I have recently decided that in addition to the strike anywhere wooden matches recommended by Gary North, and the bulk book matches recommended by Smitty, I will buy myself a Zippo lighter for my bug out bag.

Those of you who have ever had trouble lighting a fire with a match because of the wind will understand why I think a Zippo is worth the additional expense. When I was a Boy Scout, we were not allowed to start a fire with a Zippo - the Scoutmaster considered it to be cheating. Looking back, I can appreciate the flint & steel or rubbing two sticks together approach. But since we were allowed to use modern inventions such as flashlights and pocket knives, I don't see now why a Zippo is cheating, except that it makes starting a fire too easy, I suppose!

So I have done a little window shopping, and here are the results.

The best price I have found is $9.75 at Walmart for a "standard issue" brushed chrome Zippo, which lists at $12.95.

My local Sam's does not carry Zippo, but does offer 50 Bic butane lighters for $25.00, and 60 knock-off butane lighters for $10.00. I also found at Save A Lot 3 knock-off butanes for a dollar. But the butanes go out (like a match) in the breeze, I believe.

There is a tobacconist on the internet at www.jrcigar.com which offers a *free* Zippo with a black matte finish with the Dutch Masters logo (a black matte finish Zippo lists for $15.95), if you purchase at least $14.85 worth of Dutch Masters cigars. I plan to do this because those cheap cigarillos are wrapped twice in cellophane, and I expect that they will make a very good barter item if the worst cames to pass. And if nothing happens with Y2K, I can throw them away and still have the lighter for less than list price.

I looked up Zippo at www.zippo.com and ordered a catalogue. As you probably know, Zippo lighters are collectors items, with thousands of different models over the years. This year they are offering five different models in their Zippo Millennium Series.

I plan to get No. 764 which says, "Zippo...The one thing not controlled by computers and guaranteed to work on January 1, 2000."

No. 766 has a cartoon of a computer, and says, "The Y2K problem has finally been solved. Solutions to be released January 1, 1900."

If anyone is aware of a better deal, please let me know.

-- GA Russell (ga.russell@usa.net), June 14, 1999

Answers

I forgot an s. The correct JR URL is www.jrcigars.com

-- GA Russell (garussell@russellga.com), June 14, 1999.

Good post, I prefer Ronson's myself, or those flamethrowers they sell to alpine expeditions :)

My 2 cents, cases and cases of the cheapo plastic BIC's as barter items - can't be beat :)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), June 14, 1999.

Andy,

I got a cheap butane flame thrower once, and there was a leak. The butane evaporated.

Is the Bic airtight? If so, I'll agree that it will be a very popular barter item should we have a serious problem.

-- GA Russell (garussell@russellga.com), June 14, 1999.

Zippos could be a good alternative -- but, got fuel and flints? (I'm assuming they are the kind you refill. Or do they have butane types, now?)

-- A (A@AisA.com), June 14, 1999.

I "think" they are air-tight, not sure about the shelf life though :)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), June 14, 1999.

Fuel is Naptha. Forget the expensive little cans. Go to your local hardware store and buy a gallon of the stuff for about 7 bucks.

-- Lee Chesson (lchesson@infoave.net), June 14, 1999.

In addition to a Zippo lighter, you may want to consider a butane torch. You can get an inexpensive one (in my experience, just as good as the expensive ones at cigar stores) at party stores for around $7.00. These are less likely to go out in windy conditions.

-- Bruce Webber (bwebber@ameritech.net), June 14, 1999.

A trick for lighting fires in the wind: those trick birthday candles that you blow out and they keep relighting. A few might be handy to tuck into that bug out bag.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), June 14, 1999.

I know it sounds unreasonable in light of modern technology, with Zippos and Bics and bulk rate matches, but there is a simpler way to start a fire. Some of you might want to look into the old method of "rubbing two sticks together". Actually, all you need is some string, a few dry sticks, a pocketknife, and some dry tinder. I can't explain it very well here but I'm sure some outdoor survival magazines offer tips. It's very reassuring to know you can start a fire almost anyway with very little resources. Just a suggestion for those of you who have the energy and don't like relying on Bic lighters. Another suggestion I might add to someone's bug out bag is a two inch magnifying glass. You'd be amazed how fast you can get a roaring campfire going with one of those puppys and a sunny day. And that way you have an excuse to stop hiking early and make camp before the sun goes down.

-- (planetz@zranch.org), June 14, 1999.

There was a good thread back in January on how to start a fire the old-fashioned way:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000NW1

"By Request: Fire Without Matches"

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), June 14, 1999.

The best emergency fire starter is a common road flare. You can pick up several for 10 bucks or so - and they will start a fire under conditions where ordinary methods are sure to fail. Most states require you to carry them in your car - along with several other types of emergency supplies. Pity they don't enforce those laws.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), June 14, 1999.

Be aware that a zippo when fueled and left "on the shelf" WILL dry out and not work. Have never experimented with just how long it takes to completely dry out but will experiment and report back.

BTW, have been using either Coleman fuel and/or gasoline in zippos for decades. Gasoline gives off a little smell but works in a pinch.

-Greybear, who uses a zippo several times a day for assistance on one of those nasty not PC habits.

-- Got a light?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), June 14, 1999.

Get a magnesium block, the ultimate in almost indefinite fire starters

-- Will (sibola@hotmail.com), June 14, 1999.

Steel wool and a source of flame, presto, fire in the rain! Just add pine needles if available, or reasonable facimile, fallen bark chips, pitch if available, and windfall underbelly stuff (if dry like it should be).

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), June 14, 1999.

Hello Everyone!

Thanks for your many intelligent contributions.

A,

Yes, flints and fuel are required items to stock. But so are matches, the magnifying glass and everything else for any method short of the caveman approach. It is just as easy to place fuel and flints in one's bugout bag as anything else.

I have read that Zippo sold a butane model briefly about ten years ago. Their sales pitch now is that naptha is superior because the Zippo doesn't require a button to be pushed to release the fuel, thus allowing for a continuing *hands-free* flame.

Andy,

I suppose we should just consider all refillable lighters to be vulnerable to fuel evaporation.

My bet is that the non-refillable Bic has a very long shelf-life. But I don't know that for sure.

Lee,

How do you load your Zippo without the little can's spout?

Bruce,

The cheap butane torch is what I was referring to. The fuel evaporated much too rapidly, in my opinion.

Linda,

Why are the birthday candles easier to light in a strong breeze than the fire itself?

Planetz,

You're right. It *is* unreasonble to consider rubbing two sticks together when an alternative is available!!!

I like your suggestion about the magnifying glass. That's one more item I haven't thought of yet.

Paul,

I would think that a flare might be a valuable commodity limited in supply, not to be wasted on starting a fire (except in a freezing memergency).

Greybear,

There were many posts on naptha some months ago. Is Coleman fuel just the same as Zippo lighter fluid and Ronsonol, give or take an additive?

Will,

I picked up a magnesium block, and I plan to practice with it soon. It's raining today. Maybe today would be a good day to try to start a fire.

Michael,

It sounds like steel wool might be another good barter item.

To all,

I notice that no one mentioned that Zippo (or at least its advertising agency) is GI!

Model 764 is clearly the work of someone who understands the concern about the universality of the problem. I think it's both serious and funny at the same time.

Instead of attempting to persuade a DGI, I will simply show him the lighter. It is more likely to get a few wheels turning in someone's head than what I might say.

-- GA Russell (ga.russell@usa.net), June 15, 1999.

Zippos are nice, and work great in breezy conditions, but mine always leaked lighter fluid. I kept it in my pocket and it gave me a rash. Stunk up my pack too. One good firestarted is dryer lint. It's dry and burns real well, especially if it has a high cotton content. See my page below for more fire and heating tips:
http ://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/3959/y2ksurv.htm

-- Chuck (robertsc@accn.org), June 15, 1999.

Chuck,

They tell me that the Zippo fluid rash on your leg is a right of passage into manhood!

I think you filled it too full. My dad always burned a flame for a few seconds after refilling it to take care of any excess.

Zippo sells a leather pouch for $7.95 which I plan to pick up as well. I already have enough in my pockets.

-- GA Russell (garussell@russellga.com), June 15, 1999.

Speaking of the devil, Eckerd is having a sale on Zippos this week!

The ad states: Zippo lighters in 8 styles $9.99, regularly $12.95.

Having done all this research on Zippos this week (Who knows, I could by this time be a world class Zippo expert, kind of like the kids in fourth grade who know more about the Red Sox than all the adults do.), I knew that only two styles are regularly $12.99 - the regular and slim brushed chrome.

So I went down to Eckerd and found that *all* of their small selection, ranging in price from $12.95 to $16.95, is on sale for $9.99.

I bought the high polish chrome which is usually $15.99. I felt that of the selection they had, it would be the most visible should I drop it in the woods.

I have been planning to buy the "flame orange matte" model for that reason.

So now I am the proud owner of a new Zippo.

I then went to Publix and bought two 12 oz. cans of Zippo lighter fluid, which lists for $3.28, which Publix sells for $1.89.

Man, I think I'm saving more money than Old Git this week!

-- GA Russell (ga.russell@usa.net), June 16, 1999.

Not to beat a dead horse on this, but now that I have purchased the thing, I am wondering if keeping the lighter fluid in the bug out bag in the trunk of the car is unsafe.

I was planning to wrap it in the blanket.

Greybear, Chuck, et al...Is it unsafe to have the lighter fluid in the bug out bag?

-- GA Russell (ga.russell@usa.net), June 22, 1999.

Indulge me please, I have to tell you guys this story.

Some years ago, a Boatswain's Mate striker of my acquaintance had a penchant for zippo lighters and more to the point, a penchant for burning things other than lighter fluid in them.

As we were on good terms, and I carried a Zippo as well and appreciated "work arounds" too, I followed his experiments with more than casual interest.

One afternoon when we were somewhere out of sight of land, he invited me to his berthing space to see something that he, "was sure I'd be interested in."

After waiting until the compartment was empty of other sailors, he produced a gallon can of carbon tetrachloride that he'd nicked from the ship's dry cleaning shop. "This stuff'll keep my ol' Zippo goin' 'til we make port again!", he crowed.

"Boats", I tried to caution him, "you can't use carbon-tet in a lighter! It's inflammable!"

"Sure it is", he said, "just smell it!", and proceeded to fill his Zippo, spilling great quantities on his rack, the deck and himself in the process.

"No, Boats, inflammable means it won't burn! I know everybody thinks it's just the other way around, but honest, carbon-tet won't burn! They use it in fire extinguishers for Pete's sake!"

"Hardliner, you're just a dumb Jarhead", he said. By now he had changed his clothes since he was afraid of setting himself on fire because of all the spilled cleaning fluid.

Well, Boats spun the wheel on that Zippo, and a blue-green flame about the size of a fist grew out of the top of the lighter--for part of a second. After that, nothing he did (including massive infusions of regular lighter fluid) would make that Zippo light. Later that day, he threw both the Zippo and the carbon-tet off the fantail and for the rest of the cruise, everytime he saw me he'd say, "Damn dumb Jarhead. . ."

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), June 22, 1999.

Hi Hardliner!

Great story. And I bet if things get desparate many others will experience the same problem as they experiment with fuels.

Needless to say, the first and best option is to have Zippo fix it for free. However, that's not too likely unless you live in Bradford, PA. (I can see the Post Office and UPS being unable to deliver the lighter to Bradford, but I don't see Zippo shutting down, no matter what!)

My guess is that his wick was ruined. Wicks cost about 70 cents, so along with the flints we should all buy plenty of wicks too.

I may be wrong about this, but I'm gussing that if the material inside the insert is also ruined, it could be effectively replace by those synthtic cotton balls called "cosmetic puffs". Of course, they too would have to be purchased before 1/1. Maybe the insert is full of cotton, but I would think that the cotton might burn, causing the lighter to become too hot to handle.

Anyway, how safe is the lighter fluid in a car trunk?

-- GA Russell (ga.russell@usa.net), June 22, 1999.

GA,

I'm sure you're right about Boats' wick being shot, and I'm sure that the insert wadding was as well.

I have, on several occasions replaced both in my own zippos over the years. The wadding used to be cotton, but very densely packed cotton. What they are using these days, I have no idea. I'm not sure that you could force enough of the synthetic balls into one to achieve the same capacity as the original wadding though. When I tried (using ordinary cotton), I couldn't get enough in to make the lighter "last" more than a day or so.

My brother is a dentist and one of the items that he buys in quantity is cotton cylinders that are used to pack the mouth during and after various procedures in order to absorb blood. They are very densely packed cotton, absorb a helluva lot of liquid and are just the right size for packing into a Zippo. That's what I eventually ended up using and I think I even increased the capacity somewhat.

The second time I replaced the wadding, I used IBM tape cleaning wads. These were rectangular blocks of what appeared to be the same stuff that came in Zippos, but they had a hole in the end for a metal handle and were about the size of the end of your index finger. You saturated them with cleaning fluid and used them to clean the vacuum columns on IBM tape drives. If you have access to a mainframe computer room, you should be able to find some of these. They weren't exactly the right size and required trimming with a razor blade, but once fit into the lighter, they appeared to work as the original.

Another material that should work just as well (although I haven't tried it) is the cotton from a tampon. That's extremely dense and absorbent too.

In the matter of storing lighter fluid in your trunk, you should take two things into consideration: What are you going to store it in (container)? and How hot is the outside temperature? If you have it in a container as well made as most gas cans, you can probably count on the same degree of safety. Watch out for Gila Bend in July or August though. . .

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), June 22, 1999.