Zippo Lighter Reviews?

Anyone ever seen a review of a Zippo here or anywhere else? Something along the lines of how it performs (if at all) after being submerged in water and how many lights you get out of a standard-sized Zippo with a full tank of gas as well as other similar criteria. I have seen lots of equipment reviews both here and other places but none on a Zippo. Considering the the popularity of Zippos and how long they have been around, I imagine the reviews are out there but I'm just not finding them. I only own one good quality Zippo. I used to own many but gave all but my favorite one away a couple years ago when I quit smoking. I really don't want to beat up my one and only (and favorite) Zippo to test this stuff myself when I presume many people have already done this before me.

Mr. Brian-

While I have no comprehensive review to offer, I will say that my mini Zippo has performed flawlessly backpacking, rock climbing, lighting the occasional cigar, and for all other uses I've had for it. Just today, driving down I-459 to pick up our take-out dinner, with the driver's and rear sliding glass windows open in my Frontier, I lit my Zippo as a test. It burned well for 30 seconds (a little more than half a mile @ 80 MPH). I don't know what other lighters everyone uses, but I'll take my Zippo any day. I've heard reports of mountaineers using them @ 14K + where fancy Bruntons and the like failed. I do keep a few WP-WP matches and strikers in my wallet, EDC, and truck kit, but my Zippo is my main fire source in time of need. I refill once a week, BTW.

Hope this helps.

Never had a problem with a Zippo, they just work! As for number of lights on a fill up, about a week for a pack-a-day smoker. A flint lasts about a month at that rate, maybe longer. As for waterproof, if you submerge it for long, it will not work, the water will get into the packing and soak it enough that the fuel is useless. I carry a Scripto butane for stove and fire lighting. Strike anywhere matches in an old, old matchsafe and a Swedish Firesteel. Never failed to have a fire, if I needed one. One way or another! As for the butane at altitude, used it to light a stove at over 14,000 ft, worked fine. Cold can be a problem, but if it is in your pocket, it stays warm enough. The beauty of the butane, if it gets wet, let it dry and it will work again. Cheers!

I'm a dedicated Zippo user. I've got three right now. I've never gotten one wet enough to kill it. I go a week on a fill at two packs a day, a month os so on a flint. The only think I've ever had go really wrong was to mangle one enough that I had to put the top in a vise to get the sleave off it. That one went back to the factory, and came back better than new -- for free. All they asked was for me to tell them how it happened.

In searching for some performance data (found nothing indepth), ran across this interesting Zippo-trivia on Zippo.com:

-Over 400 million sold since invented in 1932.
-Highest price paid for a Zippo...$18,000...a 1933 model.

Not really much statisically, but to add to the anecdotal data, here ya go:

Grandad always used Zippos. He smoked every day, so for him it was not any extra effort to remember to recharge the lighter once a week. When he bought cigarettes, he would be sure to buy his lighter fluid or his flints if he needed any. There were a couple times he'd gotten it wet and the flint wouldn't strike a spark for a bit. As for me, I don't smoke anymore, and so sometimes I remember to resupply the zippo, sometimes I forget. Since I don't use it much ( I have a refillable butane lighter that gets the most use), it consequently isn't always usable for me. If I am mission oriented, then the lighter, like all my other gear, is ready to use at any time.

I've had a few cold weather failures with Zippos, but that was due to my fingers being too frozen to crank the striker. Eventually I got it to light, but it was a lot. I doubt I could've done much better with other conventional ignition systems either.

Somewhere in the Zippo museum is one of mine...stopped a grenade fragment from poking a hole in my leg. Sent it to Zippo, told 'em what happened, and they asked if they could keep it <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> They sent me a new one.

That definately qualifies as something a plastic butane lighter could never do. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I had my stainless steal Zippo for a couple months before it was stolen with the rest of my gear. It never failed me while I had it. I never got it soaked but I got wet and it was safe in my pocket.
<img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> How does the fuel evaporate? Does it seep out from the sides or just the chimney? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I imagine the fuel vaporizes thru the wick. The wick is obviously "charged" with fluid (or vapors) when you hit the striker wheel so it stands to reason that the "wet" wick is evaporating when not in use.

I wonder if different brands of fuel have different evaporation speeds. I use Ronsonol mainly because that's all that Wally World sells in my neck of the woods. I have seen Zippo brand and Red Devil brand. There are probably others. Anyone with an opinion on this? I tried Coleman lantern fuel once and it didn't work so well. Must have had a different flash point than lighter fluid.

TIP: One drop of lighter fluid on a tick will dispatch him to that great parasite heaven in the sky. Definitely not recommended for more private parts of your anatomy unless you want to get shot down over Hong Kong on the first orbit! <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Yes it is true what you said about the tick but such fluid make a tick "throw up" right before it dies. What that means is that all the nasty stuff with half digested stuff inculding toxins end up in your body. Not a recomended way of removing a tick.

Well, actually Matt, when I started the post, I was thinking of the occasional tick I find crawling on the long hairs of my old tomcat. When I pick them off, rather than squish, flush or whatever, I just deposit them on the counter and administer the death penalty with a drop of lighter fluid. Having watched many writhe and squirm in the puddle of fluid, I have yet to see one throw up! But then, I guess I would need a microscope to witness this. So, being unable to dispute that they do in fact throw up, I will defer to your professional judgement and withdraw my suggestion that imbedded ticks be dispatched with lighter fluid. Thanks for your input. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Boone

Oddly enough, Zippo brand fuel is the best, and at no premium, generally. Smoke shops carry it, as they do Zippo flints, which are also better -- 1 strike VS. 2 on a cold lighter.

If I sound like an afficianado, I am. I think that it was general Guderian that was criticized for smoking during WWII. His response was that tobacco had been friend, fuel, and fire to him when no man was.

I'll try to find a tobacco store and get some Zippo fluid. As I remember, it comes in a considerably larger container than the Ronsonol (8 oz.). As I have stated in more than one post, some flints get old and actually disintegrate into powder. I have some old butane lighters and the wheel just spins freely in flint dust. All is not lost though because you can hold the thumb lever down and light the lighter with another spark source. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Boone

I have carried a Zippo for a number of years and have tried three different fuels and several different types of flints. I started out with the Zippo brand fuel then went to the Zippo Premium both of which I found took several goes at the flint to light unless the lighter was already warmed up. I also tried the Ronsonol fuel available at Wally World once when I was out of fuel. Much to my surprise it worked better for me than the “good” stuff. The flints I buy are the Zippos if available but have found some good ones at a smoke shop as well.
The thing everyone complains about with the Zippo is the fuel evaporation. This is because it is a non-sealed container that is unpressurized. The good news is that they are very unlikely to blow up on you and will light at altitudes that you can’t live at. The bad news is that yes you do have to refuel them. I refuel mine once a week just before I drop it into my dress clothes pocket before I go to church. Yes it is probably an odd memory trick but it does work. Since I remember to refuel it regularly I carry the slim version of the Zippo.
The Zippo works if you do your part and is a simple solid piece of equipment. It will be around long after the flavor of the month kind of wonder lighters are all but forgotten.

Bottom line, they are like a pre-electronic diesel -- they will run on anything. Take just a little care of them, and they will take a lot care of you.

My current carry is a 'series VII' supposedly made in 1956. It is a good lighter.

Interesting info. Zippo fluid vs. Ronsonol. Let me add a bit to your Zippo comments. As most Zippo owners know, Zippo will replace the "guts" of your lighter and replace/repair the hinge at no cost to owner. After some time, the flint wheel becomes worn from repeated use. Also, gets clogged with flint particles and needs to be replaced from time to time. When you send the lighter in for repairs, keep the flint spring.
Have you ever changed a flint and had the flint spring depart the lighter at warp speed never to be seen again? The spare flint spring is priceless.
The address to return the lighter is:
Zippo Mfg. Co., 33 Barbour St., Bradford, PA 16701

Boone

A man after mu own heat. i just spoke with my third ex-wife, and she does indeed use the black Zip I gave her as her EDC, and it has not let her down, ever. Unlike me. Per her. Never mind.

This looks like a good spot to post this question.
Ronson makes a model like the zippo but this model has a better "seal". Does anyone know where to find liquid fuel Ronson "zippo style" lighters in the U.S.A.?
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I think I've seen them in Walgreen's, but I'm not certain.

Frediver, go to www.ronsoncorp.com and select WindII from the column on left. You can also purchase it from the web site (after you give them your life's history)! Build essentially like a Zippo. The Comet refillable (butane) is a nice looking compact lighter similar to throw away butanes. Has electronic ignition.

Boone

How true ! But since I quit the Forces, I've also quit smokin' . I still have my Zippos and never had any complaints. But if you don't use yours regularly, it is a pain to fill and keep a supply of fuel & flints. I now use butane for most applications SOmething like this:

They come in a variety of shapes & sizes and are cheap. Might not be ideal in extreme conditions (wind / cold) but it's always a good idea to have a variety of fire sources...

I think Zippos kick butt, but I wouldn't recommend them to folks who don't smoke. Just too easy to forget to fill them. I have a couple at the moment. The one I take hunting is checked out (as is all other gear) and topped off the night before the hunt, so I don't worry about it not being filled. And like most long-time Zippo users, I carry a spare flint or two under the pad.

I, too, prefer the Ronsonol fuel over the Zippo. It performs as well with -- to my snoz at least -- a little less smell.

Have tried the Ronson Windi (they always have them at Walgreens where I live). I suppose they're OK for the cost, but they don't perform as well as a Zippo, IMO. If the choice was Windi for $5 or a plain-jane Zippo for $10, I'd buy the Zippo.

Like Frankspin, I think those stemmed butane lighters are great for applications that don't require pocket carry. The extra reach is uber-handy.