A Zippo for pipe and cigar smokers

[shortbow]

A while back on here somewhere I mentioned that I was going to order a Thunderbird butane insert for my old Zippo, because the gasoline fumes spoiled my smoke.

I got it a couple of days ago, and just wanted to report that it works really great. Gives my the best of both worlds. If, like me you like Zippos for the vintage vibe and all that but can't stand the stink and taste, I would suggest you give the Thunderbird a try.

At eleven dollars it's hard to go wrong. Dave at Walker Briar Works told me I'd love it, and he was telling the truth.

 

[Effingham]

Brilliant! Thanks for the heads-up on this. I love Zippos, but would never use one on my pipes or cigars. This makes me all kinds of happy.

 

[Big_e]

Same here. I just now remember the thread and am gonna give the Thunderbird inserts a try. I love my zippo and the metallic click sound it makes but the fuel smell ruins a good cigar. I hate the way the fuel sometimes leaks and irritates my skin through my pockets after I refill them.
Ernest

 

[Trenchfriend]

I still like my Slim-Zippo.
Since I repositioned the wick in the cotton pads, I have no trouble to pull it a little out for a new tip, when neccessary. Storing the replacement flint in the bottom whole.

Yes, the Zippo benzine is more or less clean enough to light pipe. But I was surprised, that the difference between Zippo benzine and plain old cheap wash benzine isn't so much. I thought, the wash benzine would be super stinky, but it's not that worse, in my opinion. If someone is smoking cigarettes, it would probably be good enough. For pipe, I would prefer Zippo benzine.

But, when it comes to compare my still reliable gas-(metal) Clipper with my benzine-Zippo:

Clipper 1:0 Zippo

 

[belfastboy]

A while back on here somewhere I mentioned that I was going to order a Thunderbird butane insert for my old Zippo, because the gasoline fumes spoiled my smoke.

I got it a couple of days ago, and just wanted to report that it works really great. Gives my the best of both worlds. If, like me you like Zippos for the vintage vibe and all that but can't stand the stink and taste, I would suggest you give the Thunderbird a try.

At eleven dollars it's hard to go wrong. Dave at Walker Briar Works told me I'd love it, and he was telling the truth.

I converted all my old Zippos to the butane insert. Work great with no odour.

 

[Edward]

Is the butane easy to fill? I spent a fair bit on a nice gas pipe-lighter a few years ago, but I could never et the damn thing to refill enough for more than a single light. User-error, I'm sure, but I really do need an idiot-proof version...

 

[Trenchfriend]

Coming back from grocery store, our smalltown REWE. The Atomic lighter gas is indeed ISO-Butane only, which is recommended by Clipper, too!

And I got a bottle Atomic lighter benzine, too.

Test splash on my hands:

Atomic 0:1 Zippo

Yep, the Atomic is the classic smelly benzine, like wash benzine. The Zippo is cleaner.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Now sprinkled Atomic benzine in my Zippo. Yeah, of course more smelly, but I think, it's not that bad.

Maybe, light benzine was much more stinky in the 70s/80s?

 

[Trenchfriend]

Don't know about your Zippos, but I can tell you def., that my Slim-Zippo doesn't like, when its wick gets too much cooled down.

So, I now store it in my living-room.

 

[The one from the North]

Inspired by this thread I asked my local tobacconist, and hey presto:

Cost me 25€ and of course, works like a charm!

 

[Trenchfriend]

@The one from the North

Aah, the double jetflame, not the classic gas flame. Good, that I looked twice!

 

[Trenchfriend]

Zippo heatbank-handwarmer, anyone else?

I only knew the catalytic pocket ovens, but not these electric ones.
Saw them randomly for the very first time, today and spontaneously grabbed one. Funny and useful toy, in my opinion.
The funny thing about it is, that the lowest temp-setting, while having it in my pocket, is even sufficient for me.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Started my handwarmer at 15:00.

Let's see!

 

[Trenchfriend]

We had it on in my Mum's (heated) apartment for nearly 7 hours!

Right now, i put it on and it's still heating, on level 1.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Is the butane easy to fill? I spent a fair bit on a nice gas pipe-lighter a few years ago, but I could never et the damn thing to refill enough for more than a single light.

What model?

I think, the refilling valve must have been the problem. Seems to be the weak point on many butane lighters, very often.
Either you got trouble on refilling OR the valves finally fail.

And that's the funny thing, that my 1,99 EUR jet flame lighers from drugstore normally work excellent. For cigar only, of course.

But I mean, a nice stupid simple benzine lighter is still a stupid simple benzine lighter and when you got extra-cleaned fuel (like Zippo), you got an very reliable basic, I would say.

But my advise:
DON'T get a "Slim-Zippo"! Classic Zippo is the reliable one!

 

[Trenchfriend]

Actually doing experiment!

I just wanted to try a cheap China-Zippo, to see how longlasting they can be. I grabbed a black Champ Zippo knock-off. Actually it works fine. Manufacturing date D/23.

The lever seems to be Zinc die-cast.

I filled both with Zippo fuel.

 

[DesertDan]

I use the Zippo and Ronson oil fluids and like them just fine.
I also use a regular Bic lighter quite often.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Got a funny 90s lighter from neighbourhood. Motorbike lighter.
It's practically NOS and still working.

One of the funny catalyst (storm) lighters.

 

[Trenchfriend]

I thought about it, last night.

I gave a "hood girl" fire, yesterday evening. I don't know, if it felt kind of special. But did I lost my Zippo-virginity??

 

[Trenchfriend]

Does anyone know, if the very basic "Regular Street Brass" Zippo does age well?

We don't have Walmart here, but maybe I will find the super basic Zippo anywhere.