Changing A Zippo Flint
August 6th, 2010 by Drew Sabot, under Travel and Leisure. No Comments
Fluid-filled lighters use a wheel and a flint to produce spark. The most well-known incarnation of this system is the Zippo lighter design which features a cloth wick, cotton reservoir and a steel wheel. The flint and the wick are the two parts of this system that require the most frequent replacement though the instances in which the wick must be replaced are fairly rare. The flints, however, wear down rather quickly.
Take the lighter insert out of the case and turn it upside down. On the bottom of the lighter one will see a felt covering with a hole in the middle and a screw off to the side. The screw is loosened to open up the tube in which the flints are held. This screw should be loose enough to remove by simply using one’s hands. Over tightening these devices is not good for the lighter and makes replacement difficult.
The screw is pulled out and the insert turned right side up to allow any remaining chips of flint to fall out of the lighter. Small chips of flint can become lodged in the spark wheel and prevent it from turning. In fact, a wheel that refuses to turn is oftentimes the first clue that one’s flint has been shaved down past the point of usefulness by use. One can usually just turn the wheel backwards to dislodge these chips if they become stubbornly-lodged in the devices.
The flints are simply loaded into the channel underneath the wheel from the access hole on the bottom. There are several different types of flints available and their sizes, being more or less standardized, should fit the vast majority of lighters. Once the flint has been dropped into the port, the screw is simply placed back in and the lighter is ready to use. Remember not to tighten the screw too much as it may damage the spring.
Some individuals will wish to place additional flints in their lighter for backup. Loading these in the tube is generally not the best idea. One can simply place them on top of the cotton reservoir and cover them with the felt before replacing the screw. If the flint should run out, one has another ready to take its place and there is no additional tension placed on the screw which can cause problems with the spark wheel.
Ryder is a consultant for an online specialty butane lighter store and has expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including table lighters.
