Peanut lighter and fluid evaporation

Nikos · **on:** June 15, 2012, 04:52:45 PM

Up until the previous week I used to edc a peanut lighter. I'm no smoker, so the lighter was only used for the occasional paracord project. That said, I have better lighters at home, so the little thing had been sitting in my wallet for several months without having been used. I thought the o-ring and all would prevent it from losing fluid, but it turned out it didn't... twice. The first time, we were on a boat with some friends and the single smoker among us had misplaced his lighter (

), so I offered to help him only to be let down. When we got back home I refilled the peanut and put it back into my wallet. A week later I was doing some paracord work; when I tried to use the peanut it lit up the first time, but that was about it; all subsequent tries failed miserably. I can't blame the fluid as I'm using standard Zippo stuff, so I'm sending all my anger in the general direction of the o-ring at the moment. Before I embark on the hunt for a replacement o-ring, do any of you have similar experience with the peanut or split-pea? Am I correct in thinking that the o-ring should give me several uses out of the peanut, or are these things losing fluid just like Zippos and Imcos do?

Stazi · **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2012, 05:48:36 PM

Had the same problem with my Zippo, so now I just stick to gas lighters , clear , so I can keep an eye on the content , with a spare flint taped to it just in case.

enki_ck · **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2012, 06:22:58 PM

Is the o-ring intackt? This is strange as I always had great fuel reetention on peanut lighters. I forgot one in my tent one summer and the next spring when I unpacked it I found the peanut in it. It lit on first try. I have a few of those survival matches, some that were filled over a year ago, same story, they still work.

lister · **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2012, 06:47:43 PM

I have two from deal extreme and I never had any problems.

nuphoria · **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2012, 02:30:59 PM

Hit and miss with these in my experience - yours is a miss sadly

A new o-ring might do the job though, but personally I rely on butane lighters for emergency purposes.

Syph007 · **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2012, 03:00:03 PM

I tried a traditional zippo once and found out about this evap issue, then went to butane for that reason. Are there really small butane lighters maybe? I've never looked, but I have my eye on one of the fancy overpriced Wenger lighters.

powerring · **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2012, 12:46:57 AM

Quote from: Nikos on June 15, 2012, 04:52:45 PM

Up until the previous week I used to edc a peanut lighter. I'm no smoker, so the lighter was only used for the occasional paracord project. That said, I have better lighters at home, so the little thing had been sitting in my wallet for several months without having been used. I thought the o-ring and all would prevent it from losing fluid, but it turned out it didn't... twice. The first time, we were on a boat with some friends and the single smoker among us had misplaced his lighter (), so I offered to help him only to be let down. When we got back home I refilled the peanut and put it back into my wallet. A week later I was doing some paracord work; when I tried to use the peanut it lit up the first time, but that was about it; all subsequent tries failed miserably. I can't blame the fluid as I'm using standard Zippo stuff, so I'm sending all my anger in the general direction of the o-ring at the moment. Before I embark on the hunt for a replacement o-ring, do any of you have similar experience with the peanut or split-pea? Am I correct in thinking that the o-ring should give me several uses out of the peanut, or are these things losing fluid just like Zippos and Imcos do?

My peanut lighter went a long time and seemed to retain fluid pretty well - at least months. The last couple of times I filled it the duration was much shorter. I suppose the O-rings can and do deteriorate over time, causing evaporation. I don't smoke either, so my use is very light. I've taken to carrying a Mini-Bic Clic which seems to do better. It's too bad because I like the size of the peanuts.

Nikos · **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2012, 03:22:38 AM

Thanks for the feedback guys and gals. I'll try to source a wider (fatter

) o-ring for the peanut and see what gives. On closer inspection, its current (original) o-ring seems to have developed threads from the peanut cup being screwed all the way over it... I really hope this fixes the little guy, as I'd hate to have to carry anything larger than that in the firemaking department... $:-\$

tattoosteve99 · **Reply #8 on:** June 17, 2012, 05:28:18 AM

If you get an oring. Don't get black rubber it will just do the same thing. Find one that's made for paint guns. Those suckers can stand up to harsh chemicals.

82brutus · **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2012, 05:40:24 AM

Thanks for that tip. I had similar problems with my peanut lighter and hadn't found a good replacement o-ring, so it just sits in my drawer now.

Sent from my MB860

tattoosteve99 · **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2012, 05:47:23 AM

If you get me a measurement I have a ton of those kinds of orings. I'll look and see if I have some. If I do yall can have a couple for nothing

.

powerring · **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2012, 08:17:03 PM

I ran across a couple of o-rings that I think will fit my split-pea lighter. I'll try those and see how it works over a couple of months.

82brutus · **Reply #12 on:** June 19, 2012, 12:23:16 AM

Quote from: tattoosteve99 on June 17, 2012, 05:47:23 AM

If you get me a measurement I have a ton of those kinds of orings. I'll look and see if I have some. If I do yall can have a couple for nothing .

Thanks, I'll see if I can get some sort of measurement on one. Maybe I'll swing by a store and see what they sell in the Paintball gun section for replacement o-rings just because it gives me an excuse to go browse around the store.

Nikos · **Reply #13 on:** June 19, 2012, 02:00:00 PM

I managed to find the ziplock that the peanut lighter came with and there was a spare o-ring there. I think I'll try with this one for now and see what will happen.

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