Important safety tip: Don't use butane in a Zippo! - RC-Monster Forums

BrianG · **Important safety tip: Don't use butane in a Zippo! -** 08.31.2009, 11:38 PM

OK, not exactly my brightest idea, but my lighter was out of fluid, the heatgun was in the garage from a previous project, and I really wanted to finish heatshrinking something. Too lazy to go upstairs and outside to retrieve my heatgun, I unwisely decided to throw a little butane in my zippo. Not the best idea, but I figured it would be ok long enough to shrink what I needed to. Wrong! One little flick of the igniter caused the entire zippo to be completely engulfed in flames. Luckily I was in the basement with a cement floor! I don't think I've ever let go of anything so fast in my life! Darwin at its finest.

redshift · 08.31.2009, 11:52 PM

Well I guess it's less messy than trying to put lighter fluid in a Bic!

This sh*t needs to be standardized!

sikeston34m · 08.31.2009, 11:53 PM

OMG Brian!

Are you OK?

I hope you don't have any BBQ'ed fingers. Your hair will grow back I guess.

Be Careful Dude! You're gonna wind up in the Biggest RC Blunders thread if you keep this up.

BrianG · 09.01.2009, 12:05 AM

Oh yeah, I'm fine. Fast reflexes is a GOOD thing! I didn't even burn myself. Scared the crap out of me though!

mikey09120 · 09.01.2009, 12:36 AM

haha. i remember i was refilling my torch (Actually a creme brulee tool) while it was on and when it was full it sprays out liquid butane and it burst into flames. and then i smelled burnt hair and my arm stung for a while

zeropointbug · 09.01.2009, 01:02 AM

lol, at least you weren't on carpet!

BTW, what is a zippo?

Is it an American thing? I am not sure we have them here, unless I just have not ever purchased one, or seen one.

BrianG · 09.01.2009, 01:06 AM

They're just windproof lighters. This is similar to the one I have: http://www.zippo.com/Products/Classi...on=Classics_09

And uses this type of fuel, not butane: http://www.usaless.net/rolifl8oz.html

_paralyzed_ · 09.01.2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianG

Luckily I was in the basement with a cement floor!

It's a concrete floor! Cement is the binding agent. That's like calling a cake "flour".

Sorry, anal of me, I know. It's one of my pet peeves.(peives, peaves?? sp.?)

jayjay283 · 09.01.2009, 01:24 AM

Thats great Brian, I used the bacardi 151 once, burned slow and make the wick smell like burnt yack hair.... Harold I learned something new, and will keep that in mind so a contractor doesn't go " cha ching" we have an idiot here

BrianG · 09.01.2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

It's a concrete floor! Cement is the binding agent. That's like calling a cake "flour".

Sorry, anal of me, I know. It's one of my pet peeves.(peives, peaves?? sp.?)

lol, duly noted.

brushlessboy16 · 09.01.2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

It's a concrete floor! Cement is the binding agent. That's like calling a cake "flour".

Sorry, anal of me, I know. It's one of my pet peeves.(peives, peaves?? sp.?)

stop you shenanigans harold. :)

they use liquid fuel instead of butane.. better yet.

brian, how in the heck did you even fill it? they use cotton to hold the fuel!

I had to rip a MMM out of a car that was on fire.. lost all the hair on my left hand

BrianG · 09.01.2009, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brushlessboy16

brian, how in the heck did you even fill it? they use cotton to hold the fuel!

Butane is in somewhat liquid form as it comes out. I just figured I would get enough in the cotton to finish the job. I knew a lot would evaporate. The heatshrinking still isn't done either. In hindsight, I guess I could have held the heatshrink over the little bonfire on the floor to finish it, but I was still in shock.

TexasSP · 09.01.2009, 11:00 AM

I am sorry but this deserves the voice of Butthead for this quote "Beavis you dumbass!"

It did give me a good laugh though, knowing this happens to all of us. I think the real darwin moment is the people that still hold onto it screaming.

J57ltr · 09.01.2009, 11:15 AM

Ouch! you got lucky, I really don't like Zippo's. A Friend of mine used one all the time and overfilled it and had it in his front pocket after a hour or so he had lighter fluid all down the front of his thigh and well lets just say it wicked throughout the front of his panand ended up with chem burns and blisters.

Concrete is only concrete if it has aggregate in it.

Jeff

BrianG · 09.01.2009, 12:31 PM

I know it was quite a Beavis moment, but I thought I'd risk looking like an @ss for the safety of my fellow forum members.

I only use the zippo on my workbench. They always seem to be out of fluid when you need it the most. At least with a BIC, you can tip it to get the fluid to be in the chamber where the feed tube is located for one or two more lights.