Did you know that over 600 million Zippo Lighters have been sold? And there’s a good reason for that! Zippo Lighters come with a lifetime guarantee, and as they say themselves, “it works or we fix it.” In addition, the lighter works in almost all kinds of weather, as it is designed to be windproof. Your Zippo can be your faithful companion for life if you take care of it! So how do we do that?
General tips
- You spill it, you clean it! Excess fuel or fluid must be washed away. Lighter fluid can damage some finishes
- Make sure the wick is maintained! Has it turned black? Yes, then you need to trim it!
- Be careful when opening and closing the lid. Misuse and overuse can cause the hinge to break
How to replace the flint in a Zippo
You need to do this regularly, but we recommend doing it about once a month if you use it often.How to do it:
- Remove the insert from the case
- At the bottom of the insert, unscrew the flint spring using a small screwdriver or a coin. Be careful and do it slowly
- Then turn it upside down and remove any remaining pieces by gently tapping the insert against a hard surface
- Insert a new flint into the brass-colored flint tube. Make sure not to confuse the brass tip at the end of the flint spring with a flint. It may look like a flint, but it isn't!
- Replace the flint spring and turn it clockwise until tight
- If the flint wheel gets stuck after replacing the flint, turn the wheel backward a few times
How to trim and replace the wick on a Zippo
A brand-new wick is white, but over time it will turn black due to carbon buildup. This will reduce the lighter’s performance. If your Zippo isn’t lighting properly and you have to light it several times before it catches, it’s time to trim the wick.Here’s how to do it:
- Use tweezers to gently pull the wick up until you see it turn white
- Then cut off the blackened part of the wick with scissors
After doing this a few times, the wick will run out and you’ll need to replace it:
- Remove all the components from the insert: the flint screw, felt pad, packing material, and old wick
- Then insert the new wick into the chimney hole and bend the upper part of the wick over the chimney to hold it in place during assembly
- Replace the packing material in small pieces, and weave the wick between the padding in an S pattern
- Then place the felt pad back over the flint tube and secure it with the flint spring
- Trim the wick and place the insert back into the case
Fun fact:
Did you know there’s a dedicated Zippo car? It has been seen driving on the streets in various versions since 1947! Below you can see the latest model, which was delivered in 1998 and now stands outside The Zippo/Case Museum & Flagship Store in Bradford, Pennsylvania.Pretty cool, if you ask us!
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