I tended to use zippo's, but i have only gone and stopped smoking !
I dont know what to do with them now.![]()
Zippo's are useless in the cold though, I've fallen back on a couple of them since my last windproof gas one broke down. I find I've got to warm them in my hand for about 5-10 minutes before they'll light when it's properly baltic outside - in the past have rubbed my thumb raw trying to get them to work and have already worked up quite a callous on my thumb this winter. My favourites are the windproof gas jobbies (like a little blowtorch rather than a flame), but they do seem to break down rather quickly - I've yet to find a quality one that'll last.
Gary![]()
So why did you ask??
I have found that as long as your flint in fairly new and the zippo is full of fuel they work just fine in the cold.
I've got 4 of them of various ages - they've been re-wicked, new flints etc & none of them work reliably in the cold. I googled it a while back and it seems a common problem - the only thing I've been able to narrow it down to is the quality of the fuel. The only stuff I've been able to get are the cans of Swan fluid - some of the supermarkets don't even keep it any more - but apparently the Ronson stuff is supposed to be the best so I'm keeping an eye out for it to give it a go.
It's a pain as they produce showers of sparks but steadfastly refuse to work in the cold, so I carry one stuffed inside an inside pocket & carry another in one of my outer pockets. It's a right faff having to dig inside for the warmer one when it's chucking it down with rain though!
Mind you, the sooner I can find a reliable gas windproof one, the better!
Gary![]()
Because if i ever start again, i would like to know if there is any better than a
zippo. If thats ok with you of course !
I got a few tins of ronson gary, i use them to clean my bearings, im sure i can spare a tin if you need oneI've got 4 of them of various ages - they've been re-wicked, new flints etc & none of them work reliably in the cold. I googled it a while back and it seems a common problem - the only thing I've been able to narrow it down to is the quality of the fuel. The only stuff I've been able to get are the cans of Swan fluid - some of the supermarkets don't even keep it any more - but apparently the Ronson stuff is supposed to be the best so I'm keeping an eye out for it to give it a go.
It's a pain as they produce showers of sparks but steadfastly refuse to work in the cold, so I carry one stuffed inside an inside pocket & carry another in one of my outer pockets. It's a right faff having to dig inside for the warmer one when it's chucking it down with rain though!
Mind you, the sooner I can find a reliable gas windproof one, the better!
Gary![]()
I got a few tins of ronson gary, i use them to clean my bearings, im sure i can spare a tin if you need one