@@JLMtime you’re probably using the wrong type of lighter fluid. Also, the wick is NEVER in the right configuration when u first buy a zippo. Look up a video on zippos for beginners and that should cover it.
It can’t not work it’s basic science. If you follow what this guy says as trouble shooting with a new zippo it sample can’t just not work. Sometimes for the very first light I squirt a little butane on the actual wick to make sure the fuel has full soaked the wick. If there is fuel in the wick the wick takes months to deteriorate. The black is just carbon not burnt wick. Sometimes it also helps to clean the excess carbon from the chimney and wick but be careful not to damage the wick. You can just pull more wick through and cut off the old part of the wick is burnt or damaged
Thank you for existing, good sir. You are a gentleman and a scholar. It's been in my head ever since it wouldn't light up and I've been working every detail of it for over a day. Only video out there that solved the issue and I'm surprised I had the patience (although I almost bought a whole new insert). The problem with my zippo was having to pinch the wick with some pliers. Lit right up and now I'm lit :)
Thank you for covering all those possible problems. Turned out that I needed to pinch the wick because it wasn't soaking up the fuel. Works great now though! And now I know how to refill it properly. Keep up the great work!
I had this problem caused by overfilling, but later on I actually had the same problem for the opposite reason. I bought a new lighter, and they come completely dry. I filled just the "right" amount, saturating the cotton without overfilling and I was having a hard time lighting it and blowing on the chimney wasn't helping. I smell the chimney and I realized that I didn't feel the smell of fuel, only burned wick. I unpacked the lighter and I realized that neither the cotton or the wick had as much fuel as I thought. So I repacked it and intentionally overfilled it. I had to blow to the chimney on the first two days but after that it was lighting on 1 to 3 strikes. I'm just leaving this comment here because If you're confident that you didn't overfilled it, you might have underfilled it.
@@aryanmalhotra3259 I'm not a smoker, so I only used it to lit the fireplace and things like that. Less uses means the excessive fuel takes more time to go away. If you're a smoker, you would be good after just a few uses. Just lit the lighter with a slight upwards movement, that will provide enough air to the chimney after the first uses. Also something that I recently realized is that packing too much cotton, too tightly also makes the lighter harder to lit. In order for the lighter fluid to go from liquid state to flammable vapors, you need air. Packing the lighter to tight doesn't leave much room for air, wich means less fuel vapors and it makes it harder to lit. Putting less cotton will decrease the time it lasts per fill but it made mine work much better. You'll still get a week out of it without a problem, and it takes less fuel to refill.
Thankfully the person who sold me my zippo repacked and filled it for me the first time- but hadn't realized I'd been overfilling it since! Thanks for the clear and concise video, found it really helpful 👌
Reminds me of my wedding. My wife couldn't get the candles to light, the wick would flame up and die leaving no wick left to light. After going through half a dozen or so candles my wife and her friends gave up and asked me what was wrong. I picked up a candle, bent the wick over and rubbed it on the candle wax for a moment and then lit it. My wife and her friends didn't realize the wicks werent already charged with fuel, wax, and so when she was lighting them the wicks themselves became the fuel rather than the wax and they just burned up before they could start wicking melted wax fast enough to support a constant flame.
Thank you so much for posting this video, Jeff. I'm VERY new to Zippos, and I just bought my first Zippo not too long ago. I started striking my flint wheel, and sparks were coming out, but no flame. To say the least, I was very frustrated. After just watching a minute of this video, I understand now that Zippos don't come with fuel brand new, you have to buy the fuel and fill them up. You've saved me a lot of aggravation and potential hair-pulling with this video ;)
Thanks man, spent the past 45 minutes trying to figure out what was wrong, mine seemed to be a combo of needing air and the wick needing to be fixed. Really helpful and useful video, thanks again!
I must thank you for posting this. My mother in law died recently and I inherited her zippo style lighter, an old one with a Winston logo on it. It was dry when I got it, and so I filled it. It worked perfectly immediately after filling it, then I didn't use it for a couple days, and the next time I tried it it wouldn't catch. Now I understand why! I did what you recommended by blowing away the fumes from the chimney, and voila!
Excellent tips, I also found I needed to turn it upside down and tap it on the work surface, loads of black soot and crap came out and that fixed my problem after trimming the wick
The biggest problem with zippo is the wick is never inserted properly. The wick should be interleaved between the rayon balls. Usually it's compressed at the top and as such isn't getting a good supply of fuel
Thank you so much! You've solved a perrenial issue for me! And just as you'd suggested, it was a very simple problem, that could be solved with a very simple solution! Damn, I was worse at this, more than algebra! Thanks again!
My Zippo was lighting intermittently ..3rd or 4th go..flame very wild...ordered authentic Zippo fluid and Zippo flint and it now works really smoothly. Lesson: don't buy cheap substitutes!
Thanks dude! Halfway into this video, I finally got my Zippo working. First time I unscrewed the area where the flint goes, the spring popped out and I realized why my new Zippo wasn't making a spark. Now it burns like a volcano and puts out on command. :)
I have found that - raising the wick a couple of millimeters above the top level of the chimney chamber, provides a flame every time ...... the flame may be higher - but at least the lighter lights more efficiently. Also - I've noticed that the lighter stops lighting the first time - when the spark gets smaller - due to the flint which gradually wears down.
Great video sir! Very informative and easy to follow. And it works! And you seem like a guy I could sit down and have a beer with. Thank you for making this video!
For any that still can't get theirs to light, use zippo fluid. Many other fluids (ex: for grilling) are diluted and require a higher temperature than a few sparks can provide in order to combust. Blowing on it may work, but in most cases will do nothing, being that if you are standing anywhere in earth's atmosphere where there is oxygen, then there is already more than enough to facilitate combustion. The chances that the lid and chimney of the zippo are holding enough of any gas to suppress your flame is extremely unlikely.
THIS👆🏼... RIGHT HERE PEOPLE!! THIS IS LIKELY THE PROBLEM YOU'RE EXPERIENCING IF YOU CAME TO THIS VIDEO. I THOUGHT I USED MY ZIPPO FLUID BUT I MUST'VE USED RONSON OR SOME OTHER SHIT BC AS SOON AS COTTON DRIED OUT, I FILLED WITH Źippo Mfr. Fluid & NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE AGAIN. I NOTICE THEIR WICKS BURN CLEANER, THE FLINTS DONT LEAVE NEARLY AS MUCH BLACK RESIDUE. AND THE COTTONS OF ALL THINGS HOLD THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF FLUID BUT WILL STAY FILLED LONGER THAN REGULAR COTTON BALLS. Idk what the fuck rayon balls are but it's damn sure better than fucking cotton lol
Overfilling never seems to be a problem for me, but a big problem I get if my lighter doesn't light is a dirty wheel. Cleaning the flint from it will produce a better quality spark and more consistent lights. Use rubbing alcohol to clean.
My zippo hasn't worked in over a yr, I was like whatever and moved on. My 13 yr old just became interested in zippos for whatever teenage reason and I gave him 1 I bought for his dad my ex husband and he loved it, but after a wk it didn't work :( But it got me thinking about mine, but again I moved on, then maybe 2 days later its windy as hell and I can't light my cigarette, pissed. So then tonight my son brings it up to me again and i pinched my wick and OMG I love you, it worked my zippo is back in business, I hope part 2 fixes my sons! :) Your awesome
Thanks, definitely a couple things I didn't quite think of. But I have a question, I've had on and off trouble with my mini Zippo sparking, having fuel(and not over filled), new flint, and fresh cut wick; But it still would have trouble lighting.. I just noticed my quick was bent over and against the side of the chimney, so I straightened it with pliers, and now no trouble.. Would the wick being bent like that cause trouble lighting??
Of course, the fire have to breathe and I was choking it with over filled fluid and fat wick! I pulled out the wick from my spark only Zippo and rub it thoroughly so that it can be as thin as it can, which allow the wick hole penetrate more air with fuel. And, yes, it works for more than 10 times, so far. Thank you!!
Yes, you can blow the chimney gently while you spun the weel, or you can raise the lighter from thigh level to face level and spin the weel when it reaches face level. Normally you only have to do this the very day you refill. And if you're at open air with a minimum of wind you won't need to do so.
Man, THANK YOU. I've been going through flint like madness having to strike my zippo 5 or 6 times to light it after filling. I blew into the chimney and it lit first strike. Also had to bend my wick a bit closer to the flint. Works perfect now...
My girlfriend got me a really cool zippo lighter as a gift, but it didn’t work. I couldn’t figure out what the problem was, as my girlfriend said she saw the cashier fill it to the brim. It turns out that was the problem. Thank you for the great explanation.
I over filled mine too after not using it for moooonths glad I found this video. I had to pinch my wick too didn't have pliers so I used tweezers. Still needs a little blow of air but it's back in action lol
one thing i found funny about zippos is how you always see them in old war movies... always lighting the first time... flame never dieing / getting blown out... or people tossing them thru the air to ignite a puddle of gasoline or something. SO FAR... out of like 3 zippos i've bought... the flame is VERY temperamental AND sensitive haha, Those jet engine blue flame butane ones on the other hand...
Another problem can be a wick which is used up - looks okay from the top but if you take out the wadding inside you have only a very short length of wick left. This means that the wick cannot efficiently suck in the fuel from the wadding and lighting up becomes unreliable.
Another tip I learned over the years, tap the lid on your thigh several times about 4-5 times then light. Haven’t had any issues with it since doing this after my pap taught me.
thank you very much. bought a new one, and i didnt know that they came un-fueled, but now that i think of it, of course they wouldn't ship a full lighter
It's also helpful to periodically clean the wick and build up of soot and carbon inside the chimney area. Simply take a cotton bud drench it in lighter fluid and clean the the wick and chimney area. The bud will turn black and your Zippo will fire up like new.
actually to add to what you just said. in the manual that comes with zippos. at least zippos from the 90's came with manuals, it says after filling the lighter with fuel when you open the lighter you should rais the lighter then light it. meaning you lift the lighter about 6 inches really fast to disperse fuel vapor and add oxygen to the chiminey it will light.
For the past several months I've been drastically under-filling my Zippo. I only squeeze fluid into the reservoir for about 5 or 6 seconds (from a standard can of Zippo brand fluid). Since I've been doing this, it lights on the first strike nearly every time (though when under-filling like this you have to wait a couple of minutes after filling it before it will light, in order to give the small amount of fluid time to soak into the wick). This amount of fluid lasts for about 3 days. I always used to fill Zippos until the moment I could feel the slightest hint of wetness in the felt (i.e., until the cotton balls were saturated and it was just starting to soak into the felt). That lasts for about a week, but for a couple/few days after each filling, it would usually take several strikes to light, which is not only annoying, but it is a waste of flint as well as a waste of fuel (the more strikes it takes to light, the longer the lid is open, meaning increased fuel evaporation). If you have a Zippo that you can "fill to the felt" and have it light on the first strike nearly every time for the entire ~week that it lasts, then more power to you. But I've had several Zippos over the past 25 years, and all of them have been stubborn to light for the first couple/few days after filling to the felt (sometimes they will light on the first strike during that period, but not usually).
how do you feel about which kind of fluid that you use? do you buy anything or do you drive across town to get a certain brand? to me zippo lighters are great and come in many different varieties such as sizes and finishes, but the fuel makes or breaks the lighter. sure some maintenance is importand like wick replacement and trimming and flint replacement, but the fuel is the heart of the lighter. what do you think?
Im 17 and a smoker. I bought my zippo in a pack with extra flints, proper fluid and a small manual, and it worked fine... until i stopped using it and started using BIC lighters. When ever i got my zippo and sparked it, it would never start. I finally figured out that after all this time all the liquid evaporated after not using it for months. Now i know why it aint working. Also guys if ur zippo has fluid in it and ain't lighting, with tweezers pull ur wick 1 cm up and cut the black part off. The new part of the wick should work like new, make sure its in line with the top of the air chamber thingy. Hope this helps.
Amazing video with deep knowledge. Proof that zippo lighters have their own secrets and are one of the best products in the world. There are many lighters, cheap and expensive, but no one reach an authentic zippo An authentic product Made in USA, unique and unrepeatable.
@humxa24 yes, but it'll have black smoke (if your talking about car gas). wouldn't recommend it since it's not as clean. most people think gasoline is extremely explosive or something, it's only a little more flabbable than zippo fuel, and will stink because of the methel mercaptain added to it.
Thanks for sharing that info. I have had this happen before and never knew what was wrong. What happened to the Zippo trick for adults only, it's no longer available. Take care.
When filling a zippo flip up the lid finger and turn it upside in the case, any drips will be caught in the bottom... flip back over and lower lid finger ... no mess.
I have tons of zippos and have been using them for well over 20 years but I bought a brand new zippo and it doesn't work well at all. I've changed the Flint hoping maybe that would help but nope. Never had this issue with a zippo. Cheapos yes but not actual zippos. It's not over filled and I'm hoping maybe it's a defective wick so replacing that is my next step. It does spark but not as well as some of my others. I've pulled up the wick and cut it off. I suppose it could be a fake who knows but I didn't find the answer here however if you have an idea I'd love to hear it.
HOLY i was loosing my mind when my second zippo wouldnt light easilly no matter what i tried i replaced almost anything but nothing blowing it worked like a charm thanks!
If you got a lemon, it wouldn't work from day 1. I had a similar problem, turned out to be the wheel. (Non-user servicable part). So yes, send it in. The lighter needs both the flint and the grooves on the wheel to strike and spark. If the grooves on the wheel are worn down, there won't be a good spark. Send it in for a wheel change.
i got a zippo with cheap fuel, and it was lighting up after 5-6 tries, so i got tweezers and i pinched the bottom of the wick and its now lighting up at the 1 time ! THANK YOU
That's odd. I've over filled my Zippos, including new ones, and I've never had problems with them starting after filling them. Usually its when they've been closed for a while that it takes a second spark to light.
Not alot of people have Zippos anymore although they are the best lighter in the world and they were used by well over 200,000 soldiers during WWI. They are in fact mass produced but people don't realize how "special" a Zippo is.
I'm having problems with an old Zippo from the 80's. Trouble lighting and little spark even with a brand new flint. Could the wheel need to be cleaned out somehow?
Thanks it worked om n my normal kitchen lighter, I let a little gas out and then blew into the opening and guess what: he worked again, thanks so much, great video
I have several zippos but most of the time rely on just a single one of them that I fancy the most. everything was fine for several years until now. it only sparked, but no ignition. I refilled it, overfilled it, underfilled it, you name it. new wick (old one was already trimmed twice), new flint. still nothing. I cleaned the whole insert by soaking it in acetone, then brass wirebrushing and blowing out with compressed air. nothing. I took it apart once again, soaked rayon balls in paint thinner in case any of the naphtha has gunked or I may be using slightly outdated can of zippo fluid. dried the rayon, assembled and refueld - still nothing, only sparks, no ignition. then I noticed it I shake my zippo vigorously, it would ignite, but fuel would leak on the sides. worked like three times, then it evaporated. took it apart once again and pulled the rayon balls slightly apart so fuel could migrate better in the chamber. still nothing until I shook so that fuel seeped on my hands. now after watching this I pinched my wick slightly, works now. not on the first flick, but kinda works after the second try. I hope that was it :)
I usually overfill my Zippo and have to burn excess liquid from the flint holder and lid. It goes Woof! but doesn't light first try because I soak the cotton stuffing and see a puddle before closing the felt cushion. 🙂
I live in Sweden and i'd like to send my zippo in one day for repair. Do they take repairs from the US only? If no, then how do i send mine in? Thanks.
Hi really helpful video ! I found that my problem was a spark not big enough, so i stretched the spring underneath a bit and it worked fine. It can maybe help someone else.
"cheap and crappy fuel?" I have a plastic bottle of Ronson that I'm convinced has been sitting around for 20 years. My zippo is hard lighting. Didn't think the fuel would go bad or be "crappy."
I pulled my wick, put an new flint in and fresh fuel. Did not over fill it and it still won't light. Barely even a spark. How do I get mine to work? I compared it to other zippos I have that are new and never used and the only difference I see is the flint spring is just a little longer so I switched out springs still barely a spark. Any ideas?
Thanks alot man :) i was wondering why my lid was catching fire for a sec whilst i lit it. Is it just a matter of not filling it up as much the next time? or do i have to clean it?
B used red baron lighter fluid, i used ronsonol, and E used zippo lighter fluid. i have been an avid ronsonol lighter fluid user and never used any other kind except when i had to borrow a friends fuel when i didnt have any with me.
One of the most common reasons a Zippo will choke and not light is the wick height is too low. Make sure the wick is just a hair above the top of the wind guard and you should be good.
another thing you can do if you're having this problem is light it with another lighter and let it burn for about ten seconds did that with mine and it lights first time everytime now.
If there is a spark but no flames, but it can be lit up with another lighter (kinda defeats the purpose of having a zippo, I know), does that mean I overfilled it? thx for the video :)
10 years later youre still helping people like me, thanks mate.
Honestly
11 years now and he just solved my problem! Thankyou for making this video!!
12 now
12yrs 7months now
Hell yea🔥
Thank you!!! Turns out that overfilling is EXACTLY what I did.
Wow im such an idiot. I was wondering all this time why mine wasnt working, they dont send it with fuel.
your not an idiot how can you know something unless your told :) now you know
cutlerylover you’re*
Owlivide stfu
Im from 4 years in the future and i have the same problem
Dude...
You're kinda, sorta, my hero now. Lol.
NONE of this works its 3rd zippo ive had that only worked 1 fill now busted
@@JLMtime you’re probably using the wrong type of lighter fluid. Also, the wick is NEVER in the right configuration when u first buy a zippo. Look up a video on zippos for beginners and that should cover it.
It can’t not work it’s basic science. If you follow what this guy says as trouble shooting with a new zippo it sample can’t just not work. Sometimes for the very first light I squirt a little butane on the actual wick to make sure the fuel has full soaked the wick. If there is fuel in the wick the wick takes months to deteriorate. The black is just carbon not burnt wick. Sometimes it also helps to clean the excess carbon from the chimney and wick but be careful not to damage the wick. You can just pull more wick through and cut off the old part of the wick is burnt or damaged
Thank you for existing, good sir. You are a gentleman and a scholar. It's been in my head ever since it wouldn't light up and I've been working every detail of it for over a day. Only video out there that solved the issue and I'm surprised I had the patience (although I almost bought a whole new insert). The problem with my zippo was having to pinch the wick with some pliers. Lit right up and now I'm lit :)
Dude, I just bought my zippo at a truck stop and got to sparking and nothing was happening. I soooo did not know they didn't come with fuel 😕
Thank you for covering all those possible problems. Turned out that I needed to pinch the wick because it wasn't soaking up the fuel. Works great now though! And now I know how to refill it properly. Keep up the great work!
I had this problem caused by overfilling, but later on I actually had the same problem for the opposite reason.
I bought a new lighter, and they come completely dry. I filled just the "right" amount, saturating the cotton without overfilling and I was having a hard time lighting it and blowing on the chimney wasn't helping.
I smell the chimney and I realized that I didn't feel the smell of fuel, only burned wick.
I unpacked the lighter and I realized that neither the cotton or the wick had as much fuel as I thought.
So I repacked it and intentionally overfilled it.
I had to blow to the chimney on the first two days but after that it was lighting on 1 to 3 strikes.
I'm just leaving this comment here because If you're confident that you didn't overfilled it, you might have underfilled it.
My friend poured listerine in my zippo as fuel and now its not lighting even after a new flint and zippo fluid is it useless now ?
@@manasmishra7325 wash the cotton wool with water and let it dry. Probably need to wash or buy a wick too
Blow the chimney for 2 days??
@@aryanmalhotra3259 I'm not a smoker, so I only used it to lit the fireplace and things like that. Less uses means the excessive fuel takes more time to go away.
If you're a smoker, you would be good after just a few uses. Just lit the lighter with a slight upwards movement, that will provide enough air to the chimney after the first uses.
Also something that I recently realized is that packing too much cotton, too tightly also makes the lighter harder to lit.
In order for the lighter fluid to go from liquid state to flammable vapors, you need air. Packing the lighter to tight doesn't leave much room for air, wich means less fuel vapors and it makes it harder to lit.
Putting less cotton will decrease the time it lasts per fill but it made mine work much better. You'll still get a week out of it without a problem, and it takes less fuel to refill.
@@andrefcnc thanks a lot...but i actually wanted to know do I have to blow for 2 days then i will see results?
Thankfully the person who sold me my zippo repacked and filled it for me the first time- but hadn't realized I'd been overfilling it since! Thanks for the clear and concise video, found it really helpful 👌
Reminds me of my wedding. My wife couldn't get the candles to light, the wick would flame up and die leaving no wick left to light. After going through half a dozen or so candles my wife and her friends gave up and asked me what was wrong. I picked up a candle, bent the wick over and rubbed it on the candle wax for a moment and then lit it. My wife and her friends didn't realize the wicks werent already charged with fuel, wax, and so when she was lighting them the wicks themselves became the fuel rather than the wax and they just burned up before they could start wicking melted wax fast enough to support a constant flame.
ur cool
You just helped me a lot Ive been trying to light my new zippo for an hour! Thank you!
Thank you so much for posting this video, Jeff. I'm VERY new to Zippos, and I just bought my first Zippo not too long ago.
I started striking my flint wheel, and sparks were coming out, but no flame. To say the least, I was very frustrated.
After just watching a minute of this video, I understand now that Zippos don't come with fuel brand new, you have to buy the fuel and fill them up.
You've saved me a lot of aggravation and potential hair-pulling with this video ;)
My God thank you. I had the rare problem with the clogged wick, even though I used the Zippo brand fuel. Finally it works first try again👍🏻
Thank you! I’m new to zip lighters and moving the wick at the bottom of the chimney fixed it perfectly. Great description of all the common causes.
Thanks man, spent the past 45 minutes trying to figure out what was wrong, mine seemed to be a combo of needing air and the wick needing to be fixed. Really helpful and useful video, thanks again!
I must thank you for posting this. My mother in law died recently and I inherited her zippo style lighter, an old one with a Winston logo on it. It was dry when I got it, and so I filled it. It worked perfectly immediately after filling it, then I didn't use it for a couple days, and the next time I tried it it wouldn't catch. Now I understand why! I did what you recommended by blowing away the fumes from the chimney, and voila!
Lol i didn't realize it was empty
rip-___-
Same
2022 and it is still relevant.
Thanks my friend
Excellent tips, I also found I needed to turn it upside down and tap it on the work surface, loads of black soot and crap came out and that fixed my problem after trimming the wick
I was filling my zippo and while watching this I just overfilled it >.< now im just letting it sit for a bit so I dont catch everything on fire
12 years later you still helping me thanks
The biggest problem with zippo is the wick is never inserted properly. The wick should be interleaved between the rayon balls. Usually it's compressed at the top and as such isn't getting a good supply of fuel
Wow. You were exactly right. I had been overfilling it! Now my 20y old zippo works like new! THANK YOU!
thank you so much man, also had this problem for a while. 4 years later and your video is still helping people.
Thank you so much! You've solved a perrenial issue for me! And just as you'd suggested, it was a very simple problem, that could be solved with a very simple solution! Damn, I was worse at this, more than algebra! Thanks again!
Zippo themselves say to move your arm up as you strike the wheel. This motion does the same thing as blowing in it.
My Zippo was lighting intermittently ..3rd or 4th go..flame very wild...ordered authentic Zippo fluid and Zippo flint and it now works really smoothly. Lesson: don't buy cheap substitutes!
can't ignite the zippo but blowing air to the chimney works very well. Now i got it, too much vapors without enough oxygen.
Thank you so much!!!
Thanks dude! Halfway into this video, I finally got my Zippo working. First time I unscrewed the area where the flint goes, the spring popped out and I realized why my new Zippo wasn't making a spark.
Now it burns like a volcano and puts out on command. :)
I have found that - raising the wick a couple of millimeters above the top level of the chimney chamber, provides a flame every time ...... the flame may be higher - but at least the lighter lights more efficiently.
Also - I've noticed that the lighter stops lighting the first time - when the spark gets smaller - due to the flint which gradually wears down.
i used zippo branded fluid and for some reason it was still clogged. but u fixed it well all these years after making this vid. thank you.
Great video sir! Very informative and easy to follow. And it works! And you seem like a guy I could sit down and have a beer with. Thank you for making this video!
For any that still can't get theirs to light, use zippo fluid. Many other fluids (ex: for grilling) are diluted and require a higher temperature than a few sparks can provide in order to combust. Blowing on it may work, but in most cases will do nothing, being that if you are standing anywhere in earth's atmosphere where there is oxygen, then there is already more than enough to facilitate combustion. The chances that the lid and chimney of the zippo are holding enough of any gas to suppress your flame is extremely unlikely.
THIS👆🏼... RIGHT HERE PEOPLE!!
THIS IS LIKELY THE PROBLEM YOU'RE EXPERIENCING IF YOU CAME TO THIS VIDEO.
I THOUGHT I USED MY ZIPPO FLUID BUT I MUST'VE USED RONSON OR SOME OTHER SHIT BC AS SOON AS COTTON DRIED OUT, I FILLED WITH Źippo Mfr. Fluid & NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE AGAIN. I NOTICE THEIR WICKS BURN CLEANER, THE FLINTS DONT LEAVE NEARLY AS MUCH BLACK RESIDUE.
AND THE COTTONS OF ALL THINGS HOLD THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF FLUID BUT WILL STAY FILLED LONGER THAN REGULAR COTTON BALLS. Idk what the fuck rayon balls are but it's damn sure better than fucking cotton lol
This is exactly what happened to mine!! Lol
You are completely wrong! There can be ample vapors in the chimney and it will suppress a flame 100%
@@slowjamcdubso how do I drain it to put new fluid in
@@cainboy2691 you can’t just pour the new fluid in with it and let it mix.
Did what you suggested and blew on it, worked straight away. Thank you very much.
I was having a problem with my new Zippo. The flint was coated in fuel and i wipe that off and it works perfect now. Thank you :)
Overfilling never seems to be a problem for me, but a big problem I get if my lighter doesn't light is a dirty wheel. Cleaning the flint from it will produce a better quality spark and more consistent lights. Use rubbing alcohol to clean.
My zippo hasn't worked in over a yr, I was like whatever and moved on. My 13 yr old just became interested in zippos for whatever teenage reason and I gave him 1 I bought for his dad my ex husband and he loved it, but after a wk it didn't work :( But it got me thinking about mine, but again I moved on, then maybe 2 days later its windy as hell and I can't light my cigarette, pissed. So then tonight my son brings it up to me again and i pinched my wick and OMG I love you, it worked my zippo is back in business, I hope part 2 fixes my sons! :) Your awesome
Thanks, definitely a couple things I didn't quite think of.
But I have a question, I've had on and off trouble with my mini Zippo sparking, having fuel(and not over filled), new flint, and fresh cut wick; But it still would have trouble lighting.. I just noticed my quick was bent over and against the side of the chimney, so I straightened it with pliers, and now no trouble..
Would the wick being bent like that cause trouble lighting??
recently just got a zippo and was having problems with the lighting thank god i came across your video really help :)
Of course, the fire have to breathe and I was choking it with over filled fluid and fat wick! I pulled out the wick from my spark only Zippo and rub it thoroughly so that it can be as thin as it can, which allow the wick hole penetrate more air with fuel. And, yes, it works for more than 10 times, so far. Thank you!!
Thank you so much. I was frustated with my zippo and after seeing your video the problem is sloved. Thank you.
That pinching the bottom of the wick to create airflow was a savior. Thanks man
This video was helpful. My problem was with the wick. I grabbed some tweezers and pinched it a bit and now it works fine
Yes, you can blow the chimney gently while you spun the weel, or you can raise the lighter from thigh level to face level and spin the weel when it reaches face level. Normally you only have to do this the very day you refill. And if you're at open air with a minimum of wind you won't need to do so.
Man, THANK YOU. I've been going through flint like madness having to strike my zippo 5 or 6 times to light it after filling. I blew into the chimney and it lit first strike. Also had to bend my wick a bit closer to the flint. Works perfect now...
My girlfriend got me a really cool zippo lighter as a gift, but it didn’t work. I couldn’t figure out what the problem was, as my girlfriend said she saw the cashier fill it to the brim. It turns out that was the problem. Thank you for the great explanation.
Thank you!! I thought I was going crazy. Changed the wick, the flint, filled it.....and
OVERFILLED it. Now it works. Lesson learned :>
I over filled mine too after not using it for moooonths glad I found this video. I had to pinch my wick too didn't have pliers so I used tweezers. Still needs a little blow of air but it's back in action lol
one thing i found funny about zippos is how you always see them in old war movies... always lighting the first time... flame never dieing / getting blown out... or people tossing them thru the air to ignite a puddle of gasoline or something. SO FAR... out of like 3 zippos i've bought... the flame is VERY temperamental AND sensitive haha, Those jet engine blue flame butane ones on the other hand...
Another problem can be a wick which is used up - looks okay from the top but if you take out the wadding inside you have only a very short length of wick left. This means that the wick cannot efficiently suck in the fuel from the wadding and lighting up becomes unreliable.
Thanks Jeff. This helped me figure out what I was doing wrong with my zippo. Great video.
Another tip I learned over the years, tap the lid on your thigh several times about 4-5 times then light. Haven’t had any issues with it since doing this after my pap taught me.
thank you very much.
bought a new one, and i didnt know that they came un-fueled, but now that i think of it, of course they wouldn't ship a full lighter
You’re a star -concise, clear and effective tutorial; thx much.
It's also helpful to periodically clean the wick and build up of soot and carbon inside the chimney area. Simply take a cotton bud drench it in lighter fluid and clean the the wick and chimney area. The bud will turn black and your Zippo will fire up like new.
will try since blowing doesnt work
working. used everyone's comments...thanks yall
Many thanks mate.. was bout to lose hope fixing mine.. appreciate all his video.. cheers!
actually to add to what you just said. in the manual that comes with zippos. at least zippos from the 90's came with manuals, it says after filling the lighter with fuel when you open the lighter you should rais the lighter then light it. meaning you lift the lighter about 6 inches really fast to disperse fuel vapor and add oxygen to the chiminey it will light.
For the past several months I've been drastically under-filling my
Zippo. I only squeeze fluid into the reservoir for about 5 or 6 seconds
(from a standard can of Zippo brand fluid). Since I've been doing this,
it lights on the first strike nearly every time (though when
under-filling like this you have to wait a couple of minutes after
filling it before it will light, in order to give the small amount of
fluid time to soak into the wick). This amount of fluid lasts for about 3
days.
I always used to fill Zippos until the moment I could feel the slightest hint of wetness in the felt (i.e., until the cotton balls were saturated and it was just starting to soak into the felt). That lasts for about a week, but for a couple/few days after each filling, it would usually take several strikes to light, which is not only annoying, but it is a waste of flint as well as a waste of fuel (the more strikes it takes to light, the longer the lid is open, meaning increased fuel evaporation).
If you have a Zippo that you can "fill to the felt" and have it light on the first strike nearly every time for the entire ~week that it lasts, then more power to you. But I've had several Zippos over the past 25 years, and all of them have been stubborn to light for the first couple/few days after filling to the felt (sometimes they will light on the first strike during that period, but not usually).
It worked!! It seems my wick was clogged. Didn't know that could happen. Thanks
how do you feel about which kind of fluid that you use? do you buy anything or do you drive across town to get a certain brand? to me zippo lighters are great and come in many different varieties such as sizes and finishes, but the fuel makes or breaks the lighter. sure some maintenance is importand like wick replacement and trimming and flint replacement, but the fuel is the heart of the lighter. what do you think?
Im 17 and a smoker. I bought my zippo in a pack with extra flints, proper fluid and a small manual, and it worked fine... until i stopped using it and started using BIC lighters. When ever i got my zippo and sparked it, it would never start. I finally figured out that after all this time all the liquid evaporated after not using it for months. Now i know why it aint working. Also guys if ur zippo has fluid in it and ain't lighting, with tweezers pull ur wick 1 cm up and cut the black part off. The new part of the wick should work like new, make sure its in line with the top of the air chamber thingy. Hope this helps.
Amazing video with deep knowledge. Proof that zippo lighters have their own secrets and are one of the best products in the world. There are many lighters, cheap and expensive, but no one reach an authentic zippo An authentic product Made in USA, unique and unrepeatable.
Thanks for the tutorial vidz.. now my april'2001 zippo works with just one click.. 💪🏼
@humxa24 yes, but it'll have black smoke (if your talking about car gas). wouldn't recommend it since it's not as clean. most people think gasoline is extremely explosive or something, it's only a little more flabbable than zippo fuel, and will stink because of the methel mercaptain added to it.
Thanks for sharing that info. I have had this happen before and never knew what was wrong. What happened to the Zippo trick for adults only, it's no longer available. Take care.
When filling a zippo flip up the lid finger and turn it upside in the case, any drips will be caught in the bottom... flip back over and lower lid finger ... no mess.
pinching the wick with a plyer work like a charm, thank you!
Man thank you, i watched 9999 videos and you are the only one ho helped me...
I have tons of zippos and have been using them for well over 20 years but I bought a brand new zippo and it doesn't work well at all. I've changed the Flint hoping maybe that would help but nope. Never had this issue with a zippo. Cheapos yes but not actual zippos. It's not over filled and I'm hoping maybe it's a defective wick so replacing that is my next step. It does spark but not as well as some of my others. I've pulled up the wick and cut it off. I suppose it could be a fake who knows but I didn't find the answer here however if you have an idea I'd love to hear it.
I had to pinch the base of the wick and it worked. Great tip!
You are amazing. It was me this whole time. And such an easy fix!
HOLY
i was loosing my mind when my second zippo wouldnt light easilly no matter what i tried
i replaced almost anything but nothing
blowing it worked like a charm
thanks!
If you got a lemon, it wouldn't work from day 1.
I had a similar problem, turned out to be the wheel. (Non-user servicable part). So yes, send it in. The lighter needs both the flint and the grooves on the wheel to strike and spark. If the grooves on the wheel are worn down, there won't be a good spark. Send it in for a wheel change.
I've had my zippo for 12 year's. I don't remember if it came with instructions, if it did then people wouldn't be having these issues.
i got a zippo with cheap fuel, and it was lighting up after 5-6 tries, so i got tweezers and i pinched the bottom of the wick and its now lighting up at the 1 time ! THANK YOU
That's odd. I've over filled my Zippos, including new ones, and I've never had problems with them starting after filling them. Usually its when they've been closed for a while that it takes a second spark to light.
Not alot of people have Zippos anymore although they are the best lighter in the world and they were used by well over 200,000 soldiers during WWI. They are in fact mass produced but people don't realize how "special" a Zippo is.
I'm having problems with an old Zippo from the 80's. Trouble lighting and little spark even with a brand new flint. Could the wheel need to be cleaned out somehow?
Thanks it worked om n my normal kitchen lighter,
I let a little gas out and then blew into the opening and guess what: he worked again, thanks so much, great video
I have several zippos but most of the time rely on just a single one of them that I fancy the most. everything was fine for several years until now. it only sparked, but no ignition. I refilled it, overfilled it, underfilled it, you name it. new wick (old one was already trimmed twice), new flint. still nothing. I cleaned the whole insert by soaking it in acetone, then brass wirebrushing and blowing out with compressed air. nothing. I took it apart once again, soaked rayon balls in paint thinner in case any of the naphtha has gunked or I may be using slightly outdated can of zippo fluid. dried the rayon, assembled and refueld - still nothing, only sparks, no ignition. then I noticed it I shake my zippo vigorously, it would ignite, but fuel would leak on the sides. worked like three times, then it evaporated. took it apart once again and pulled the rayon balls slightly apart so fuel could migrate better in the chamber. still nothing until I shook so that fuel seeped on my hands. now after watching this I pinched my wick slightly, works now. not on the first flick, but kinda works after the second try. I hope that was it :)
I usually overfill my Zippo and have to burn excess liquid from the flint holder and lid.
It goes Woof! but doesn't light first try because I soak the cotton stuffing and see a puddle before closing the felt cushion. 🙂
I live in Sweden and i'd like to send my zippo in one day for repair. Do they take repairs from the US only? If no, then how do i send mine in? Thanks.
No there's a place in London I believe it'll be fixed in a month or so I think there may be a repair center in Germany too.
Hi really helpful video ! I found that my problem was a spark not big enough, so i stretched the spring underneath a bit and it worked fine. It can maybe help someone else.
My grandfather uses Coleman Camping Fuel and buys the gallon. It lasts him about six months and is only like $7
Yes! I had put to much fuel in mine. All fixed now. Thanks.
"cheap and crappy fuel?" I have a plastic bottle of Ronson that I'm convinced has been sitting around for 20 years. My zippo is hard lighting. Didn't think the fuel would go bad or be "crappy."
Thanks bro, you helped me a lot
Very clear explanation especially for collector purposes
Thank you sir ❤🙏🏽🙏🏽
I pulled my wick, put an new flint in and fresh fuel. Did not over fill it and it still won't light. Barely even a spark. How do I get mine to work? I compared it to other zippos I have that are new and never used and the only difference I see is the flint spring is just a little longer so I switched out springs still barely a spark. Any ideas?
Thanks alot man :) i was wondering why my lid was catching fire for a sec whilst i lit it. Is it just a matter of not filling it up as much the next time? or do i have to clean it?
B used red baron lighter fluid, i used ronsonol, and E used zippo lighter fluid. i have been an avid ronsonol lighter fluid user and never used any other kind except when i had to borrow a friends fuel when i didnt have any with me.
One of the most common reasons a Zippo will choke and not light is the wick height is too low. Make sure the wick is just a hair above the top of the wind guard and you should be good.
Dude.....I tried EVERYTHING. Genius
Tnx man i had a "rare" problem, you made my day!!!
another thing you can do if you're having this problem is light it with another lighter and let it burn for about ten seconds did that with mine and it lights first time everytime now.
My Zippo seems to "dry out" after a day or two if use after being filled. (It just sparks.) What am I doing wrong?
D Cavalli
use zippo fuel
***** I do but it still dries out in a matter of days. Thanks.
D Cavalli
i have two zippos were i replaced the rayons with 100% cotton balls, and that work just fine. u can try that
Do you play with the lighter when your bored? Like lighting it excessively?
Fill it well so it leaks
you helped me fix my my grandpas 1950s zippo thanks
Thanks for this info. I have been overfilling!!!
my new one wont spark or light, I re-routed the wick and put in fuel, what do I do?
nvm i got it it was the flint
If there is a spark but no flames, but it can be lit up with another lighter (kinda defeats the purpose of having a zippo, I know), does that mean I overfilled it? thx for the video :)