How to Maintain and Replace the Wick in Your Zippo
Wick Maintenance
Initially, a new wick is white. Over time, the wick will turn black due to carbon buildup, which reduces performance. When this happens, you should "trim the wick":
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Using a pair of tweezers or needle-nose pliers, gently pull until the clean wick appears. Grab the wick as low as possible to avoid tearing it.
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Trim the end level with the top of the chimney using scissors or wire cutters.
Tip: This should be done once or twice a year. Each wick is nearly four (4) inches long, so after 2-3 trims, you will need to replace the wick. The wick should be replaced if the lighter doesn't ignite properly or if the ignition process needs to be repeated multiple times.
Replacing the Wick in Your Zippo
To install a new wick in a regular or slim lighter model:
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Remove all fuel chamber components: the flint screw, felt pad, packing material, and the old wick.
Tip: To make reassembly quicker and easier, carefully reinstall the packing material in the exact same order in which it was removed. The pieces will fit better.
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Install the new wick through the chimney hole and fold the top of the wick over the chimney to keep it in place during reassembly.
Note: In a pipe lighter, the chimney cap is removable. Simply slide the miniature beneath the edge at each end and lift.
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Replace the packing material in small pieces, interlacing the wick between the packing in a spiral or "S" pattern.
Tip: The goal is to ensure the wick has as much contact with the packing material as possible.
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Reinstall the felt pad over the flint tube and secure it with the flint spring, as mentioned above.
Suggestion: Make sure the flint didn’t fall out during this process.
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Trim the wick level with the height of the chimney and reinstall the insert into the case.
