Ronson lighters

[simon1]

I hope that I can get some advise on a vintage Ronson that I have. It is hard to light, takes several strikes and sometimes more than several. It looked to be NOS when I got it. The packing, wick, and everything else looks great, and I have the wick up enough. It works great once it gets lit.

I have tried stretching the spring for the flint, loading up on about a flint and a smaller piece of flint to give it more...umph...and cleaning the wheel and all of that.

We used to have a Ronson table lighter when I was a kid, and I think that I remember it working well. Dad always carried a Zippo and I did too for a bit, and they always worked well. I got a 1935 replica Zippo as a gift awhile back and it works great; strikes first time and every time.

I have heard that a Ronson is your "dress" lighter and the Zippo is your "everyday" lighter...is that the reason why?

[jwhite]

Try changing the flint they can go soft over time, and the ronson flints never seem to work as well for me even when new.

[joshmpdx]

Pics please

Some of those Ronsons are the best looking lighters ever made IMHO.

[simon1]

Try changing the flint they can go soft over time, and the ronson flints never seem to work as well for me even when new.

I carried it for about a year before I got the Zippo, so it's had several packs of new flints through it...both Ronson and Zippo brand.

When I first got it and it would be hard to get a good spark I automatically did the old trick of holding your thumb over the wick cap to apply pressure then pressing the striking lever (that must have been wandering around in my memory for decades...didn't even have to think about it) and it works a little better that way. I've brushed off the striking wheel and even ran a pipe cleaner all the way up through the channel where the flint goes. I've even put enough flint in it that the spring won't screw in, then replaced one of the flints with one a bit shorter...enough that the spring will screw in.

Pics please

Some of those Ronsons are the best looking lighters ever made IMHO.

O.K., but it's just a regular pocket lighter, not one of the beautiful decorative table lighters.

[OLDMAN]

Find an empty or buy a Bic disposable. Tear it apart to get the flint out of it....they last forever and seem to light quicker. I have had one in my dads 1948 Zippo now for 4 months and it's still going strong.

[RGraphics]

It might just be the flint which can be found at many pharmacy stores, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, etc... it can also be that the striker wheel is dull. If the striker is done you can find an old lighter at antique stores or ebay for a couple of bucks. The disposable lighter flints tend to leave more carbon dust on Zippos at least.

[jwhite]

It might just be the flint which can be found at many pharmacy stores, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, etc... it can also be that the striker wheel is dull. If the striker is done you can find an old lighter at antique stores or ebay for a couple of bucks. The disposable lighter flints tend to leave more carbon dust on Zippos at least.

I hadn't thought about a dull wheel, the OP said he tried a couple of different flints. The problem with getting a banged up lighter for the wheel is that it could be dull as well. I would try sharpening the wheel. If you don't have have a triangle file or a set of hobbyist needle files they can be had at most hardware stores for a few bucks. You should be able to remove the wheel without too much trouble. The wheel has a crosshatch etching that sparks the flint. Follow he lines to cut a new X in the wheel you don't have to follow every line just a few over lapping Xs around the circumference of the wheel, so that it feels rough. That ought to improve things.

[simon1]

I hadn't thought about a dull wheel, the OP said he tried a couple of different flints. The problem with getting a banged up lighter for the wheel is that it could be dull as well. I would try sharpening the wheel. If you don't have have a triangle file or a set of hobbyist needle files they can be had at most hardware stores for a few bucks. You should be able to remove the wheel without too much trouble. The wheel has a crosshatch etching that sparks the flint. Follow he lines to cut a new X in the wheel you don't have to follow every line just a few over lapping Xs around the circumference of the wheel, so that it feels rough. That ought to improve things.

I hadn't thought about a dull wheel either. With it being NOS I just ass-u-me-ed
that it was in good shape. I don't currently have a triangle file but think I'll pick one up and try filing a bit. It's a nice looking lighter that gets comments.

[Jim]

I have had a bad flint "coat" the wheel with powdered, whatever that stuff it is made from. A fine wire wheel on a dremel made fast work of it. I think as James suggested a file would also do the trick.

[simon1]

I have had a bad flint "coat" the wheel with powdered, whatever that stuff it is made from. A fine wire wheel on a dremel made fast work of it. I think as James suggested a file would also do the trick.

I've only tried a toothbrush to clean the wheel, may not have been stout enough. I think I'll try my stainless steel gun cleaning brush, and if that doesn't work the dremel...I already have that stuff. I have been needing a triangle file though...that will give me an excuse to go to the hardware store.

[mikey]

Everyone above has replied with good advice so I will only add the following.

Be sure to use Zippo flints and fluid as the current Ronson stuff isn't that great.

Thanks,
Mike

[simon1]

Well...took the wheel out and gave it a little scrubbing with the stainless steel toothbrush and...works MUCH better now. I still have to have about a flint-and-a-half in it, but it lights on either the first or second strike. I guess the regular toothbrush that I used before wasn't stiff enough to do much good.

I think I'll take the wheel back out and soak it in scrubbing bubbles a bit, then brush it off again.

Great brainstorming session; it produced results...Thanks Guys!!!

[jwhite]

Great!!!

Glad to hear we could help.

[doubleganger]

This is probably too old to do you any good. I've recently started collecting these old Ronson lighters and one of the things I've learned is to NOT use Zippo flints. They are too hard for Ronson spark wheels and will wear them out. The best flints in my opinion and of others I've talked to are the Ronson firebronze flints which can be found on Ebay. I believe the spark wheels can in fact be sharpened, though I've never done one myself. Bob at ronsonrepair.com can probably help you.

[Old Man Army]

I love this community of enablers I just learned of another thing I can collect. I already have a couple of antique shops that carry an extensive assortment of old lighters. Now I just need to read up on them to figure out which ones are good and which ones to avoid. Is there a sticky for that?

[jwhite]

I love this community of enablers I just learned of another thing I can collect. I already have a couple of antique shops that carry an extensive assortment of old lighters. Now I just need to read up on them to figure out which ones are good and which ones to avoid. Is there a sticky for that?

Nope - but if you do the research I'll stickify it in the BL GE thread.

[Old Man Army]

Nope - but if you do the research I'll stickify it in the BL GE thread.

That sound like a fun project. I think initially I'll just look at pocket lighters. BTW, your signature line inspired me to download Seneca's Minor Dialogues to my Kindle. My wife thinks I'm weird, but so far it's an interesting read.

[jwhite]

Thanks, Seneca is great for a pragmatic application of stoic philosophy.

[snroberts11]

I've been trying to work on my Grandfather's old Ronson lighter all night. It looks to be in perfect condition, but when I load the flint, the wheel still spins freely and does not make contact with the flint. There doesn't seem to be anything lodged in the flint canal, but I can not see the flint protruding throught the top...Any suggestions?

[Argonaut]

I've been trying to work on my Grandfather's old Ronson lighter all night. It looks to be in perfect condition, but when I load the flint, the wheel still spins freely and does not make contact with the flint. There doesn't seem to be anything lodged in the flint canal, but I can not see the flint protruding throught the top...Any suggestions?

Try scrubbing the canal with a bristled pipe cleaner. Everyone I have, had has residue clogging the opening, preventing the flint from contacting the wheel.