Zippo Lighter Fluid Substitutes

[jack404]

no not sold here no more, the gent who had the agency passed on and the big players say theres not enough interest .. maybe not , too many wine types here now..

( but they sell 3000 types of garbage flavored vodka.. they wouldn't know a decent vodka if they fell on it)

but i do enjoy a drop or three when i get over there

i like me sippin liquor . and everclear is one of the better ones


i've 3 bottles of everclear left from the last trip ( i bring home a case and pay the damn tax )

i could still up a batch of shine for your lighters but that stuff burns pale blue and you cant see the flame until its burning you , but works a treat!!!

[Alpo]

Originally Posted by Bobitis

Why not just get a magnesium flint and striker?
Save your dryer lint (or use cotton balls) and mix it with vaseline and store in a ziplock. It's free for the most part, and much safer.

Shave some magnesium on top of the balls, add some wood shavings on the side, strike the shavings and your good to go.

Seems like a lot of work to go through to light your smoke, or melt the end of a piece of shroud line.

In all the years I've carried a lighter, I might have lit five fires with one.

[JLA]

here ya go jack. My 'toolbox' is a little empty but its still quite effective with what its got left

(if ya want i can pour some in a liter sprite bottle and send ya some 'sprite')

[Bobitis]

Originally Posted by Alpo

Seems like a lot of work to go through to light your smoke, or melt the end of a piece of shroud line.

In all the years I've carried a lighter, I might have lit five fires with one.

Yeah... I got the thread mixed up with another.

[Shooter45]

When I was a kid, I can remember my Dad fueling the Coleman lantern with Amoco " white gas. I also remember him adding some to his Zippo lighter. It worked great back then.

Don't try this with 110 or 118 octane racing fuel.

[jack404]

JLA cheers but as stated i have 3 bottles left and i'll be back in the US to restock in plenty of time , i like the good stuff but have enough of my own brews to float a PT boat
( 900 bottles roughly in kegs and bottles) i will have to get some American white oak on the next trip too for kegs, thats one thing i am short on and i cant make a decent bourbon without a decent keg..

cheers

[johnlives4christ]

well i finally broke down and tried the charcoal lighter fluid. it doesnt work. it will light after about 3 long palm length strikes, but it certainly isnt a sub for the real deal i reckon.

[ofitg]

John, I just tried another test for you. My zippo was getting dry so I squirted some Coleman Camp Fuel in the bottom. Nope, that doesn't work either. Crap. Now I need to open the zippo and let the Coleman's evaporate. Guess I'll be using a Bic lighter for the rest of the day.

[johnlives4christ]

ofitg thanks for the test info. i am really surprised the charcoal fluid wouldnt work.

[ALR]

In Vietnam I used 115/145 Avgas regularly, if too full would leak and irritate skin by pocket.
Worked on EC-47s, Avgas was plentiful!!

[dad2thebone]

that stuff will light up anything !!!!! burn the hair off yer lip in a heartbeat.

[redwing carson]

92% rubbing alcohol works. Problem is it will not last over a day in your lighter.

[armedandsafe]

When I was in Europe, we always filled our lighters using the drain valves in the wings of the L19s and Beavers. Just put the base of the lighter against the valve, push up, count 2 and stop. That was just plain 118 no lead av gas. What we called "white gas" in the 40s and 50s.

[JUNKKING]

Bug and tar remover for cleaning your vehicle. A little more expensive than lighter fluid but thats all it really is. I use lighter fluid to remove tar and bugs from the vehicles.

[geds]

This may sound stupid, but the purpose of finding a substitute to fill the lighter was to be able to use it in a doom's day scenario. Therefore, the substitute would have to be procured, stored safely, transported at the expense of other items that could be used, as well as doing likewise for the smoking materials.

Wouldn't it be wiser, safer, and better use of resources to just quit smoking? Use the extra space for carrying items that would actually be beneficial.

And, heck, if we don't have a doom's day event, you're still better off!

Flint and steel will provide enough spark to start any fire needed in the doom's day scenario - so that argument goes away too. There have already been posted several inexpensive and safe fire starters that can be made and safely stored to assist with starting any survival fire.

[Capt Mac Turk]

Originally Posted by Alpo

John, Zippos work because the fumes from the flammable liquid ignite from the sparks. Kerosene does not give off enough fumes to work. Neither does alcohol.

Lighter fluid is naphtha. Charcoal lighter, at least the brand sold by Gulf, is also naphtha, and it says on the label that it is “lighter fluid”. Well, I just looked, and it does not say that on the label, now. http://outdoor-living.hardwarestore....id-279919.aspx

Paraffin is what the British call kerosene. In this country it is wax. Usually sold as “Gulfwax”. http://www.amazon.com/Royal-Oak-972-...3260781&sr=8-2

There are two types of oil lamps in this country. Oil lamps and oil candles. The main difference is the shape of the wick. Oil lamps, and that includes lanterns, use a flat wick, between ½ and 1 inch wide. Oil candles use a round wick. Lamp oil is, basically, kerosene, although sometimes it has a color or scent added to it. Candlelamp oil is kerosene with paraffin added to it.

Jet fuel is kerosene with naphtha added to it. The fumes from the naphtha help the kerosene to ignite easier.

Coleman fuel is unleaded gasoline that is more highly refined than the stuff you put in your car. It probably will work.

Regular gasoline, I am told, will work, but I’ve never tried it.

Naphtha can be found in the paint section at hardware stores. Comes in quart and gallon cans.

AGREE!!!

I have carryed 2 Zippo's EVERYWHERE I go 1 in my holster (the Main) & one in my pocket (My Pops did this All his Smoking life)
On a boat wind just kills most if not All lighters But a ZIPPO
And Naphata works GREAT,thats what Zippo fuel is.
BUT its been weakend with something (Im not sure of what)
I buy it buy the gallon at Home de-pot or Lowes its cheap
But str8 Naphata burns hot & lights 99% of the time first strike.
I STILL use the old Zippo bottles tho,
pop the tops off its easy to fefill & reuse.
I keep a lg bottle in my truck , wifes truck & Every boat I ever ran,
Plus theres 3 bottles in my "Jam" bag.

I would say to stick with Naphata
Capt. Mac

[fuzebox40]

If you don't mind the smell of gasoline, I can tell you it works. Tried it once when I was young.

As far as using everclear, just make sure you hold a shot glass under the lighter incase you spill any.

I agree about all those bone head vodkas thier putting out these days. Good old Smirnoff is the go-to. You can spend a lot more money but you won't get a lot better vodka.

[jstgsn]

The last time I carried a zippo lighter, the fluid leaked out while in my pants pocket. I had a large pink sore spot on my thigh for a week. Now I carry a cheap bic non refillable, and a couple alcohol wipes in aluminum foil packets to start my fires.

[HunterAlpha1]

so are there any tricks i can use to keep the fuel in my zippo from evaporating?

[armedandsafe]

Originally Posted by HunterAlpha1

so are there any tricks i can use to keep the fuel in my zippo from evaporating?

Seal it in a zip lock bag, seal that in a vacuum sealer bag, then seal that in a vacuum sealer bag. My testing shows that the fuel will hold for 2 to 3 months before you need to add more.

Pops

[HunterAlpha1]

Originally Posted by armedandsafe

Seal it in a zip lock bag, seal that in a vacuum sealer bag, then seal that in a vacuum sealer bag. My testing shows that the fuel will hold for 2 to 3 months before you need to add more.

Pops

lol ok so i guess it's hopeless then

[armedandsafe]

The alternative is to keep the fuel in the original container.

Pops

[HunterAlpha1]

well i have been looking for a small bottle or can that i can put some lighter fluid in to keep in my bugout bag, but i haven't had any luck yet.

[fuzebox40]

Empty out a visine bottle. The small ones are only 2 inches tall.
Half the size of the zippo.

[boatme99]

whats av gas?

Aviation fuel. Not jet fuel.