Club Obi Wan

I've heard a couple people mention two dimples on the hinged narrow side of the Zippo. They were worried those dimples were some sort of damage or defect. Those dimples are due to the hinge mechanism being spotwelded to the inside of the case in two spots, and I have yet to see any Zippo without those dimples. That's American craftsmanship for you, or maybe those are really beauty marks. Here is a scan of a bunch of Zippos. I'm sure you can see the dimples. Their location and how deep they are may vary ever so slightly, but they are always there.



Another issue that has come up in the past is that a lighter will spark but not produce a flame. Lighters cannot be shipped filled with fuel due to postal regulations.

Cheers,
-Relic Raider

It's sad you really have to tell people. I mean it's quite obivious, ain't it?

Regards,
Redbeard

Come on, people... you can't blame'em for not knowing!
Now... as for my problem - my fedora has a h u g e hole in it. It's located in the bottom part of the hat, and it's so big I can actually get the top part of my head into it! I was appalled to see this apparent lack of craftsmanship - it was shipped to me in this condition!
How's that for a faulty product!!?!?!

My friends, be a bit more forgiving. I never gave any thought to the dimples, as their origin was clear to me, but I can understand that someone might think it's some sort of manufacturing flaw or damage. I asked my wife and she thought it might be damage, and let me add she's smarter than I am. If I were to see only one Zippo, I might think I got a flawed one. I didn't start this topic to ridicule anyone, but only to point out what's maybe less obvious than I thought. The empty lighter that didn't light up made me laugh, though.

Cheers,
-Relic Raider

Uhh, for the record - my wise-### remark was not intended to ridicule anyone... for entertainment : only...

Scandinavia Jones wrote:Uhh, for the record - my wise-### remark was not intended to ridicule anyone... for entertainment : only...

Consider me thoroughly entertained.

For those that may have never had a lighter (and who don't smoke), they may not know that you can't ship with lighter fluid in it. Yah, it makes sense. RR, glad I could make ya laugh.

Indiana Texas-girl wrote:For those that may have never had a lighter (and who don't smoke), they may not know that you can't ship with lighter fluid in it. Yah, it makes sense. RR, glad I could make ya laugh.

I never even said you were the one who didn't gas up the lighter! That kind of information remains private. Anyway, especially in this day and age it's safer to not take any chances with potentially hazardous materials in the mail.

Cheers,
-Relic Raider

Relic Raider wrote:

Indiana Texas-girl wrote:For those that may have never had a lighter (and who don't smoke), they may not know that you can't ship with lighter fluid in it. Yah, it makes sense. RR, glad I could make ya laugh.

I never even said you were the one who didn't gas up the lighter! That kind of information remains private. Anyway, especially in this day and age it's safer to not take any chances with potentially hazardous materials in the mail.

Cheers,
-Relic Raider

Nah, that's okay, I don't mind if the guys know I couldn't get it gassed up...(I probably wasn't the only one.)...looking back it's pretty funny.

Speaking of which, I need to buy some Zippo fluid for mine.

Which one did you get ITG? Metal? Resin? #200? 1941?

Indiana Irwin wrote:Which one did you get ITG? Metal? Resin? #200? 1941?

#200 Resin and I love it!

coolness!

Indiana Irwin wrote:coolness!

Is that what they call walking around with a cigarette lighter in your pocket with no lighter fluid in it because I don't smoke? I was afraid someone was going to tell me that it was called something much worse. Wheew. That's a relief.

Is that what they call walking around with a cigarette lighter in your pocket with no lighter fluid in it because I don't smoke?

I have lighter fluid in it now. In fact some fluid had evaporated and Michaelson was kind enough to refill it. I even have a can of Zippo lighter fluid now too. Aren't ya proud of me? I keep meaning to light up one of my cigars, but I haven't had anyone over yet that smokes cigars...it's no fun smoking a cigar by yourself.

ITG, I don't know if I am ever going to put lighter fluid in mine. I think it would all evaporate before I would ever use it for something.

You'd never offer someone a light?

Indiana Irwin wrote:You'd never offer someone a light?

Most of the people I know, don't smoke. I do have a good friend that smokes, but he always has his own lighter. Of the people that I work with, not a single smoker. So I guess the answer to that would probably be, no.

People never stop you in the street, or at a gig, and ask to bum a light? That happens to me a lot!

Bufflehead Jones wrote:

Indiana Irwin wrote:You'd never offer someone a light?

Most of the people I know, don't smoke. I do have a good friend that smokes, but he always has his own lighter. Of the people that I work with, not a single smoker. So I guess the answer to that would probably be, no.

Hey Bufflehead, maybe you should contact R.R. about one of these babies.

http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8471

I'm not a smoker either, but these have got to come in handy. I'm ordering one as soon as I here back from Relic Raider.
'Blues

Indiana Irwin wrote:People never stop you in the street, or at a gig, and ask to bum a light? That happens to me a lot!

No. I guess I must scare them away.

Blues, I saw those when he posted that, and I have thought about it. I guess you could just swap out the parts and return it to being a lighter anytime you wanted, right?

Indiana Texas-girl wrote:

Is that what they call walking around with a cigarette lighter in your pocket with no lighter fluid in it because I don't smoke?

I have lighter fluid in it now. In fact some fluid had evaporated and Michaelson was kind enough to refill it. I even have a can of Zippo lighter fluid now too. Aren't ya proud of me? I keep meaning to light up one of my cigars, but I haven't had anyone over yet that smokes cigars...it's no fun smoking a cigar by yourself.

Michaelson personally travelled all the way to Texas and delivered some lighter fluid? What a gentleman!
I always carry a lighter, and mine's always filled. You really never know when you need to burn something down. As Indy Blues says, a ZipLight makes sense if you don't smoke.

Cheers,
-Relic Raider

Bufflehead Jones wrote:Blues, I saw those when he posted that, and I have thought about it. I guess you could just swap out the parts and return it to being a lighter anytime you wanted, right?

Yup, it's just a quick switch to change it back, no modification to the lighter.
'Blues

I missed Bufflehead's question, but IndyBlues is pinch hitting perfectly. The ZipLight replaces the fuel tank insert on any #200 style or 1941 Zippo. You can switch back and forward between using the Zippo as lighter or as a flashlight simply by swapping out the inserts. The ZipLight does not fit the slim line Zippos.

Cheers,
-Relic Raider

Hmmm, I'm quite curious about this one. I'm not sure if I'd use it that much, but their scarcity - and the excellent, excellent mod you've made to them has me intrigued. Hmmm, think on this, I will.

Indiana Irwin wrote:Hmmm, I'm quite curious about this one. I'm not sure if I'd use it that much, but their scarcity - and the excellent, excellent mod you've made to them has me intrigued. Hmmm, think on this, I will.

Until a few weeks ago I didn't even know that ZipLights had been discontinued. Although the ZipLight was a good idea, I don't think it ever caught on. Instead of updating the design to incorporate a modern LED light source, Zippo must have decided to just abandon the idea altogether. For all I know they are still sitting on a million units. In the unlikely case that ZipLights become unavailabe for modification, it wouldn't be too hard to design and make a flash light insert from scratch.

Cheers
-Relic Raider

Relic Raider wrote:

Indiana Irwin wrote:Hmmm, I'm quite curious about this one. I'm not sure if I'd use it that much, but their scarcity - and the excellent, excellent mod you've made to them has me intrigued. Hmmm, think on this, I will.

Until a few weeks ago I didn't even know that ZipLights had been discontinued. Although the ZipLight was a good idea, I don't think it ever caught on. Instead of updating the design to incorporate a modern LED light source, Zippo must have decided to just abandon the idea altogether. For all I know they are still sitting on a million units. In the unlikely case that ZipLights become unavailabe for modification, it wouldn't be too hard to design and make a flash light insert from scratch.

Cheers
-Relic Raider

Go on, admit it, you are Q from the Bond movies, right?

Now to test your Bond trivia knowledge (Sorry you opened the door.) Can you succesfully complete this secret identification pass?

Pardon Me, Do you have a match?

Relic Raider wrote:
Michaelson personally travelled all the way to Texas and delivered some lighter fluid? What a gentleman!

Yep, sure did...this past Thursday...You could say he rescued a damsel in distress!

INDIANAMIKEY wrote:Hard to resist after seeing it in person, ,eh, ITG??

Yeah, and I have you to blame for that or should I say to thank for that.

Kentucky Mason wrote:Now to test your Bond trivia knowledge (Sorry you opened the door.) Can you succesfully complete this secret identification pass?

Pardon Me, Do you have a match?

"I use a lighter."

He IS Q! He IS Q!

For anyone interested I got the 1941 with metal badges and I LOVE IT. It takes on a real classic feel with a little use. I even got a brass 1941 and swaped out the gas tank so when I flip open the silver lighter It has a brass liner --- very cool. And as a biproduct I have a Brass Lighter with a Silver liner --- er-um, cool too? Two lighters? I guess I better take up smoking.

ps If you've never delt with Relic Raider you should consider buying something from him just for the shere pleasure of the experience.

T.E. Lawrence wrote:ps If you've never delt with Relic Raider you should consider buying something from him just for the shere pleasure of the experience.

And for the beautiful handwriting on his enveloppes.

Mike

I didn't even notice the handwriting as I tore into the packaging to see my new baby!

Speaking of handwriting, I have a box from Todd's here at the moment... his handwriting looks like mine. A bit spooky!!!

That is a very good possibility. I am trying to be much kinder and gentler.

Uh, ITG, of course we're BOTH assuming what Joe Sr. handed me was a can of Zippo fluid...it could have been something else too, considering it came from his work bench. Like Relic Raider, I too keep a full zippo in a jacket pocket at all times. Mine has come in quite handy in the past....both QM summits, by the way, when we got turned around in the hold during the infamous MK ship tour and no one had a flashlight worth a durn. The old Zippo ala Last Crusade light up showed us the way! Glad there weren't any gases down there. You'd have seen us on national news those two times, come to think of it. Kids, don't try this at home.....or MK ship tours either! High regards. Michaelson

Sounds like I really need to get a lucky charm!!

Mixing Zippo cases and tank inserts:

Every Zippo comes with a fuel tank that matches its case. Chrome Zippos come with a chrome fuel tank, brass Zippos come with brass fuel tank, and copper Zippos come with a copper fuel tank. If you have two lighters, you can simply swap the insert for a neat two-tone look. You could even take a 1941 brass Zippo and put a copper tank inside. With the badges, you'd then have a lighter that has parts made from three different metals. That results in a pretty unique look.

Regarding the color of metal badges:

The plain brushed metal badges have a silvery color. Badges can be plated, but plating does wear off, more so on high spots. It can look cool, though, especially if you like the old and worn look.

Cheers,
-Relic Raider

'Old worn look'? Why would I want something that looks like Indiana Jess? (we see Michaelson once again dive under his bullet ridden, splintered shell of a desk he works at to avoid the incoming shrapnel.) Regards. Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:'Old worn look'? Why would I want something that looks like Indiana Jess? (we see Michaelson once again dive under his bullet ridden, splintered shell of a desk he works at to avoid the incoming shrapnel.) Regards. Michaelson

Good point! You may want to maintain a pristine badge finish by gently brushing the badge with a moist green Scotch Brite pot scrubber. Avoid touching the chrome finish, or it'll have a brushed finish.

Cheers,
-Relic Raider

Relic Raider wrote:Good point! You may want to maintain a pristine badge finish by gently brushing the badge with a moist green Scotch Brite pot scrubber. Avoid touching the chrome finish, or it'll have a brushed finish.

Although, in saying that, the sides might start to take on the more brushed nature of the badges? Hmmm... an experiment might be in order...

Indiana Irwin wrote:

Relic Raider wrote:Good point! You may want to maintain a pristine badge finish by gently brushing the badge with a moist green Scotch Brite pot scrubber. Avoid touching the chrome finish, or it'll have a brushed finish.

Although, in saying that, the sides might start to take on the more brushed nature of the badges? Hmmm... an experiment might be in order...

I'd brush the surface only if it were to have scratches. If you are careful you will not touch the sides of the lighter, but with a pot scrubber you could fairly easily turn a chrome finish into a brass finish. Very old chrome finish Zippos show often some "brassing" at the corners, but that's something that happens over decades. You can find vintage Zippos often for a dollar or two at flea markets. Most of them are in horrible shape, but you might find a cheap one that is mechanically okay and makes a good beater. Frequently they need nothing but a new flint and wick.

Cheers,
-RelicRaider

Good advice! I was starting to panic at the thought of scratching her up anyway

Hey speaking of Zippos... RR, in my package there was a black tubular thingy... about an inch long...

Any ideas what this might be?

Indiana Irwin wrote:Hey speaking of Zippos... RR, in my package there was a black tubular thingy... about an inch long...

Any ideas what this might be?

Hmm, I'm not missing any of my gadgets. Can you describe it a bit better?

Cheers,
-Relic Raider

I'll do an image at the weekend...