I get a number of questions that seem to be common to owning a mechanical antique lighter, this is hopefully a repository of knowledge that might help you identify what you have, what it does, and what it takes to maintain it.
Please don’t be discouraged if I haven’t answered your question here. Feel free to contact us anyway – Probably I didn’t think to include the answer, or you have a unique situation. More than likely I can fix it for you!
Lighter Repair & Maintenance
First and Foremost – Have you tried putting in Fuel and a Flint?
Owning an antique lighter requires maintenance – back in the good ol’ days products were built to last, but it required a bit of care. You can change the flint and add fuel to your lighter. On common pocket models you should see 2 screws of some sort. The smaller one is the Flint Screw. There is/should be a spring behind it, don’t let it scare you when you it pops out while unscrewing. Remove the spring, and clear whatever broken last piece of jammed flint is in there, and put a new one in! replace the spring and screw, and light up!
If your lighter only has 1 screw, It’s a flint screw, and the base rotates for fueling. If the lighter has no screws, it’s an insert that slides out of the body, you’ll find the flint screw, and probably cotton for fueling in there (like a zippo).
If it’s a touch tip, the fuel goes down the wand shaft to the reservoir in the bottom, you should see the flint screw on the bottom of the lighter.
If there is no fuel screw, and some weird needle recessed into a hole, you have a butane lighter that needs compressed gas.
You may need to strike it a few times (10X) to “wear a groove” In the flint so it makes better contact with the spark wheel. You’ll get to a good spark in a matter of moments.
Still No Flame?
Does the lighter have fluid? The larger of the two screws should be the fuel filler screw and it frequently has “FILL HERE” stamped on it. Unscrew that and add some lighter fluid.
Pro Tip: You can use a penny or dime to unscrew the flint and fuel screw, these pocket lighters were engineered for pockets, and change would have been a viable tool for maintenance on the go. The slots are curved and you actually get better engagement with a coin than a screwdriver, Also you get less torque in case the screw is stuck…
The Flint/Fuel screw is stuck – Now what?
Contact us – That’s probably going to need to be drilled out, and replaced. Also some people have stripped the screw slot completely off trying to get the stuck screw out… Needs replacing.
I found a Ronson Repair video online: (New Aug 2023)
I’ve had a couple people tell me about “my” videos online. The above general maintenance and testing video is the only video I’ve published that isn’t marketing or showing off. I’m aware of the videos from the “repairman.”
I can only say this: He admits he damages lighters in his videos. His techniques are wrong. You are risking damaging your lighter, and worse, hurting yourself following his advice.
Remember, this is literally playing with fire.
More (January 2024) WD-40 DOES NOT LOOSEN A FROZEN FLINT! It is a myth, and a giant mess for me to clean up after it soaks all the parts of the lighter that should never be coated with that oily shit! PLEASE STOP PUTTING WD-40 in/on your lighters.
What Kind of Fuel Should I use?
Ronsonol or Zippo Lighter fluid are the same and best for all wick lighters.
What type of Flints should I use?
I use modern Ronson Flints manufactured by Zippo in Austria in a yellow blister pack, for pocket and 1950’s & newer lighters. Zippo flints in the white back are the same
There are some flints from England called Firebronze, which seem to be softer and create a better spark. They are harder to come by in the US but they are best for older lighters, and touch tips.
I put a new flint in, and my lighter doesn’t spark.
You have a frozen flint stuck in the flint tube. Time, pressure, and humidity break down the flint, which then swells. They can be slightly stuck, really stuck, or cracked the flint tube into pieces.
Contact Us – Send the lighter in, It needs to be stripped down and inspected to see if it can be fixed. Frozen flints I can fix. Frequently, split flint tubes cannot. On occasion I can cobble together very specific splits – These repairs are reserved for heirloom pieces that are intended to be passed on through generations. The re-sale value plummets while the sentimental value is priceless.
Pro Tip: If you are going to store/Not use/Display a vintage lighter – TAKE THE FLINT OUT!
Can I Put A Zippo Wick In My Ronson?
No.
I found this old silver lighter and am going to use silver polish on it!
Please don’t.
Traditional silver polish is a paste/cream/putty/mess that is rubbed on, then buffed off. It always ends up in the gears and mechanics, on the wick, caked into the crevices, causing some amount of resistance, or inhibition for the action, and generally makes the decorative elements look terrible.
Alternatively, I use a product called Nev’r Dull. It does not leave the paste residue, and is way easier to wipe clean afterward. You can find it at your local hardware store next to the silver polish for around $5. It should be enough to last you a lifetime.
General Lighter Questions
What kind of lighter is this?
Look at the bottom. The manufacturer name should be there.. If there isn’t, I probably am not going to be much help.
How old is my lighter?
If you have a Zippo Check this out: The Zippo Date Code Resource
Elsewise, I can give you a rough estimate of original manufacture date within a decade or so of manufacture for Ronson Lighters.
All other vintage lighters are probably younger than 1850, and older than me. I’m getting close to vintage.
What’s my lighter worth?
I do not appraise lighters for worth. The market goes up and down. Check with an online auction site to see what your model has been selling for.
I see this lighter on (A well known auction site) Is it any good?
Send me the link – I’ll look it over, tell you if I see any obvious problems with it, and what I think it’ll take to repair it should there be a problem with it.
Some Advice on Shipping
USPS is cost effective and efficient! I work closely with my post office, they hold shipments if I have to go someplace. I suggest Flat Rate Priority Mail Boxes available in the post office lobby. 2 – 3 days delivery time with insurance and tracking included. UPS and FedEx packages can end up sitting on my porch for days. Additionally, requiring a signature will delay your lighter from getting repaired.
I prefer a box. Here is an example of a bubble envelope that arrived from UPS without the lighters in it.
If you won’t do business with the post office, I can try to send it back UPS. FedEx is out.
Pack your lighter carefully in some packaging. Bubble wrap, packing paper, tissue are all acceptable. DON’T MUMMY WRAP IT IN PACKAGING TAPE! I have to try to get it undone without harming the finish. Hold that stuff together with a SMALL piece of scotch tape or, better yet, a rubber band I can see!
Styrofoam popcorn is an environmental hazard to both my house cleanliness and the rest of the world – JUST DON’T DO IT!
I sent my lighter. This is the tracking number ###. Will you email me when it gets there?
No. Your tracking number is your verification. I’m a one person operation. Shipping and receiving happens after lighters are repaired the next day. I’ll let you know when you lighter is fixed, or if there is a problem. Be patient!
Sending your lighter in for repair
I bought an old lighter on the internet and it doesn’t work…
Contact Us – Send me a photo and description of the problem. I’ll let you know if I can fix it.
Pro-Tip: Descriptions that include: “I have not tested the lighter, but it only needs fuel and flint to be fully operational” usually means, “This lighter needs work.” – This is not etched in stone – I have bought antique lighters that have worked out of the box. It’s a pleasant surprise, but a surprise none the less.
Alternatively, you could buy a vintage lighter from us! I have tested them with flint and fuel, and made damn sure they work. If you like, I’ll even make a video showing it in operation for you. We stand behind our service. It’s the reason we have the good reputation.
I took my lighter apart. I can’t put it back together. What now?
Contact us – Bag it up and send it in. I can’t coach you on re-assembly. I have no idea what you took apart, how many pieces got lost, or what sequence you are at. I put together a lot of “Bags O’ Parts” replacing any lost, missing, damaged, or otherwise unacceptable parts in the process.
What will it cost to fix my lighter?
Depends, send me a photo and a description and I can give you a better idea.
What’s included in the price?
A fully functional lighter. If that means I have to replace every part on it, then I will. The only additional costs usually come with touch tips, and high end deco repairs. A detailed estimate will be discussed and a final price agreed upon in those instances.
That includes parts?
Yes. Genuine parts. In most cases, I make every effort to use the original parts from your lighter to maintain its heritage and sentimental value. There is a good chance you will get new parts from old stock that are genuine Ronson replacement parts. I don’t use off brand competitors parts, on rare occasion I have to fabricate something to fix an uncommon problem, we’ll end up discussing that in advance.
We do sell remanufactured wick assemblies for Ronson Touch Tip Table Lighters. Those are completely custom, and an additional cost.
How long will it take?
I make every effort to turn lighters around in 24 – 48 hours. If it will take longer for some oddball repair/reason/vacation/rock concert I will let you know ahead of time, and keep you posted through the process, unless you don’t want me to send you photos from Key West….
I bought/found a Ronson Maximus or Ronson Viking. Can you fix that?
Sorry, no. These designs were early failed attempts to enter the butane market. There are no replacement parts, or specialty butane canisters/reservoirs.
The Varaflame was the first successful butane Ronson Lighter. All repairable Ronson Butane lighters will have Varaflame in the name someplace.
I have a Varaflame Ronson Lighter, can you fix that?
Contact us – I’ll refer you to the guy who can.
I live in (some other country) can I send you my lighter?
Contact us – I have repairman in other countries who may be able to help. I do some international repairs – South America, Canada, Australia – But I’ll send you wherever makes the most sense.
I paid $5 at a flea market for this lighter. It isn’t worth what you charge for repair.
You’re right.