I just found two lighters like this in a china cabinet I have one a Ronson and the other a Crown. Bad thing is I don't recall where I even got them. I love old things that were built to last. I restored an old straight razor about a year ago and will never go back to disposables. I will add that if you are a procrastinator and get a straight razor to keep a disposable as backup for when you are running late. You don't want to get in a rush with the straight lol.
What wicks do you use for a flat advertising lighter? Zippo wicks are too thick. Also, do you pull the wadding out with small tweezers? Got to be tuff getting it back in. Thanks for your help.
Vintage Petrol-wick Lighters till my soul. A kind of world that's getting rarer by the day. Repair-and-mend culture among many other things, with all the throwaway culture these days seemingly in all aspects of life. Great vids and a wonderful website I could hang around for hours on end. Vid on paintwork restoration and increasing/decreasing flint spring pressure would be nice too. I wonder what the ideal flint spring pressure is.
LUSCIOUS kollektibles I appreciate the comments and suggestions. As for ideal flint spring pressure, that's a great idea for a video and I suspect ideal pressure will vary depending on the flint and file wheel being employed. I'll add it to my list of future undertakings. To this point, I've mainly left the finish as I find them, other than a "cleaning or dusting off" as it seems collectors prefer original to refinished and my aim is to sell. You have the wheels turning in my head though because I have several lighters that don't have much value but I would love to restore the paint for my own personal use. Stay tuned.
I wish I’d have found this before spending so long to put a wick in a UCO paraffin candle insert. As it is, it’s just in time to save the day with a Casablanca brass trench lighter wick. These things have a tiny wick hole. Thank you!
For anyone without wire: dental floss is a great alternative. It's resistant to breaking and can put up with some surprisingly decent tugging. Fishing line works too, as long as it's not too thick.
Jair P. Thank you and I am glad you found the video helpful. You can also check out the article: dependableflame.com/how-to-repair-vintage-cigarette-lighters-that-wont-spark on my website. It provides some key strategies to get vintage cigarette lighters sparking and useful again.✌️
I am about to get one of these and now im gathering info on how to refill, repair and all its my first vintage lighter and not gonna lie kinda scared ill mess up haha! :D Great video!
The principles of how a petrol lighter works are pretty simple. Mistakes can be made though, I know because I make them all the time and it’s usually caused by my impatience. Take your time and you should be fine. I have written the following article as a helpful guide: dependableflame.com/universal-principles-to-help-you-repair-any-vintage-petrol-lighter ✌️
I have links on this page of my site where you can purchase many wicks and other vintage lighter supplies: dependableflame.com/helpful-lighter-related-links ✌️
A Zippo wick would work but the Imco wire lead wick or one of the wicks from the Ebay seller david2052 may be more appropriate. I have written an article on the subject here: dependableflame.com/what-kind-of-wick-should-i-use-in-my-vintage-petrol-lighter ✌️
Dylan Dewit, that's the basics of it, yes. It can be a very slow and frustrating process though. You can read the article with detailed instructions here: dependableflame.com/how-to-replace-the-wick-in-any-petrol-lighter ✌️
Carefully and with much patience, Aware Bear. A very slim screwdriver or poking tool will be necessary. The following video shows the wadding being reinstalled in a similar lighter: th-cam.com/video/rPsK2bJEMj0/w-d-xo.html ✌️
Hi!! Your video is awesome! I’ve been wanting to fix up an old montecarlo lighter I’ve had for a while and I’m finally getting around to it and your video is super helpful. I was wondering if you had a video on how to get the wadding out of the lighter and then how to put it back in (I was trying to find one from your channel but was having a hard time) anyways! Thank you so much and a great day!
I use the Asian Imco wicks and copper braided wicks from Ebay, it just depends on the job!😜 You can find multiple links to purchase supplies here: dependableflame.com/helpful-lighter-related-links Of course, I earn a commission when purchases are made through these links.✌️
Mind if i ask you some questions? I am personally using a 50s colibri lighter. For some reason, the wick is burning out too quickley. I had to cut the wick twice this month. Do i have to replace the wick? Am i using the lighter wrong? Or is it because there isn't enough fuel?
Feel free to ask all the questions you like, I just can't promise to always have a good answer!😜 I have always heard that a charred wick meant low fuel but I am not a scientist nor did I pay enough attention in school to confirm or refute that's the case. Trial and error never hurt anything though so I would do two things: 1. Pull the wick up and snip off all the burned end and at the same time take care to make sure your lighter does not run low on fuel. 2. If that doesn't fix it and the charring continues, replace the wick in your lighter. It's pretty simple to do and then you should be good. You never know, if you didn't put the wick in there yourself, it could be contaminated with any number of substances that will burn.✌️
@@DependableFlame I tried this and that for a few minutes, and found out what the problem was. The wadding(cotton) was too old. The wadding hardened and could not absorb enough fuel. Replacing the cotton fixed the problem. Anyway, thanks for your advice.
This is a follow up, what kind of wick did you use? I have these wicks here that are a lot thicker than the hole for it but i still cant get it to fit😂
Thank you so much for this! I’m selling a lighter like this and was wondering if there’s a way to remove fuel before mailing? Just put new cotton in? It’s finicky snd I’m scared to mail it with the fuel in it
Hi, Joe. Given your experience with lighters and as a lighter mechanic, I know you know a lot about this one: Does the Zippo wick fit all lighters? I can only buy Zippo wicks. I know you're using Imco wicks. Imco wicks are not available in my country.
Zippo wicks will fit the vast majority of petrol lighters but there are many different wicks available on both Ebay and Amazon: dependableflame.com/what-kind-of-wick-should-i-use-in-my-vintage-petrol-lighter ✌️
The base twists on Ronsons from the mid '50s on and the base comes completely off on another model or two but again, these were later models. With the old Ronson Standards and similar clones the bases are not typically removable.✌️
Very useful video. I want to repair a vintage penguin's whirlwind superlative automatic petrol lighter from my grandfather and i want to ask you if you know where i can find a filter and flint online for europe...!! Thanks in advance !!
T.A, I'm thrilled you found the video useful. I'm not sure what you mean by filter but suspect you may be speaking of the rayon or cotton wadding for inside the fuel tank? If so, I just use cotton balls but any absorbent material like old t-shirts will work. As for buying flint, the links at: dependableflame.com/helpful-lighter-related-links should work regardless the country you're in, I believe. Let me know if you need further assistance getting your grandfather's lighter working again.✌️
What kind of lighter is this it seems very cool and im hearing people mention trench lighters n shit. I myself came here trying to replace a wick in a opal lighter.
@@DependableFlame oh no I do not mean that one the one I have quite literally says opal on it and it appears to be made out of copper. It also appears to have the actual opal stone in it and it fucking lights from the side its a wonky lighter. N i don't know how to just refill it because it was made in like the 70s or possibly earlier. It's a Elgin american lighter
@@losvega5004, send some photos if you are able: dependableflame.com/contact-us Hopefully, if I see the lighter I can match it to a video I already have. I rewicked an Elgin American lighter here: th-cam.com/video/6bg_s4hPZ1U/w-d-xo.html ✌️
Back off the flint spring screw and make sure you “groove” the new flint in the proper direction before tightening back up. If that doesn’t work then there could be a bigger problem like the top of the flint tube is ruptured or worn out allowing flint to bind.✌️
@@DependableFlame when its barely screwed in the flint strikes smoothly but when it gets screwed all the way down it jams up... maybe too much pressure because the flint is too long, i salvaged the flint from a bic
I have a link on this page: dependableflame.com/helpful-lighter-related-links Where an Ebay Seller offers wicks of three different diameters you can buy. This may help you. The link is towards the bottom of the page.✌️
@@Mattyj3388, I've rewicked plenty of Omega lighters with old Ronson or Imco wire lead wicks. What do you mean by wired wick? Braided wire like the Zippo type or wire lead like Imco?✌️
@@Mattyj3388, no it doesn't typically unscrew and it will be much more difficult to get that wick down the chimney than the others I mentioned. With the braided wire you will have a hard time twisting the wick down small enough to fit. The Imco and Ronson draw down smaller having no braided wire to buffet them.✌️
I just found two lighters like this in a china cabinet I have one a Ronson and the other a Crown. Bad thing is I don't recall where I even got them. I love old things that were built to last. I restored an old straight razor about a year ago and will never go back to disposables. I will add that if you are a procrastinator and get a straight razor to keep a disposable as backup for when you are running late. You don't want to get in a rush with the straight lol.
thank you, cutting the wick on the angle was what got it in for me! thanks for the tips
This video was most helpful. Really had to rewick my trench lighter.
thanks ❤❤❤ i have just found a vintage Ronson lighter this was very helpful . thank you
hey i have an old evans lighter should there be brown shaves where the cotton goes
Yes many of them had sawdust for wadding.✌️
What wicks do you use for a flat advertising lighter? Zippo wicks are too thick. Also, do you pull the wadding out with small tweezers? Got to be tuff getting it back in. Thanks for your help.
Stay tuned...I'm making a video to respond to this question...✌️
Vintage Petrol-wick Lighters till my soul. A kind of world that's getting rarer by the day. Repair-and-mend culture among many other things, with all the throwaway culture these days seemingly in all aspects of life. Great vids and a wonderful website I could hang around for hours on end. Vid on paintwork restoration and increasing/decreasing flint spring pressure would be nice too. I wonder what the ideal flint spring pressure is.
LUSCIOUS kollektibles I appreciate the comments and suggestions. As for ideal flint spring pressure, that's a great idea for a video and I suspect ideal pressure will vary depending on the flint and file wheel being employed. I'll add it to my list of future undertakings. To this point, I've mainly left the finish as I find them, other than a "cleaning or dusting off" as it seems collectors prefer original to refinished and my aim is to sell. You have the wheels turning in my head though because I have several lighters that don't have much value but I would love to restore the paint for my own personal use. Stay tuned.
We forget back in The day they were almost as Rare. For decades almost everyone Lit up with Matches and Lighters like this were few and far between
I wish I’d have found this before spending so long to put a wick in a UCO paraffin candle insert. As it is, it’s just in time to save the day with a Casablanca brass trench lighter wick. These things have a tiny wick hole. Thank you!
Do you have video pulling cotton out of the loghter?
th-cam.com/video/67OUJYPuefI/w-d-xo.html
Let me know how it goes!✌️
For anyone without wire: dental floss is a great alternative. It's resistant to breaking and can put up with some surprisingly decent tugging. Fishing line works too, as long as it's not too thick.
Thank you so much for this video. After a few tries I was able to replace the wick on a Douglass Neo 3.
Jair P. Thank you and I am glad you found the video helpful. You can also check out the article: dependableflame.com/how-to-repair-vintage-cigarette-lighters-that-wont-spark on my website. It provides some key strategies to get vintage cigarette lighters sparking and useful again.✌️
I am about to get one of these and now im gathering info on how to refill, repair and all its my first vintage lighter and not gonna lie kinda scared ill mess up haha! :D Great video!
The principles of how a petrol lighter works are pretty simple. Mistakes can be made though, I know because I make them all the time and it’s usually caused by my impatience. Take your time and you should be fine. I have written the following article as a helpful guide:
dependableflame.com/universal-principles-to-help-you-repair-any-vintage-petrol-lighter
✌️
@@DependableFlame I’ll check it out thank you!
where did you get these wicks. i cant find any without the copper wire in them and they can't be cut down to a slope to fit in
I have links on this page of my site where you can purchase many wicks and other vintage lighter supplies:
dependableflame.com/helpful-lighter-related-links
✌️
I have a Omega superlighter and wondering what type of wick to get? I don't think a zipp wick will work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
A Zippo wick would work but the Imco wire lead wick or one of the wicks from the Ebay seller david2052 may be more appropriate. I have written an article on the subject here:
dependableflame.com/what-kind-of-wick-should-i-use-in-my-vintage-petrol-lighter
✌️
Hey I got the same lighter do u just pull out the cotton out of the bottom then put the wick then stuff cotton back in side ?
Dylan Dewit, that's the basics of it, yes. It can be a very slow and frustrating process though. You can read the article with detailed instructions here: dependableflame.com/how-to-replace-the-wick-in-any-petrol-lighter ✌️
Thank you sir, you helped a lot!
The Backyard Collector, thank you. Check out the companion video: th-cam.com/video/67OUJYPuefI/w-d-xo.html ✌️
What wick diameter should I use for a Ronson Whirlwind?
Hard to say. I've used about all of them.✌️
How do you put the cotton back inside after having the wick part done ?
Carefully and with much patience, Aware Bear. A very slim screwdriver or poking tool will be necessary. The following video shows the wadding being reinstalled in a similar lighter: th-cam.com/video/rPsK2bJEMj0/w-d-xo.html ✌️
Hi!! Your video is awesome! I’ve been wanting to fix up an old montecarlo lighter I’ve had for a while and I’m finally getting around to it and your video is super helpful. I was wondering if you had a video on how to get the wadding out of the lighter and then how to put it back in (I was trying to find one from your channel but was having a hard time) anyways! Thank you so much and a great day!
Pulling the wadding out can be slow tedious work. This video should help:
th-cam.com/video/sePhxcXcSaE/w-d-xo.html
✌️
What wicks do you use?
I use the Asian Imco wicks and copper braided wicks from Ebay, it just depends on the job!😜 You can find multiple links to purchase supplies here:
dependableflame.com/helpful-lighter-related-links
Of course, I earn a commission when purchases are made through these links.✌️
very helpful, thank you.😉
Well... Im glad i watched this video before i completely destroyed my new lighter. Thank you!
Mind if i ask you some questions? I am personally using a 50s colibri lighter. For some reason, the wick is burning out too quickley. I had to cut the wick twice this month. Do i have to replace the wick? Am i using the lighter wrong? Or is it because there isn't enough fuel?
Feel free to ask all the questions you like, I just can't promise to always have a good answer!😜
I have always heard that a charred wick meant low fuel but I am not a scientist nor did I pay enough attention in school to confirm or refute that's the case. Trial and error never hurt anything though so I would do two things:
1. Pull the wick up and snip off all the burned end and at the same time take care to make sure your lighter does not run low on fuel.
2. If that doesn't fix it and the charring continues, replace the wick in your lighter. It's pretty simple to do and then you should be good.
You never know, if you didn't put the wick in there yourself, it could be contaminated with any number of substances that will burn.✌️
@@DependableFlame I tried this and that for a few minutes, and found out what the problem was. The wadding(cotton) was too old. The wadding hardened and could not absorb enough fuel. Replacing the cotton fixed the problem. Anyway, thanks for your advice.
I have an auer championette from the 60s its barely big enough to fill my palm i wanted to fix up
thank you
This was such a great video, havent checked if you showed how to replace the flint yet but if not plesse do so. Again cheers video was great
This is a follow up, what kind of wick did you use? I have these wicks here that are a lot thicker than the hole for it but i still cant get it to fit😂
Thank you so much for this! I’m selling a lighter like this and was wondering if there’s a way to remove fuel before mailing? Just put new cotton in? It’s finicky snd I’m scared to mail it with the fuel in it
Just open the fill screw and let it dry out a day or two before mailing.✌️
Hi, Joe. Given your experience with lighters and as a lighter mechanic, I know you know a lot about this one: Does the Zippo wick fit all lighters? I can only buy Zippo wicks. I know you're using Imco wicks. Imco wicks are not available in my country.
Zippo wicks will fit the vast majority of petrol lighters but there are many different wicks available on both Ebay and Amazon:
dependableflame.com/what-kind-of-wick-should-i-use-in-my-vintage-petrol-lighter
✌️
@@DependableFlame Thank you so much, Joe!
Thanks for this.
Great, I never would have figured that out. thanks⚡️
Greg Harris check out all of the articles on lighters and other useful mechanisms at: dependableflame.com/
I am thrilled you found the video helpful.
If you unscrew the flint screw you will find that part also unscrews allowing you to remove the base of the lighter so you can put new wadding in
The base twists on Ronsons from the mid '50s on and the base comes completely off on another model or two but again, these were later models. With the old Ronson Standards and similar clones the bases are not typically removable.✌️
dam ay, so this model you have to stuff through the fill hole
I just bought one of these Ronson lighters and what’s the diameter of this wick? I’m having a hard time shopping for one that I think will fit
Anh có thu mua zippo cũ không
Yes, when the price is right and I have the money!✌️
Very useful video. I want to repair a vintage penguin's whirlwind superlative automatic petrol lighter from my grandfather and i want to ask you if you know where i can find a filter and flint online for europe...!!
Thanks in advance !!
T.A, I'm thrilled you found the video useful. I'm not sure what you mean by filter but suspect you may be speaking of the rayon or cotton wadding for inside the fuel tank? If so, I just use cotton balls but any absorbent material like old t-shirts will work. As for buying flint, the links at: dependableflame.com/helpful-lighter-related-links should work regardless the country you're in, I believe. Let me know if you need further assistance getting your grandfather's lighter working again.✌️
Is petrol like Zippo fuel or butane?
Tim Sherry, petrol is lighter fluid like Zippo fuel. This video: th-cam.com/video/Nk5pBQGRGUU/w-d-xo.html discusses how to tell the difference.✌️
Come up with a way a zippo can retain its fluid long. That would be really great.
Nice idea😊
What kind of lighter is this it seems very cool and im hearing people mention trench lighters n shit. I myself came here trying to replace a wick in a opal lighter.
This was a Ronson Standard clone but the same principals will work for the Rodan Opal as well.✌️
@@DependableFlame oh no I do not mean that one the one I have quite literally says opal on it and it appears to be made out of copper. It also appears to have the actual opal stone in it and it fucking lights from the side its a wonky lighter. N i don't know how to just refill it because it was made in like the 70s or possibly earlier. It's a Elgin american lighter
@@losvega5004, send some photos if you are able:
dependableflame.com/contact-us
Hopefully, if I see the lighter I can match it to a video I already have.
I rewicked an Elgin American lighter here:
th-cam.com/video/6bg_s4hPZ1U/w-d-xo.html
✌️
i changed my flint and it seems really tough to spark it... is the flint too big?
What kind of lighter are your talking about Steven?
@@DependableFlame cmc continental. small one. similar to yours
👍
Back off the flint spring screw and make sure you “groove” the new flint in the proper direction before tightening back up. If that doesn’t work then there could be a bigger problem like the top of the flint tube is ruptured or worn out allowing flint to bind.✌️
@@DependableFlame when its barely screwed in the flint strikes smoothly but when it gets screwed all the way down it jams up... maybe too much pressure because the flint is too long, i salvaged the flint from a bic
I found my way to this video from the wadding video XD
Great video cheers boss
I just got mine at a yard sale for a dollar, and I'm watching this trying to fix it
Josh White, this one: th-cam.com/video/67OUJYPuefI/w-d-xo.html might help you as well.✌️
Like to ask about how if the wick is too thick…
The wicks and chimneys can have slightly varying diameters but I've never encountered a combination I couldn't make work.✌️
I have a link on this page:
dependableflame.com/helpful-lighter-related-links
Where an Ebay Seller offers wicks of three different diameters you can buy. This may help you. The link is towards the bottom of the page.✌️
@@DependableFlame thanks! My Japanese firefly lighter can’t fit all the zippo wicks I bought…
The wicks do not fit, I have tried wire and it doesn't fit
Which lighter and wick are you working with?✌️
It's an old omega, quite a small one not sure what model, I'm using a wired wick too
@@Mattyj3388, I've rewicked plenty of Omega lighters with old Ronson or Imco wire lead wicks. What do you mean by wired wick? Braided wire like the Zippo type or wire lead like Imco?✌️
@@DependableFlame yeah braided. Does the small nozzle on the top where the flame ignites screw off? If so that will make it easier
@@Mattyj3388, no it doesn't typically unscrew and it will be much more difficult to get that wick down the chimney than the others I mentioned. With the braided wire you will have a hard time twisting the wick down small enough to fit. The Imco and Ronson draw down smaller having no braided wire to buffet them.✌️
Thank you now I’m stuck wit no wire lol
Does a lighter like this use any sort of fuel like lighter fluid or butane?
Petrol lighter fluid like Zippo fuel or Ronsonol, no butane.✌️