How to Replace a Zippo Wick

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

So you prepared to pull and trim the wick on your Zippo only to have the last bit of wick come through the hole and out of the lighter. Following is a description of the steps that you will probably have to perform many times throughout the lifetime of your Zippo.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
    Remove the insert from the body or shell of the Zippo (by gripping the bottom of the lighter and on either side of the chimney and pulling apart) as if you were going to re-fuel it.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
    Unscrew the flint spring found on the bottom of the insert, but be careful because since it is spring-loaded it might fall out of your hand when it is unscrewed. If the flint spring screw is too tight to unscrew by hand, use a small flat screwdriver to loosen it first. You can also use the top lid of your lighter to do this as well. [1]
    Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
    Tip out the flint from the bottom of the insert into the empty shell of the Zippo for safekeeping. If it does not fall right out, give it a gentle tap and it should fall right out.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
    Remove the felt pad and any spare flints (if you keep spares between the felt and the cotton wadding) and set those too in the Zippo shell. Set the Zippo shell aside.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
    You'll notice that it is not all one big wad of cotton but many small overlapping wads. As you set them aside, lay them in more or less the same order or configuration as they were inside the insert. (this will be helpful later). [2]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
    Pull it through so that there is only as much wick in the chimney as will reach the top of the chimney. [3]
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
    Using your pliers, tweezers, or little finger, bend the wick within the insert so that it won't fall out through the hole as you work. [4]
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
    The pieces each should have some shape that you can fit together like a puzzle. [5]
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
    You should run out of length of wick before you run out of cotton. [6]
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
    Replace the flint. Insert and screw the flint spring until it won't turn any more. There is no need to screw too tightly as long as it does screw in all the way so that the lighter will close properly.
  11. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
  12. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
  13. Watermark wikiHow to Replace a Zippo Wick
    14. Advertisement


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • In step 6, you can leave a length of wick to stick out past the top of the chimney to use it as a handle while you bend and interweave the wick with the cotton.
        Thanks
        Helpful 50 Not Helpful 11
      • Wrap some fishing wire tightly around your wick & trim off the excess wire. It makes threading the wick through the hole a lot easier and keeps your wick from fraying too much.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 2
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Replacement Zippo Wick.
      • Tweezers or Needle-nose pliers.
      • Small flat screwdriver. (Not likely to need)
      • instead of a flathead you can use the thin edge of your Zippo lid from the case, it fits in there nicely
      • Zippo lighter

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Determine The Proper Height For A Pendant Lamp
      How to
      Refill Your Butane Lighter Quickly & Easily
      How to
      Fix Common Lighter Problems
      How to
      Refill a Butane Lighter: Quick & Easy Steps
      How to
      Refill a Lighter
      How to
      Use a Lighter
      How to
      Flick a Bic Lighter
      How to
      Dispose of Lighters
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naznYl8AB0Y
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naznYl8AB0Y
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akpb1ISIab0
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akpb1ISIab0
      5. ↑ https://www.zippo.com/pages/how-to-maintain-replace-the-wick-on-your-zippo-lighter
      6. ↑ https://www.zippo.com/pages/how-to-maintain-replace-the-wick-on-your-zippo-lighter
      7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zippo

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 421,718 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement