Before I ruin my lighter, will a zippo run ok on ethanol? Petrol makes a pipe taste unpleasant and I won't touch those blow torch style lighters since one exploded in my hand.
zippo fuels
- Thread starter Realgar
- Start date
-
Come along to the amazing Summer Moot (21st July - 2nd August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
Paganwolf
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
That's a waste of perfectly good rum.
The other reason for switching is that after half a day of a zippo in my pocket, the fuel fumes leave me with a nasty sore patch of skin.
Realgar
The other reason for switching is that after half a day of a zippo in my pocket, the fuel fumes leave me with a nasty sore patch of skin.
Realgar
Paganwolf
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Whilst Zippo only recommend their own (bloody expensive) fuel, they will run on pretty much anything.
I've even run mine of aftershave once (don't ask!) and Bosnian brandy, so using ethanol won't be a problem. Just be careful as ethanol is pretty volatile...
I've even run mine of aftershave once (don't ask!) and Bosnian brandy, so using ethanol won't be a problem. Just be careful as ethanol is pretty volatile...
my zippo and permanent match have been run on petrol, polish vodka, ethanol, propan-1-ol, propan-2-ol, tetrahydrofuran (not fantastic), acetonitrile (dangerous as could release cyanide but burns ok), paraffin, ethyl acetate (gives me a stinking headache from the fumes when not burning), methanol (really too volatile for good use as a fuel), ethyl ethanoate (the compound which gives the smell to pear drops), octanol (don't like the smell of that either), toluene and benzene (carcinogenic and give quite a smoky flame).
Can you tell I work in a lab? Didnt try the diethyl ether as that is probably way too volatile. The permanent match kept failing though as I was dissolving the adhesive out of the body and had to keep gluing the bottom back on.
The short answer is that it will work on any flammable liquid. Dont use anything too volatile as it evaporates away annything not volatile enough is harder to start on a cold day. Other than that just avoid anything really toxic (permanent match seems to have less of an evaporation problem) or anything that would destroy the actual body of the zippo (corrosive, reactive etc)
Can you tell I work in a lab? Didnt try the diethyl ether as that is probably way too volatile. The permanent match kept failing though as I was dissolving the adhesive out of the body and had to keep gluing the bottom back on.
The short answer is that it will work on any flammable liquid. Dont use anything too volatile as it evaporates away annything not volatile enough is harder to start on a cold day. Other than that just avoid anything really toxic (permanent match seems to have less of an evaporation problem) or anything that would destroy the actual body of the zippo (corrosive, reactive etc)
I should say that ethanol is actually my favorite fuel. Burns really well, non toxic and even smells nice. If you smoke definately change to ethanol.
PS vodka etc burn ok, ethanol is much better. Make sure you get absolute ethanol or analytical grade if you can. The cheaper industrial stuff (non drinking) is purified a different way and actually contains a very small amount of benzene.
PS vodka etc burn ok, ethanol is much better. Make sure you get absolute ethanol or analytical grade if you can. The cheaper industrial stuff (non drinking) is purified a different way and actually contains a very small amount of benzene.
It's basicaly a metal stick with a threaded top, the end of the stick holds a short section of wick and the whole thing screws into a small plastic pot. The side of the pot has a much harder version of the firestick that you strike the match against. You can find them online desribed variously as 'permanent match' or 'metal match'. If you have a 'Go outdoors' shop nearby they're sold as a 'tinder kit' with a few plugs of tallow soaked cotton wool, they're very efficient on fuel and very reliable.
Realgar
Realgar
Yeah, I carry a small bottle of absolute ethanol around as well its just so useful. I wouldnt take DMSO (dimethylsulphoxide to the rest of you 
) into the wilds on principal though. For those that dont know if you get it on your skin it can actually transport other materials (dirt, oil, that nightshade you brushed against etc) accross the skin barrier and into the bloodstream. Even if the skin would normally keep them out. :yikes: Interesting stuff.
You can become immune to cadaverine :shock: bet it does clear crowds fast. Friend of mine used to work in Edinburgh zoo. One of the male tigers sprayed him (scent marking) one night and he got the whole top deck of the bus to himself on the way home :rolmao:
) into the wilds on principal though. For those that dont know if you get it on your skin it can actually transport other materials (dirt, oil, that nightshade you brushed against etc) accross the skin barrier and into the bloodstream. Even if the skin would normally keep them out. :yikes: Interesting stuff.You can become immune to cadaverine :shock: bet it does clear crowds fast. Friend of mine used to work in Edinburgh zoo. One of the male tigers sprayed him (scent marking) one night and he got the whole top deck of the bus to himself on the way home :rolmao:
I have never tried alternative fuels in my Zippo. Not sure I would venture down some of these paths...particularily cadaverine 
):
As for zippo fuel evaporation problems...I wrap my Zippo in 3-4 layers of Saran Wrap...a PVC stretch food wrap. That has kept it fueled in my vest pocket for many many weeks.
Of course, I do not use the lighter daily or this would be a huge pain, but it works. I also carry a small Tabasco sauce bottle full of lighter fluid to refuel it if needed. Zippo makes a neat aluminum fuel bottle that I also have, but for some reason I carry the Tabasco bottle of fuel.
): As for zippo fuel evaporation problems...I wrap my Zippo in 3-4 layers of Saran Wrap...a PVC stretch food wrap. That has kept it fueled in my vest pocket for many many weeks.
Of course, I do not use the lighter daily or this would be a huge pain, but it works. I also carry a small Tabasco sauce bottle full of lighter fluid to refuel it if needed. Zippo makes a neat aluminum fuel bottle that I also have, but for some reason I carry the Tabasco bottle of fuel.
Here is that Zippo aluminum fuel can...
About the size of a 20g shot shell and holds 2 or more fillings of fuel. I got it on eBay.
About the size of a 20g shot shell and holds 2 or more fillings of fuel. I got it on eBay.
I have a zippo and i agree they are great. But they are more of a smooth, novelty item. They claim to be windproof, but clearly are as windproof as any other lighter. They run out of fuel quick. Why not just carry a butane or two? You know...like a bic or clipper.
Similar threads
