Zippo Tips

Buying a Zippo

• Zippo lighters are available in all manner of designs and sizes. For collectors, the most important factors are the scarity of the design and the condition of the lighter. Be on the look out for fakes and copies. The Zippo design has become very popular with counterfeiters and has been copied numerous times. Look at the quality of the design and whether it goes all the way around; make sure you never buy a Zippo without a box and the authenticating paperwork and examine the mechanism as they can be easily replaced with cheap copies.

Caring for a Zippo

• Depending on whether your Zippo is plain metal or painted and if it is for display or practical purposes, the care techniques are very different. Plain metal lighters can be cleaned with normal metal polish, while brass or silver Zippos may require specialized products to clean them properly. Painted or coated Zippos will have their own care instructions that require you to clean it will a degreasing chemical to protect the design. If you bought your Zippo simply for utilitarian purposes, the wick, flint and cotton packing will need to be cared for. To trim the wick, pull it up using pliers and cut it with scissors. Eventually you will need to replace the wick by taking out all the cotton packing. The flint can be changed by taking out the mechanism and unscrewing the flint spring. The cotton packing, which is soaked in the fuel, may also need to be replaced periodically as it will no longer hold the fluid.

Things to Look Out For

• An authentic Zippo, which comes with a box with paperwork, will be under a warranty. This does not always cover the hinge of the lighter, which understandably undergoes more strain than other parts. Beware of online auctions. You can't guarantee the authenticity of items brought from these sites. Make sure you keep the box and paperwork. This will maintain the value of the lighter.