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10/13/2025 8:41:05 AM EDT
Simply leave them as is, whether loose or in their packaging?  Or is there a right way to store them that's better- in something, sealed up, whatever?  I'm talking about keeping them for storage, set aside and not thought about again unless needed.

Thanks!
10/13/2025 8:49:22 AM EDT
[#1]
I just leave mine on a shelf.  If they're gonna leak a little gas, then I'd rather not have it contained in a small area.
Award: 24/365 Most likely to be an appendix.

"Dealing with Congress is like trying to have an adult conversation about the credit card with your alcoholic bi-polar Ukranian import wife."
10/13/2025 9:02:35 AM EDT
[#2]
A bit of survivalist irony- when we go "camping", I'm usually making a fire with magnesium firestarter for practice, never touching the lighters in the pack.  Then some time later rotating batteries stored in the packs, I check the lighters and often times some are no longer working.  I'm talking about the disposable ones (Bic type) not the refillable ones.
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10/13/2025 9:19:46 AM EDT
[Last Edit: smullen][Edited] [#3]
Maybe a good idea, maybe not, I put the package of the 10+ disposables in a zip lock bags and put them in my Emergency Stash totes and Bug out bag.

I'll work till it won't.

I also keep several of those lil magnesium bars and the sparker deal, as well as small tins with Cotten balls and other "Tinder" for fire starting.  Plus, I keep several of those small fire starting blocks, weather proof matches, etc...   I will not just keep one Fire Ignition source.

I figure if its bad enough that I need to start a fire like that, then I better keep several options at hand.
LARUEMINATI
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
10/13/2025 9:31:18 AM EDT
[#4]
Coleman fuel (white gas) is what I've been using in my zippo lighters, too.  The gas stored in the metal cans lasts a long time.  We use it, so we just rotate it as we go thru it for our Coleman stoves and lanterns.
Award: 24/365 Most likely to be an appendix.

"Dealing with Congress is like trying to have an adult conversation about the credit card with your alcoholic bi-polar Ukranian import wife."
10/13/2025 9:49:07 AM EDT
[#5]
I bought a pack of 20 bic disposable about 6 years ago. I kept them in the open bag in garage and they have always worked when i get one out to use.
10/13/2025 10:33:23 AM EDT
[#6]
Small zip tie around the bottom of the gas release button to keep it from getting accidentally depressed while jumbling around a pack. A strip of duct tape works too.
Proud Member of Team Ranstad. RIP RetMAC, we'll keep the mission alive.

Straddling the thin plastic line between psych nurse and patient.

Now say 3 FBHOs and go in peace, my son-PorchDog

Survivor of ARFBORTION 2016
10/13/2025 10:35:16 AM EDT
[#7]
I have a couple bic lighters i got from the Lawson bolt guy. I did business with them from 01-08. I've just kept them in my tool box electrical drawer in the garage toolbox. I just used one the other day to heat some shrink tube.
I remember thinking that lighter had to be at least 17 years old.
10/13/2025 5:35:27 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Maine_11B_to_Nurse:
Small zip tie around the bottom of the gas release button to keep it from getting accidentally depressed while jumbling around a pack. A strip of duct tape works too.
View Quote
This is the way. Worst comes to worst, you can grind it down with a rock to get it loose.

Otherwise, inside some sort of hard case that keeps the lever from being depressed. Original bubble packs work or Altoids tin or whatever.  Even light pressure on the button can make them leak.

I use regular lighters rarely, and had only a few fail and almost always in "kicked around in glove compartment" conditions.
Mercy on the criminal is cruelty to the innocent.
10/14/2025 12:38:03 AM EDT
[#9]
I've found that even leaving them in their own sealed bag they come in, I dont have issues with the gas leaking.  The problem I see is that after 5yrs or so the flint disintegrates and either crumbles into dust, or crumbles and corrodes and bonds the wheel to the flint spring. I dont have moisture or temp swing issues. Some I've had for +10yrs and some get trashed after only a couple years. Seems hit or miss sometimes
"I've always felt that the real horror is next door to us, that the scariest monsters are our neighbors."
-George A. Romero
10/14/2025 12:01:27 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote History
Originally Posted By RR_Broccoli:
This is the way. Worst comes to worst, you can grind it down with a rock to get it loose.

Otherwise, inside some sort of hard case that keeps the lever from being depressed. Original bubble packs work or Altoids tin or whatever.  Even light pressure on the button can make them leak.

I use regular lighters rarely, and had only a few fail and almost always in "kicked around in glove compartment" conditions.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Originally Posted By RR_Broccoli:
Originally Posted By Maine_11B_to_Nurse:
Small zip tie around the bottom of the gas release button to keep it from getting accidentally depressed while jumbling around a pack. A strip of duct tape works too.
This is the way. Worst comes to worst, you can grind it down with a rock to get it loose.

Otherwise, inside some sort of hard case that keeps the lever from being depressed. Original bubble packs work or Altoids tin or whatever.  Even light pressure on the button can make them leak.

I use regular lighters rarely, and had only a few fail and almost always in "kicked around in glove compartment" conditions.
Thats agtoodidea,, hink I will find the right  size o ring.  eqaasyer together o ......../in the dark
10/14/2025 12:41:46 PM EDT
[#11]
I haven't had problems with the gas leaking out the problem is the flints fall apart and turn into dust.  Just replace the lighters every 2 years or so.
10/14/2025 8:11:01 PM EDT
[#12]
I store all my Bics with an o-ring 'round it to keep from accidentally depressing the button. Other than that, I just leave them alone in whatever container/bag/storage pouch I have them stored in.

I recently found one that was at the bottom of my EDC backpack. Thought I had lost it a few years ago. Worked perfectly fine still. The o-ring was in good shape still as well.
10/14/2025 8:30:25 PM EDT
[#13]
Swap them out once a year.
Not fly enough to be halal....
10/16/2025 2:56:55 PM EDT
[#14]
there does not seem to be a pattern with those disposable lighters life span.  I have pulled them out of a pack,  with the lighter years and years old, and they worked just fine.    I have had fairly new ones fail.  Best to just check them before leaving the house.
10/16/2025 8:05:18 PM EDT
[#15]
I keep them in one of those little plastic ammo type cans.
10/16/2025 8:08:43 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Mannlicher:
there does not seem to be a pattern with those disposable lighters life span.  I have pulled them out of a pack,  with the lighter years and years old, and they worked just fine.    I have had fairly new ones fail.  Best to just check them before leaving the house.
View Quote


This has been my experience as well.
10/16/2025 10:04:46 PM EDT
[Last Edit: David0858][Edited] [#17]
Before we moved here we lived in an old farmhouse and let visitors smoke in the house. They would occasionally leave a lighter and we would just throw them in a drawer. The lighters  got moved here with us in April '98 and some could have been 7 or 8 years old then. I use them now and then to start fires but mainly for heat shrink tubing. I've used some up but I still have three or four and they still work including one logoed Bic lighter the store my wife worked at was giving away in' 94 or '95. I didn't ever find any that didn't work and had leaked out.

But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don't always come true
10/16/2025 10:45:20 PM EDT
[#18]
I heat sealed a hundred lighters in packs, no rust, no leaks 25 years later. several brands.
10/16/2025 11:18:29 PM EDT
[#19]
I don't trust the disposable lighters, they tend to leak down.  A while back I bought A LOT of strike anywhere matches.  I keep them stored in old pill bottles, along with a butane lighter.
10/17/2025 3:57:13 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Spydermonkey:
I've found that even leaving them in their own sealed bag they come in, I dont have issues with the gas leaking.  The problem I see is that after 5yrs or so the flint disintegrates and either crumbles into dust, or crumbles and corrodes and bonds the wheel to the flint spring. I dont have moisture or temp swing issues. Some I've had for +10yrs and some get trashed after only a couple years. Seems hit or miss sometimes
View Quote


I have had similar results over the last couple decades.  I tried a few different things years ago but what has worked best for me overall is just leaving them in their new factory package and not opening them up until I need them.
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:

SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
10/18/2025 1:45:36 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote History
Originally Posted By WantGrape:
I keep them in one of those little plastic ammo type cans.
https://i.ibb.co/rKL8mmxX/543556137-122252543456211074-126519061791949414-n.jpg
View Quote
Dang, I like that. Wonder why I don't have something like this yet!
10/18/2025 5:25:28 AM EDT
[#22]
I don't take special precautions. I always carry a Bic and inevitably misplace them and buy a replacement. Eventually the lost ones reappear months or years later and they always seem to still work. The spares go on the shelf with my matches, chem lights and other power loss supplies.
*post contains personal opinion only and should not be considered information released in an official capacity*

0110001101101100011010010110001101101011
10/18/2025 11:03:37 AM EDT
[#23]
My "trick" is that I store the Scripto Electronic piezo lighters. They don't have a flint to disintegrate and I've never had one fail.
10/20/2025 11:56:36 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Maine_11B_to_Nurse:
Small zip tie around the bottom of the gas release button to keep it from getting accidentally depressed while jumbling around a pack. A strip of duct tape works too.
View Quote


I use a little piece of shock cord tied in a knot.
10/21/2025 3:46:26 PM EDT
[#25]
I have several lighters in various places in the garage.  They all start when I "flick".  

I saw some rubber hoods some time back that cover the flint and make the lighter watertight.  I put them on the lighters in our emergency packs in the autos. I can't remember where I got them, but Amazon has some similar items.

All our emergency packs have at least 3 ways to make fire.  Lighter, flint & steel, and 2 types of matches (waterproof and strike anywhere wood matches in a WP container.  All are stored in a freezer Ziplock baggy with some tinder and small candles.
12/9/2025 11:43:44 PM EDT
[#26]
I think I bought a 50 pack from sams about 20 years ago,  I still have half of them on a shelf in my basement, every time I've grabbed one, it's worked like new.
12/15/2025 9:34:57 PM EDT
[#27]
These forever matches last longer
https://www.top5-usa.com/endless-match-lighter?targetid=&matchtype=&device=m&campaignid=19519421232&creative=&adgroupid=&feeditemid=&loc_physical_ms=9014666&loc_interest_ms=&network=x&devicemodel=&placement=&keyword=$&target=&aceid=&adposition=&trackid=us_all_top5_1_1&mId=895-263-6903&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19527713458&gbraid=0AAAAAoKwm5Q1rqbNa1zqjqq7WhC0pEbUb&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgP_JBhD-ARIsANpEMxyo931v8puZNmvsOgKasr8IidmRzzaqVp_22APhHPJ027FXYvI93CQaApHhEALw_wcB
And can use almost any fuel
12/22/2025 7:37:06 AM EDT
[#28]
If at all possible, don't store flints inside the lighter.  Coated (painted) lighter flints usually last far longer than uncoated or used "struck" flints.
12/22/2025 8:27:29 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Bladeswitcher][Edited] [#29]
Oops. I completely misread this thread. Note to self: wake up before responding.
12/22/2025 9:45:15 AM EDT
[#30]
You don't need to do anything special with them. Just keep them away from water or heavy humidity. I leave mine in a cardboard box and they have been fine. Even some cheapos that I've had for over 20 years still work just fine.
On going to war over religion: "You're basically killing each other to see who's got the better imaginary friend." - Richard Jeni
12/30/2025 12:55:22 PM EDT
[#31]
For camping or BOB use, I printed this out from Thingiverse. It fully protects the lighter while in a pack or tackle box.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6421016

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