Zippo lighter as a XXX.bag item

[WolfBrother]

  I post experiments that I do in all forums I participate.
Did a test with Zippo lighters to determine their feasibility for storage/use in an xxx whatever bag.
Bought 3, weighed then, numbered them, filled them with lighter fluid.

#1 - nothing special
#2 - sealed with a 1" wide band cut from bicycle inner tube.
#3 - sealed with 2 wraps of duct tape.
Put it them out on a shelf on my grill. A week later #1 empty.
A week later #2 empty. Empty being defined as weighing same as empty/not lighting.
A week later #3 weighed 1 gram more than empty and would light.
Daily temps - low 70's to high 90's and above.
My opinion - zippo's - too high maintenance for xxx bags. Better to put a butane lighter.
I did one final thing to the #1 Zippo at the end.
small squirt of purell on wick
flicked it several times-the alcohol caught. Had fire
so.........

 

[beorn]

I found something similar when i was using a lighter every day i prefered the zippo and didnt mind the regular refilling
but now normally just carry a bic.

[TWP]

I like Zippo lighters and only have a problem with having enough fuel to run them.  As wolfbrother notes, they can be used with high proof alcohol.

Zippo fuel, in metal cans, may last if stored in a cool place.  Still not a EOTW solution due to the replacement problem, but could last for years.  Same situation with the ferrocerium striker in the Zippo and in Butane lighters.  Without backup stores, they will become useless at some point.  Bics are, by design, disposable... No way to (easily) replace the striker.

RE BIC lighters, I would save the lighter after it goes dry because it still makes sparks.

[Jerry D Young]

It is my experience that traditional Zippo lighters are, like many other single name items for prepping, actually a system. When used as a system they work fine. When treated as a totally independent item, not so well.


Zippos were never designed to, or expected to, be filled and then set aside for some future use. They were designed for daily use, refilled with fuel as needed, re-flinted as needed, and re-wicked as needed. Very seldom were there any problems with their use, when used this way.


That is not to say a Zippo cannot be stored and used in the future. Sure it can. But the fuel must bestored with it, but not in it. There are several methods to do this, the best on in my opinion being original Zippo fuel cans.


When the time comes, though the stored Zippo is not an immediate reaction item, once brought out, fueled, and then used regularly, with re-filling, re-flinting, and re-wicking done with stored items, it is an immediate use item.


Just my opinion.

[230gr]

If you can distille 95% ethanol, the flash point looks good
Ethyl Alcohol 95%, 190 Proof, Flash Points: CLOSED CUP: 65.3°F
Zippo Blend C Lighter Fluid FLASH POINT:  CLOSED CUP: <73°F

Lighter Fluid should burn hotter than Lighter Fluid though.

[WolfBrother]

Jerry,
As usual you brought some clarity. Right now I don't keep what I consider to be high maintenance items in any of my TLI bags


I deliberately did the test to see if the Zippo  could be made into a low maintenance enough of an item to be kept in my  BOB  bag.


I replace maintenance items yearly

[TWP]

...
Lighter Fluid should burn hotter than Lighter Fluid though.

hotter than what?  I'm guessing that alcohol will be the "hotter" of the two as it has a lower flash point and higher volatility.

[TWP]

Jerry,

With respect to the cans used to store lighter fluid.  Those with the dispenser spout (pointed with a plastic cap) are not "airtight" and will let the fluid slowly evaporate.

The true storage cans have a screw on lid with a gasket.

The dispenser can is still a good item to have as it make dripping fluid into the small hole in the bottom of the lighter much easer and avoid wasting the fluid.

[230gr]

I'm guessing that alcohol will be the "hotter" of the two as it has a lower flash point and higher volatility

I was looking at its formula as it has more carbon per molecule.
Ethanol contains approximately 12,500 BTU of heat per pound.
Zippo lighter fluid 18,200 per pound.
White gas contains approximately 20,000 BTU per pound, or nearly double the amount of  alcohol.

[Jerry D Young]

Jerry,
As usual you brought some clarity. Right now I don't keep what I consider to be high maintenance items in any of my TLI bags


I deliberately did the test to see if the Zippo  could be made into a low maintenance enough of an item to be kept in my  BOB  bag.


I replace maintenance items yearly

Yep. I was just trying to add some information that would take it from an absolute "No point in having Zippos because they are useless" to the "they can be used very well for this." There are people whose minds work on black/white methodology. There is a great deal of gray in the world, and I have taken it on as a personal quest to point that out occasionally.

Just my opinion.

[Jerry D Young]

Jerry,

With respect to the cans used to store lighter fluid.  Those with the dispenser spout (pointed with a plastic cap) are not "airtight" and will let the fluid slowly evaporate.

The true storage cans have a screw on lid with a gasket.

The dispenser can is still a good item to have as it make dripping fluid into the small hole in the bottom of the lighter much easer and avoid wasting the fluid.

I agree. I have 3 (I think) of the small ~single load Zippo fuel bottles. Even those slowly lose fuel over time. Like Wolf Brother said, Zippos and their fuel require regular maintenance.

Just my opinion.

[TWP]

I'm guessing that alcohol will be the "hotter" of the two as it has a lower flash point and higher volatility

I was looking at its formula as it has more carbon per molecule.
...

From that standpoint, yes, "hotter" = more BTU per weight unit.