care of your lighter

[The Saint]

This is Flea's domain, he is the main man to listnen to, if you want to, take care of your lighter or modify it.
All questions about that can be asked here, tips are welcome too.

[bigbaddad]

Heres a tip most never think to do.Most have had a cam spring go on them and it is a real pain in the ass .My advise is don't let it happen.It not a big deal to prevent.All the soot that builds up in a chimney can reek havoc on the spring steel.Easy way to prevent it is to clean the insert once a year or so.I have been using the same few lighters for almost 30 years and have never had a cam spring go on one of my every day lighters.Just an idea but it will make a big difference.Jeff aka bigbaddad

[phdmatt2002]

booty and mr twistyneck (paid by zippo, in the ZT days) would clean their lighter every day to keep it in top shape, that might be overkill for everybody eles but i say about everytime you use up a flint pack, clean your lighter.

most common problems like failing to light can be corrected by cleaning, it preforms just like a new lighter

[Spanish Flea]

I would have to disagree.............Though i do agree in keeping your zippo clean....

I've bought early '50's zippos that looked like they were caked in mud, grime, sweat, tears, poop, god know's what else. And who knows how long it was like that, and the cams work just fine.

I would have to say, and this goes as #1 on my list.... Keep zippos away from moisture. Moisture will kill the Cam Spring.

Cleaning every day......... overkill
If you are a smoker........ at least once a year.
If you are a tricker.......... at least once a year. If not more.

Spanish Flea

[oldno7]

I clean when i think its dirty enough
but when i buy a lighter for daily use i always take out the insert and use my old insert so i have a few lighters i use but only one insert

Alain

[Blue]

That's the same thing I do Alain. I also collect some for my daughter (4), and instead of inserts, I've been putting in ZipLights (thanks Spanish Flea), so I have a bunch of extra inserts for recycling into different Zippos.

[freddythefox]

ive only ever had to replace a couple of hinge pins from poorly kept zippos ive picked up,i do work a lot with machinery ,while cleaning and maintenance are good too much can sometimes be a bad thing.more wear can be caused and parts not ready pack will do,especially for the more inquisitive among st us.

[arthurdent]

interesting...now I've had a daily user since about '92 and it's never been cleaned. The chimney is black and the wick looks ratty yet it all works quite fine.

[bigbaddad]

Might just be many of us light up much more then we should so our lighters need to be cleaned once in a while.I know I have to pull up wicks much more now then I used to.I don't know if its because the wicks are not as good or if its because I just smoke to damn much.Jeff aka bigbaddad

[The Saint]

I like my every day heavy damaged looking insert bu I also have to clean that from time to time

[freddythefox]

to be honest i cant ever remember cleaning an insert in a lighter ive been using,the display ones are captains rounds stardards though.by your beds.

[Spanish Flea]

asianpowergamer said:

Is it true that if you clean your lighter, it'll work better? That's what I heard from many people.

Depends on how dirty it is. But as long as your getting spark and the wick is clean (i.e. not caked in mud), it should work every time,

I've got zippos that look like they were stored up a donkeys butt. and they still work.

Spanish Flea

[The Saint]

mud is not a big problem, candle wax is

[Spanish Flea]

admin said:

mud is not a big problem, candle wax is

Well that's what the Paruvian Clams are for.

Spanish Flea

[The Saint]

shit I didn't want to bring them up