How to maintain your Zippo Lighter

Did you know that over 600 million Zippo Lighters have been sold? And it's not for nothing! Zippo Lighters have a lifetime guarantee and as they say themselves "it works  or we fix it". In addition, the lighter works in almost any type of weather as it is supposed to be windproof. The Zippo can be your faithful friend for life if you take care of it! So how do we do it? 

General tips

1. You spill it, you clean it! Excess petrol or liquid must be washed away. Lighter gasoline can damage some finishers
2. Make sure the wick is maintained! Has it turned black?  Yes,  then you have to trim it!
3. Be careful when opening and closing the lid. Abuse and overuse can cause the hinge to be damaged

How to change the flint on the Zippo

You must do this regularly, but we recommend doing it approx. once a month if you use it often. Here's how to do it:

1. Remove the insert from the cover 
2. At the bottom of the insert, unscrew the flint spring with a small screwdriver or a coin. Be careful and  do it slowly 
3. Then turn it back up and remove any residue by gently tapping the insert on a hard surface
4. Insert new flint into the brass colored flint tube. Be careful not to confuse the brass tip on the end of the flint spring. It might look like a flint, but it's not!
5. Replace the flint spring and turn clockwise until it is tight
6. If the flint wheel gets stuck after you have changed the flint, turn the wheel backwards a few times

How to trim and change the wick on the Zippo

A brand new wick is white, but over time it will turn black from carbon build-up. This will reduce the performance of the lighter. If the Zippo doesn't fire properly and you have to  light it several times before it catches fire, it's time to trim the wick. Here's how to do it: 

1. Use tweezers and gently pull the wick up until you see it turn white
2. Then cut the blackened wick away with scissors

After doing this a few times, it will run out and you will then need to change the wick:

1. Remove all components from the insert: the flint screw, the felt pad, the packing material and the old wick
2. 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 installation
3. Replace the packing material in small pieces, and weave the wick between the padding in an S pattern
4. Then put the felt pad back over the flint tube and secure it with the flint spring
5. Cut the wick and put the insert back into the cover

Fun facts:

Did you know that there is a separate Zippo car? It has been seen rolling on the streets in various versions since 1947! Below you see the latest model which was delivered in 1998 and now stands outside The Zippo/case museum & Flagship store in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Pretty tough if you ask us!

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