Best products from r/Zippo

I'm a bit late to this post, but I'll throw in my 2 cents anyways.

I've had a few of them and overall would recommend them. They're great for what you're trying to accomplish.

The first one I bought was the flint-and-wheel with soft flame model. That worked well but after a few months, I began to have real problems with the flame being unusable. My suspicion is that flint particles fouled up the nozzle. I'm sending that one in on warranty.

Then I bought the single torch model, as well as a Vertigo brand Z-Plus 2 Extreme. They both are good. The Thunderbird worked well and I never had problems with it. Ended up giving that one to a friend. I liked the Z-Plus a little bit better. It had two torches angled inward at each other, and it also had a transparent tank so you could easily see your fuel level. The Thunderbird fit better into my Zippo cases, but the Z-Plus was fine after I bent the piece of metal inside of the lid that catches the cam.

Thought I was set with that Z-Plus and I was for a while, but then I found out that there was a Thunderbird model that had both a single jet torch as well as a soft flame, and it was not flint-ignited. That is the one I've been EDC'ing ever since. It's fantastic and I couldn't recommend it more highly.

I buy plain jane zippos on amazon. Here's a link:
http://www.amazon.com/Zippo-Street-Chrome-Pocket-Lighter/dp/B000MT8Y98/ref=sr_1_1?srs=2581452011&ie=UTF8&qid=1449866163&sr=8-1&keywords=street+chrome

Brushed or Street chrome for under 11 bucks and both are prime eligible. Street chrome is la finish that looks pre-roughed up. If you are going to EDC the lighter these are the 2 bests finishes to get (I prefer street, but either or). For 4-5 bucks extra you can get a brass finish if that's more your style.

Depending on your use, you may want to consider getting a butane insert vs fluid insert, and I know I may be in the minority here but hear me out. The fluid insert will bleed vapor even if you aren't using it. If you can get into a habit where once a week you top off the fluid, then no worries, you'll be perfectly fine, just keep a flint under the felt pad and you are good to go. If you aren't really a smoker or you don't think you'll remember to top off the fluid every week a butane insert is "set it and forget it". They do not bleed fluid so you can fill it up and not use it for 3 months, pull it out and it'll work the fluid inserts will not do that. I have both, for my EDC zippo I have a butane torch insert, just my personal preference. If you want to keep the fluid insert, one thing I could recommend is to get a pipe lighter, the only difference is the insert (and a small pipe art on the front) but it's more versatile in my opinion. If you remove the shield from the top of the chimney you get a standard vertical flame, but you can flip it on it's side and still get a good flame but you are sacrificing some of the windproofness.

Get yourself a case (knock off or authentic) and put this in it: https://www.amazon.com/Vector-Thunderbird-Butane-Torch-Insert/dp/B008Z8W714

Single torch like you specified. Butane burns pretty hot (hotter than naphtha which is used in standard Zippos and can leak from an over filled lighter), plus it's hermetic so no need to worry about constant refuelling no matter how rarely you use it.

Sounds like your friend got a piezoelectric lighter, which is imho far more effective for the 'torch' mechanism than flint and steel. You can use a spark wheel for the same effect but getting a flame can be difficult and it feels awkward in your hand which is why there aren't many on the market.

Plenty of blue steel cases out there. Good luck on that snake bit.

As a fellow flipper I'm going to recommend fucking around with some grip tape. Something like this. http://www.amazon.com/GT-5000-phones-cameras-knives-tools/dp/B00ATH0KEA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1452065743&sr=8-3&keywords=grip+tape You can do a lot with a Zippo that has great grip in some places and a good slip on others. It's cheap enough to rip it off and try more in a different places.

Here's the link

Also, I dont know how finicky these are with types of butane. A guy on r/cigars mentioned that he had been smoking cigars for 25 years and had tried all sorts of butane. He uses Newport Butane It's cheaper to buy this stuff 2-4 cans at a time. Usually the more you order (at least on amazon) the better the deal. Pure butane wont clog the lighter like some cheaper butane can.

And please search youtube for how to properly fill and un-fill butane lighters.

Lastly a tip I found on the packaging before throwing it away: Do not press the ignition switch hard and fast, just gradually push it. I was having to press the button 1-2 times to get it to start but since Ive started pressing it softer, it lights on the first shot each time. The best way I can think to explain it is to press it as if you were really tired and relaxed. You'll hear the gas release about 1/8 of a second little before the button clicks.

Also the flame is adjustable. The pic shows a medium flame.

It was a gift, but it is on Amazon.

Zippo Ace Of Hearts With Woman Cream Matte Windproof Lighter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VGTRKBG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_9ZE9wbFKV6DVM

The very short explanation is that Blaisdell produced the first Zippos in November 1932. SALES of the Zippos did not start until 1933. Here is a pretty good history of 1933 Zips.

http://lightergallery.com/1933-zippos

A much better explanation can be found by buying this book..

https://www.amazon.com/Zippo-American-Lighter-Schiffer-Collectors/dp/0764323377

Zippo started selling the “1932 Replicas” when much of this history was not known/clear. Once the info was discovered, Zippo started calling 1933 the birthdate of Zippo.

The Zippo 1941 Replica £27 down to £13. Smoothed off corners compared to the original. Its superb. (There is a black one also)

Thank all of you guys for the input, I decided to clean it with some alcohol and a Q-Tip, it came right off.

For those of you wondering where I got it, I got it from Amazon UK and it's an Ace Filigree Zippo.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zippo-28323-New-Windproof-Lighter/dp/B0074G4Y0K

I haven't looked around at all but apparently a few little convenience stores around here are licensed sellers for Zippo. Thanks for the info! I'll pick one up soon one way or another!

Hows this look? [Link] (https://www.amazon.ca/Zippo-Lighter-All-One-Kit/dp/B001JTS50I/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1458938540&sr=8-6&keywords=zippo)

Brasso or Nevr-Dull work great. Why bother, it's a never ending task, let the natural patina continue to develop.

Yeah, they're normally just inserts that you buy, pretty cheap. Like the other person said, around 20 bucks.
Fuck it, going the extra mile.
Here's a link to a matte black one
Here's a link to a non amazon prime silver one

Thanks, is there any specific type of cotton or am I just fine with Walmart brand cotton balls? Sorry, just generally like my hands and am paranoid about damaging them. Also is this a good kit? You are correct that the second mass was the foam block. Thanks in advance!

Best advice is to invest in a matte white Zippo, then have someone/you silk screen the design, then spray a sealer over it.

http://www.amazon.com/Zippo-Lighter-White-Smooth-Surface/dp/B003BKRHUM

>Do you mind checking the video in the link out cuz I tried many times to turn it on and when it finally does the flame goes off in a couple of seconds.

Yeah, not enough fuel.

>Mind sharing some pictures ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDqc_kq79II

Maybe it adds another day of not having to put fuel in it. That's just how Zippos are. If it bothers you you may want to check out butane inserts.

You can get one $11.83 on Amazon, free shipping with Prime.

Here ya go.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B001E5FLT0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Its sold by Amazon and $13.56 (eligible for $25 Free Shipping) but the only thing is that its on backorder but it's the cheapest.

I'll just say what I've said before when recommending a first zippo:

The [street chrome] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000MT8Y98/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1367174559&sr=8-1) ones are only like 10 dollars, that was my first one for my collection, and I bought it from Walmart. I'm also a non-smoker, I just collect. I would suggest buying one since they are only 10 dollars if you're thinking of getting one, if you get no satisfaction out of it, then not much is lost, rather than buying a 25 dollar one and then stop collecting.

This would be the one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008Z8W714/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_Ii.7wbB91RHE5

Time to order online, commie.

You can buy a Zippo pipe lighter

Edit to add actual Image to show the difference between the standard and pipe lighter.

not sure if you can buy just a case but try these

here

butane

I was frustrated by the evaporation too. I picked up a thunderbird butane insert. It's worked out very well. I have both.

Butane torch:
http://www.amazon.com/Vector-Thunderbird-Butane-Torch-Insert/dp/B008Z8W714

Reg flame
http://www.amazon.com/Butane-Lighter-Insert-Flip-top-Lighters/dp/B003IRNUQI/ref=pd_bxgy_hpc_img_z