How to maintain a Zippo Lighter

Did you know that over 600 million Zippo lighters have been sold? And there’s a good reason for that! Zippo lighters come with a lifetime guarantee, and as they say themselves, “it works or we fix it.” In addition, the lighter works in almost any kind of weather, as it’s designed to be windproof. Your Zippo can be your faithful companion for life if you take care of it! So how do we do that? 

General tips

1. You spill it, you clean it! Any excess lighter fuel or liquid must be washed off. Lighter fuel can damage some finishes
2. Make sure the wick is maintained! Has it turned black? Then it needs trimming!
3. Be careful when opening and closing the lid. Misuse and excessive use can cause the hinge to break

How to replace the flint in your Zippo

You need to do this regularly, but we recommend doing it about once a month if you use it often.How to do it:

1. Remove the insert from the case 
2. At the bottom of the insert, unscrew the flint spring using a small screwdriver or a coin. Be careful and do it slowly 
3. Then turn it upside down again and remove any remaining pieces by gently tapping the insert on a hard surface
4. Insert a new flint into the brass-colored flint tube. Make sure you don’t mistake the brass tip at the end of the flint spring for a flint. It may look like a flint, but it isn’t!
5. Replace the flint spring and turn it clockwise until it is tight
6. If the flint wheel gets stuck after you’ve replaced the flint, turn the wheel backward a few times

How to trim and replace a wick on a Zippo

A brand-new wick is white, but over time it will turn black due to carbon buildup. This will reduce the lighter’s performance. If your Zippo doesn’t light properly and you have to ignite it several times before it catches, it’s time to trim the wick.Here’s how to do it: 

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

After doing this a few times, the wick will run out and you’ll need to replace it:

1. Remove all components from the insert: the flint screw, felt pad, packing material, and old wick
2. Insert the new wick into the chimney hole, then bend the upper part of the wick over the chimney to hold it in place during assembly
3. Replace the packing material in small pieces, weaving the wick between the padding in an S pattern
4. Then place the felt pad back over the flint tube and secure it with the flint spring
5. Trim the wick and put the insert back into the case

Fun fact:

Did you know there’s a dedicated Zippo car? It has been seen driving around the streets in various versions since 1947! Below is the latest model, delivered in 1998, which now stands outside The Zippo/Case Museum & Flagship Store in Bradford, Pennsylvania.Pretty tough, if you ask us!

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