Zippo-Leg

[WAYNO]

One of the younger Veterans I ride with recently spoiled the guts of his favorite Zippo lighter. He replaced these guts with a Chinese-made replacement. He questioned the operation of this counterfeit insert. When I looked inside, the little felt flap that covers the batting in the fuel tank was only for looks, and not usable. I explained this felt flap was to prevent overfilling, which will quickly cause Zippo Leg. He asked, "what's Zippo Leg?"

Am I the only soldier that remembers Zippo Leg? :mrgreen:

WAYNO.

 

[Sam Johnson]

No, You are not alone. Long ago while standing at attention during roll call prior to inspection. That was a long morning.

 

[DeletedMember275]

I'm surprised that anyone under 40 knows what a Zippo is! Do they still have a lifetime guarantee?

 

[Bull Barrel]

Zippo...he was oneof the Marx brothers, wasn't he?

I had a Ronson and got "Zippo leg", too.

 

[Skidboot]

My experience is that nothing prevented Zippo leg if one was determined to overfill the lighter. Interestingly, as I type this, my spell checker doesn't know that Zippo is a word. :cry:

 

[RSIno1]

I've got a couple of my dad's put away. Looks like they have greatly expanded the line. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=zippo&_sacat=0

 

[graygun]

I had 2 or 3 Zippos in the 60s. Yes,any one them can be overfilled.

 

[m657]

Zippo is one of those icons I've always intended to make a point to obtain yet never have managed to do so.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I think I still have a red mark on my thigh from a Zippo lighter and I wasn't even in the military. :D

 

[CGDustDevil]

Yep... Zippo-leg in and out of the military!

 

[Tom W]

Ronson lighters didn't have that problem, but who wanted one? And how many of you could open the Zippo by popping it open with two fingers and your thumb,
then lighting it by snapping your fingers?

 

[Bull Barrel]

Yes, Ronsons DID have that problem. I could "snap" open both Zippos and Ronsons.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Ronson lighters didn't have that problem, but who wanted one? And how many of you could open the Zippo by popping it open with two fingers and your thumb,
then lighting it by snapping your fingers?

Everyone that owned one. Learned that at around 16. :D I still have mine from many years ago.
By the way snapping it open to many ties would break the hinges. :D

 

[Snake45]

My experience is that nothing prevented Zippo leg if one was determined to overfill the lighter. Interestingly, as I type this, my spell checker doesn't know that Zippo is a word. :cry:

Had it two or three times myself, and for that very reason. :oops:

 

[sceva]

I have it in good authority that using jet fuel instead of lighter fluid could make it worse.

 

[Colonialgirl]

AAHHH YES; Zippo Leg, I STILL have my Zippo from my military days; The problem wasn't just over filling but even sometimes when NOT overfilled, while residing in a pocket the fluid would expand and overflow OR you could get vapors from it which would do the same damage. The REALLY funny part is that my Grandpa White ( an old farmer) was complaining about the "sore spot on his leg" which happened to be right at the pocket where he kept his Zippo; He was TREATING it with an old farm remedy for everything, COAL OIL (ALSO KNOWN AS KEROSENE) and wondered why the sore spot was getting worse. I finally explained to him and gave him some burn ointment for the spot and it went away. Loved my Grandpa White an Irish/Englishman with a great sense of humor.

 

[tookalisten]

I don't smoke and really do not have a reason to own one; but I bought a Zippo a few months ago because I remember playing with the one my Grandad had when I was little. Flipping it open and the smell takes me back to some very fond memories.

 

[wwb]

Zippo-leg..... by the time it starts to itch and burn, it's too late to do anything about it. Even after you take the lighter out of your pocket, it's gonna keep getting worse for a while.

 

[ilikerams]

I don't know why anyone would still opt for the stink of a Zippo, when there are butane alternatives, unless out of pure nostalgia.

Well, try flicking your bic in any kind of a wind and you'll know why I've used zippos for over sixty years.



w

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I have it in good authority that using jet fuel instead of lighter fluid could make it worse.

Well If you didn't like JP-4 you rally wouldn't like 145 Av Gas. :wink:

 

[RoninPA]

Zippos are still made and are still warranted for life. You break the hinge, send it in and they will fix it. Very rare that they can't fix it. I go up to the factory every few years (Bradford, PA). They are also the W.R. Case cutlery owners. The factory and museum is a great place to visit.

 

[cpt-t]

Darn Guys this sure did bring back some old long lost memories. I flew Hueys for the First Cav my last tour, 1971 & 1972 in Viet Nam. And we had what we called a 120 knot Zippo Lighter it was two Zippos metal set together and filled with JP4. That thing would light a cigarette in an Old Huey with no doors going all out at a 120 knots. And one of those darn things would sure give you Super Zippo Leg. I brought two of them home with me. It was always fun to use one of them to light someone's cigarette in the dark after I got home. I have no idea where either one of them is right now, I sure hope I have not lost them. What we did in Viet Nam was the most exciting and most important thing I ever did with my life. The Friendships I made there are still as strong as they ever were even after 48 years. And some of these guys I have not seen in person since 1968, but I still love them like a Brother. And to be just real darned honest I still miss feeling the ((( RUSH ))) I got to experience in Viet Nam.
ken

 

[Fox Mike]

Oh yes! It is not something you will easily forget.

 

[gramps]

Zippo-leg..... by the time it starts to itch and burn, it's too late to do anything about it. Even after you take the lighter out of your pocket, it's gonna keep getting worse for a while.

Ya got to change your pants too!
gramps

 

[caryc]

When I was a kid, I worked at an aircraft plant. We had different chemicals on hand for cleaning purposes. We used to keep a pint bottle of Toluene on hand to fill our Zippos.

One day I ran out of Toluene and filled mine with MEK. Maybe a half hour later I went to light a cigarette and my Zippo would not light. I pulled the works out of the case and all the cotton in it had been turned to a white liquid and just poured out of the lighter. :shock: :cry: :shock:

I'm sure glad I didn't get MEK leg.

 

[Merle1948]

One of the younger Veterans I ride with recently spoiled the guts of his favorite Zippo lighter. He replaced these guts with a Chinese-made replacement. He questioned the operation of this counterfeit insert. When I looked inside, the little felt flap that covers the batting in the fuel tank was only for looks, and not usable. I explained this felt flap was to prevent overfilling, which will quickly cause Zippo Leg. He asked, "what's Zippo Leg?"

Am I the only soldier that remembers Zippo Leg? :mrgreen:

WAYNO.

NO! and some sailors too! :shock:

 

[WAYNO]

You have all made my day. :mrgreen:

Thanks.

WAYNO.

 

[SAJohn]

Nothing will ever handle high winds like a Zippo.

 

[gunsmith11]

m657 Zippo is one of those icons I've always intended to make a point to obtain yet never have managed to do so.

If you pm me an address, I will send you a new in the box Zippo

 

[737tdi]

One of the younger Veterans I ride with recently spoiled the guts of his favorite Zippo lighter. He replaced these guts with a Chinese-made replacement. He questioned the operation of this counterfeit insert. When I looked inside, the little felt flap that covers the batting in the fuel tank was only for looks, and not usable. I explained this felt flap was to prevent overfilling, which will quickly cause Zippo Leg. He asked, "what's Zippo Leg?"

Am I the only soldier that remembers Zippo Leg? :mrgreen:

WAYNO.

I'll post to the original question and then go back and read the rest of the posts.

Oh, so many times has my right leg been burning like hades. I usually always carry a zippo. I have even karmed some on here. I love Zippos but have learned to fill them carefully. I am not an old guy, only 54 but learned years ago that the fluid is very bad on the skin. I am sorta of used to it because I work on jets which of course burns the same fuel (almost). I started a collection of Zippos but gave up. Wow, you could have a million I think.


Karl