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Time Walker

· Drive them OUT!
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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Just curious how many different types of fuels have you used in your Zippo lighters and to what success? Thanks

I have used,
paint thinner=good
alcohol =burned up my wick
Heet=same as alcohol
Coleman fuel=good

My tip, I carry several extra flints in the bottom with no ill effect so far:thumb:
 
#2 ·
Naphtha

NAPHTHA
Virtually the same as Lighter Fluid. A low vapor pressure version of Mineral Spirits / Paint Thinner. I use it a lot for thinning since it extends the drying time.

Coleman Fuel sounds like it would work OK. I think it has NAPHTHA in it. Wonder if NAPHTHA can be used as Coleman Fuel? It's a bit cheaper.

I knew not to use Alcohol. WAY too hot. Anything that burns blue.


:upsidedown:
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
caltrop said:
NAPHTHA
Virtually the same as Lighter Fluid. A low vapor pressure version of Mineral Spirits / Paint Thinner. I use it a lot for thinning since it extends the drying time.

Coleman Fuel sounds like it would work OK. I think it has NAPHTHA in it. Wonder if NAPHTHA can be used as Coleman Fuel? It's a bit cheaper.

I knew not to use Alcohol. WAY too hot. Anything that burns blue.


:upsidedown:
Click to expand...
Great I will pick up some tomorrow from Home Depot, Thanks
PS, I will give it a shot in my stove and post the results.
 
#4 ·
I have used JP8 which is some form of diesel I believe (didn't smell very good but it worked) - I have also used gasoline and starter fluid, gas is good to go, starter fluid didn't work so well if I remember (more of a logistics issue).
 
#6 ·
I experimented with charcoal lighter fluid not long ago. They have raised the ignition temperature to save us from ourselves...or more correctly, to prevent lawsuits. I did finally get it to light, but it took more work than rubbing sticks together. Ate up flints at an amazing rate. TP
 
#10 ·
My father passed away a few years ago and I love sharing his stories, anyhow this is a great place for one of them. When in WWII, they had no lighter fluid for their Zippos, so what they would do in the field, would be to take the guts out of the Zippo, and tie a small string through the holes in the “guard” then lower the Zippo guts into the gas tank of the nearest truck. Let it soak for a minute, pull it up, and wipe it off. Problem solved.

I personally have done a lot of experimentation in this area. I agree with all of the above. But being a survivalist, I went a lot more places. One thing to think about is aftershave and cologne. Both work well in a Zippo in a pinch. My normal backup is gasoline, have done it for more than 20 years.
 
#11 ·
In the part of Vietnam I was in, lighter fluid was not plentiful. We used mogas, that's the Army designation for motor gasoline. Back then it was leaded, and higher octane than modern gas, but it burned ok in a Zippo. Usually took two flicks to get it started and it burned with a black sooty flame.
We always stored extra flints in the bottom of the lighter.
 
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rice paddy daddy
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