If you rely on a lighter for backpacking trips, having it get wet can be frustrating – however most lighters are repairable after becoming waterlogged.
Most lighters are sparkwheel lighters with an internal flint to generate sparks to ignite fuel, though getting one wet won’t necessarily mean its destruction, just that its functioning will temporarily cease until it dries off again.
Clean the Striker Wheel
Many backpackers rely on lighters to start fires, yet these little devices can become an annoyance if they stop working properly. No matter if your lighter fell into a puddle or was accidentally washed in the washing machine – there are steps that can help get it up and running again.
First, begin by drying out your lighter. Use a towel or leave it to air-dry overnight for best results. In addition, clean any rust or dirt off hinges that hold on lid. A cotton swab or toothpick are good solutions; alternatively you could also try rubbing alcohol if necessary.
Once your wick is dry, the next step should be cleaning the striker wheel. This part spins and creates sparks to ignite fuel; however it can become clogged with debris like flint from hands, taking only minutes or so for complete removal with brass bristle brush.
Once your striker wheel is clean, you can begin reconstructing your lighter. Remove and tap loose the flint spring cap; locate a drill bit that fits snugly inside the flint tube; it should be slightly longer than the diameter of the hole at the top of your lighter case; use a file or nail to clear any debris that’s lodged within.
Once you have installed your new flint, move the striker wheel backwards from its normal rotation several times to break its grip on it and see if this helps loosen it. If not, use needle nose pliers to grip the chimney and twist it – although this may leave marks behind but is your last resort if turning by hand is impossible.
If your repaired flint doesn’t work after repair, it may be time for an upgrade – or, by following these simple steps, perhaps saving it instead!
Replace the Wick
Sparkwheel lighters that become wet will eventually stop working due to wetness extinguishing their spark that ignites fuel, creating the flame. Most sparkwheel lighters utilize ferrocerium or flint rods inside to produce this spark that ignites fuel and fires the lighter; getting wet may not ruin them but may delay operations until they dry out; this may prove inconvenient when needing to light a cigarette or cigar quickly but there are easy steps you can take to restore functionality of these sparkwheel lighters!
As soon as your lighter is disassembled and dry, the first step should be drying all its components with paper towel or cloth, paying special attention to any crevices where moisture could have collected. You should then use compressed air canister to blow away any water droplets or residue that might interfere with its proper functioning of lighter.
Once the lighter has been taken apart, it’s time to install the new wick. First remove the bottom felt rectangle and screw from behind the flint spring tube before using needle nose pliers to gently extract and pull out your old wick; if reusing an older wick it may have frayed with time and must be cut to sit flush against the chimney of the lighter; otherwise ensure it is cut according to manufacturer specifications for your new one.
Carefully moisten the end of your new wick with alcohol or water to protect it from fraying when inserting it into the lighter, and carefully work it through its hole in the body of the lighter body. If needed, use pliers to bend and shape it into position evenly so it will burn smoothly.
If you want to repurpose an old flint spring tube, find a drill bit that will fit snug but not tight into it and tap it in with a small hammer to release any remaining old flints.
Refill the Fuel
Never rush out to buy a new lighter just because your old one got wet; even if it was submerged for mere seconds it may still work fine. Before replacing it entirely make sure nothing is blocking or clogging the igniter and that when you press down it clicks as expected; also ensure the flint is clean and cam is undamaged.
If the igniter is functioning but no flame appears when pressing down on it, this could be caused by improper flame adjustment. While this problem is straightforward to address, disassembling your lighter may be required as this method works only with push button or Zippos lighters.
Once your lighter has been reassembled and its ignition mechanism checked for proper function, turn it on and make sure it is fueled appropriately. As water has saturated its way into the lighter’s fuel hole and spark wheel, lighting it may take more time than normal; if that fails try blowing into it to help dry them out faster.
If your lighter is successful at lighting when blowing into it, now it is time to refill with butane. Flip open its lid, grab onto its chimney, and pull! Be careful because wet inserts inside can make removal harder – these include striking mechanisms, cams that keep lid closed securely, wicks that retain fuel, etc.
If the lighter is full of fuel but no flame is coming out, it may be necessary to bleed it. Bleeding can be achieved quickly using only butane canister and paper clip – simply flip the lighter upside-down with the butane can over the fuel valve before pressing hard on its nozzle with paper clip firmly pressurising lighter firmly enough so as to saturate lighter with fuel for about 5-10 seconds before you release pressure on nozzle firmly pressing back down on it to saturate lighter with fuel saturating lighter with fuel saturation saturating lighter with fuel – all within 5-10 seconds!
Reassemble
Becoming frustrated over wet lighter can be annoying if it’s an essential tool in starting camp fires or starting up fires at home. Thankfully, there are a few steps that can help fix wet lighters quickly so they’ll start working again.
Once empty, allow it to dry completely before attempting any repairs or refurbishing. When dry, begin disassembly of your lighter.
Next, using a clean cloth, carefully dry each component of your lighter. Be especially attentive to any crevices where water may have pooled. If available, use compressed air to blow any remaining droplets from inside of the lighter or its components.
Once all the components have been dried thoroughly, reassemble your lighter and test it again. If it still doesn’t work as intended, try repeating the drying process or replacing some parts.
As a backpacker, you likely carry at least one lighter with you to start campfires. But what happens if it falls into a puddle or gets wet during rainstorm? While having backup lighters may help, sometimes replacing one quickly isn’t feasible or convenient enough – here’s an easy and efficient solution that’ll get that wet lighter back out and working again quickly! This TrailTime Tip can help restore it so it can do its job as soon as possible!
The instructions that follow are tailored towards zippos, but can also apply to other windproof lighters. They also detail how to fix a wobbly hinge or unclog a blocked flint.
Zippo lighters are iconic pieces of Americana that have stood the test of time, even during severe winds and storms. If yours needs minor repair or just needs some TLC, these easy steps will get it up and running in no time!