Refilling and Cleaning a Zippo
on Aug.08, 2009, under Poker
Zippo lighters require some care when refueled. The liquid fuel used is slow to evaporate”thus, the lighter’s famous windproof performance”and can damage surfaces in addition to posing a fire hazard. It is also a skin irritant so caution must be exercised immediately after refueling the lighter, particularly by individuals with sensitive skin.
Of all the lighter fluids available, those sold at grocery and discount stores are the most likely to give a foul, petroleum taste to tobacco. Smokers generally avoid these fuels. They are adequate for utility use but, in general, better-quality fuels also burn more efficiently which makes them a superior choice all around. Even from the aspect of keeping a lighter clean and functioning, they offer advantages in that there are fewer impurities with which the lighter may become fouled.
Refueling the lighter can be a bit tricky the first few times. Replace the fuel in small amounts and give it time to soak into the cotton. Attempting to fill the cotton with one long spray usually results in overfill which can drip out of the wick area and ooze out of the lighter case when it’s put into one’s pocket. It doesn’t take a great deal of fuel to refill one of these lighters. When the lighter has been fueled, let it stand in the open air for a while”with the lid closed”to allow any excess to dissipate. This will ensure that there is no stray fuel on the case which can irritate the skin and which can, of course, ignite when the lighter is lit creating quite a large flame!
Some individuals have moved away from liquid-fueled lighters to the high-end butane models. A Lotus lighter is among such lighters and offers a cleaner-burning, hotter flame than does lighter fluid. Still, the trademark click of a Zippo case and the timeless style of these lighters makes them perennial favorites among smokers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
After refueling, give the lighter a while to sit before putting it into a pocket. Some fluid may leech out of the lighter after it’s filled and this can irritate the skin and damage clothing and, of course, poses a fire hazard. Once the lighter has been allowed to sit, test it for proper operation to make sure all is well.