ZIPPO old tech gets ZAPPED!

Written by Dr Klaus L E Kaiser on September 14, 2018. Posted in Current News

Who would have thunk that – the venerable ZIPPO lighter on the way to the dust heap? You still can buy them on the web. Some models (pun intended) may set you back hundreds of greenbacks. In any event, there is a bewildering array of such lighter designs. According to Wiki, there is/was even a solid gold (18k) version, to be had for around $12,000.

For my dear readers who never needed a “cigarette”-lighter ever, a ZIPPO-lighter used to be the standard implement; you might say a “must have,” just look at Zippo’s “Walk of Flame” web site. Actually, I still own a lighter-fluid container for such a device — for the rare event(s) of my need. Regrettably, no gold-ZIPPO came as a freebie with that container of fluid.

Now, it appears, ZIPPO is at the end of the zip(po ?)-line and is being zapped by the competition. You may ask: What has changed? Let’s begin by looking at the old technology, prevailing in the “good old days.”

The Old Fuel Technology

In the good old days, the ZIPPO lighters had a lighter-fluid (quite similar to gasoline) and a sparking mechanism (usually a “flint”) that could ignite the flame. The fluid is merely required to sustain the flame and one had to refill it regularly. Between the small volume of the lighter’s base, any spills and the smell of the fluid, the task was a bit unpleasant.

Of course, competition soon arose. For a long while though, the ZIPPO-line was still in command, it enjoyed top brand name recognition and – as you know — brand recognition is a valuable business asset. Also, being refillable meant consistent usefulness for a long time though the fuel-igniting flints had to be replaced occasionally as well.

However, ZIPPO’s zipping reputation did not deter others to invent different lighters that would steadily undermine the older technology. Especially, smaller and more light-weight lighters that ran on liquefied propane/butane mixture came into vogue. Indeed, those lighters may have many advantages and also are widely available at little cost (at least in some stores); that’s the new technology.

The New Fuel Technology

The new cigarette-lighter fuel technology uses compressed propane/butane liquid as fuel in small plastic structures. As with any fuel (whether compressed or not), caution is always advised. For example, steel welders that had such things in a pocket that got hit by a small piece of hot metal have suffered burns from such lighters’ fluids bursting into flames.

The cause and prevention of such misfortunes were quickly recognized and are no longer an impediment to the widespread adoption of such lighters. In fact, you can find them at nearly every corner store and at many big chain cashier stations. Actually, I may have one too, somewhere in my “bug-out” bag. One of my dear friends claims that ZIPPOs were good for lighting candles. He may be right but I still prefer old-fashioned wooden matches for that – they are healthier for my fingertips.

The new technology does not end there. The fuel-ignition system was another target of busy inventors.

The Ignition System

In all the old Zippo and most of the new type of lighters, the ignition of the combustible fuel vapor was achieved by a spark from a lighter’s flint stone (not to be confused with the cartoon series “Flintstones”). Such flints are basically a cerium-metal or -alloy type solid that, when scratched by a harder material (such as steel) will produce a hot burning small piece that then ignites the flame. Such flints are still widely available as well. Of course, the name “flint” derives from the actual mineral/stone of that name that was used in medieval weaponry, like “flintlock guns.” At the time of that invention, a few hundred years ago, it was a great novelty, allowing guns and cannons to be fired at much shorter delays between firing and the shot.

The newest types of ciggi-lighters bring yet another novelty with them. Recent versions of such lighters even use piezo-electricity to light the fluid.

Now what’s this piezo-thing about?

Piezo-electric Sparks

In most simple terms, it is an electric spark created by an impact on a solid material. For example, some crystals, when hit with a sharp force emit a spark (without expulsion of part of the material). Of course, the force required for that comes from your pressing down on the igniter mechanism. The French physicists Jacques and Pierre Curie discovered piezoelectricity in 1880 (Wikipedia). Wiki even states “piezoelectricity] also finds everyday uses such as acting as the ignition source for cigarette lighters.“

As often is the case, when genuine developments are introduced, copy-cats try to steal the fame and fortune with even wilder claims or promises. False promises abound.

False Advertising

Reading advertisement of such a novel gadgets with such claims as “fuel free” and “the future of fire-starters begins today” and “the [name omitted] not only looks better than your old zippo … it works better too”, I get a bit suspect. To produce a flame you need to incinerate something that produce enough heat on doing so. Whether that is a piece of rock, fluid, or gas is irrelevant. Simply, without an energy source to combust there will be no flame.

So, is this a better way to start a fire at the camp in the woods or in your stove at home? I doubt it.

My Experience

By my experience in the woods, even to get a dry piece of thin birch bark or a dry and pitch-laden pine cone to start burning, one needs a flame for a few seconds. I don’t know how a “zero-fuel” lighter could achieve that and suspect it’s a bit of misleading advertising. But never mind, in the grand scheme of things that you come across these days, it barely raises an eyebrow.

In case you happen to own one of those (by now totally outmoded) old solid-gold ZIPPOs and want to get rid of it, I’d be happy to make you a trade …

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