I just bought a zippo lighter. i was wondering what you have to do to get it to light?

Answer 1

If you mean a classic Zippo lighter, there are several things that have to be working right to get it to light as it should.

All of these things used to be on sale in every grocery store, drug store, and hardware store in the good ol' USA. Now you may have to check around to find them all. If you have a tobacco shop in your town, it will stock everything you need.

You must have a good wick, a good flint, a good striker wheel, and a shell full of clean, fresh lighter fluid. Don't try to use any fuel other than cigarette lighter fluid. When I was a teenager, my neighbor tried to use gasoline in a Zippo, and lost an eye. I mean lost it. Out. No more eye in that socket. So don't try that.

First, slip the case off and inspect the inner shell. It should be clean and have no cracks or holes in it. Take out the cotton barrier at the bottom, and see what the wick looks like. The wick zigzags throughout the shell and becomes soaked with fluid when you fill it.

If the wick is old, stiff, dried out, or missing, you need to replace the wick. Follow the directions on the box the wick came in. Basically you clean out the hole where the wick goes through the top of the shell, and insert a new wick. Use a thin paperclip to push the wick through. Do it gently, without tearing the wick. The wick should protrude about 1/8 inch.

Now lay the wick inside the shell so that it zigzags, and mostly fills the shell. If there is too much wick, trim off the excess.

On the other hand, when you open the shell, if the wick looks okay, and the end of it is intact and protrudes the right length, you don't have to worry about it.

Next, put in a new flint. Flints come in a little dispenser, and the way they fit in is obvious. Now flick the striking wheel and make sure it sparks. If you get a good little hail of sparks every time you flip the wheel, you are ready for launching.

From the bottom of the shell, fill the shell with lighter fluid through the obvious hole in the cotton barrier. If you overfill it, don't worry, the stuff evaporates like crazy. Then slip the case over the shell and let it sit for a minute or two.

Now you are ready for your first flight. You should notice that the wick is damp with lighter fluid. The wick will be surrounded by a small cloud of fuel fumes. That's why you keep the lid closed when you are not using the lighter--to contain the fumes so the fuel will not all evaporate.

Now flick the wheel so that the sparks fly toward the wick. If it doesn't light, you might as well put it up on a top shelf and talk about it. But if you did do all that, I promise you it will light.

Happy flaming!

Answer 2

Yeah, ya gotta put the right lighter fluid in it, but then to light it you have to put your thumb on the little wheel in front of the wick and push your thumb down so that the wheel turns. The wheel rubs on the flint beneath it to produce the spark that ignites the wick. To "unlight" it, just flip the lid closed while you listen to the distinctive Zippo "click".

Answer 3

You have to use lighter fluid( best to use Zippo brand fluid) allow to stand 30 seconds to a minute to let it air out.

Answer 4

You probly have to fill it with lighter fluid. than follow directions.I don't know the style, but if it needs fluid that'll solve it.

Answer 5

fill it with lighter fluid and when u open it up roll that little black thing

Answer 6

fill it with lighter fluid.