Yeah i was pretty well impressed i only expected it to last 2 weeks, not over a month. You are welcome, that's what forums are for, to share knowledge, chat rubbish and help each other out. Wouldn't you need to slightly redesign the insert so there's somewhere to hold the seal? Something like 2 o-rings, one that sits just inside the bottom section of the zippo case to seal any leakage / evaporation from the bottom. Then one that sits just high enough to create a seal when the with the lid when it is closed. That idea would only need to small indents make in the current insert to hold each o-ring. Or you could even go as far as to design a new insert for the zippo, that still uses lighter fluid rather than gas. It could have a press fit seal with an o-ring for the bottom solves the leaking from that end. A slight redesign of the wick area - raise the wick exit slightly, so you are able to put an o-ring seal just below the wick. Add a hinged lid that fits inside the current zippo lid, with a small tubular protrusion that engages the o-ring seal around the wick. You'd have solved the leaking problem from both ends. There's two ideas to solve the issue, i bet someone else could come up with something better.
I wanted to resurrect this thread and mention since posting I've acquired a brass Douglass Field S (received in 2016) and now just this week a chrome finish Douglass Field S lighter. The brass finish lighter has developed a cool patina. I hope that the chrome version will keep its luster for a long time. This lighter is amazing. Too bad replacement O rings and flints are expensive and available only from Japan. I don't know if Blade HQ has them in stock. Aloha to all. Sent from my coconut frond hut using Tapatalk
Wasn't aware that the Field S lighters used a proprietary sized flint (slightly taller, but more importantly, thicker than a standard Zippo type flint). You can see the size difference at 1:55 in the video below. The O-rings you can probably source locally if you measure the old ones with a caliper. ATB, Sam
Is the chrome finish brushed or polished? I've found on various items that a polished chrome finish while it won't tarnish is a fingerprint magnet! L'chaim! Moshe ben David
The chrome comes in 3 variiants. The standard one looks to be polished and a fingerprint magnet. The other two chromes are a fluted/ribbed design and a diamond cut that would hide finger prints better. I would probably veer towards the brass or stainless steel models and brush out the finish with some #0000 steel wool. ATB, Sam
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Douglass-Field-S-Maintenance-Kit--30919 https://www.bladehq.com/item--Douglass-Field-Lighter-Spare-Flints--22704
The model I got is the polished version. I like the bling, shiny look. For my brass Douglass lighter, it is really developing a nice patina. Thanks for the heads up on lighter maintenance kit. I already have one set but I want one more set JIC. This forum and the members ROCKS! Sent from my coconut frond hut using Tapatalk
I’m not a smoker, and will have infrequent use of my lighter. I love the look and function of the Douglass Field series, but sounds like the L, my preferred one, is not sealed well enough for storage, is this correct? Also, I really wanted the stainless, but it appears they don’t make the S in that metal...
According to the Tokyo Pipe Company (topai.co.jp) who I believe manufacturers the lighter, I believe you are correct. It looks like your choices are to go with the S in an alternate metal or go with the L in stainless, but back it up with Zippo fuel canister as a safety. Due to their steam punk sensibilities I tend to lean towards Douglass field lighters in Brass, which luckily both the S and L are available in. ATB, Sam
Thanks Sam! Well, I went ahead and ordered the brass version of the S. I’m looking forward to it, and how the metal will age over time. That is a pretty cool fuel storage solution too, so I may have to pick one of those up, since they are relatively cheap. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Wow, got this brass Douglass Field S in the mail today, and it’s fantastic. The pictures don’t do this thing justice. Very well machined. So for anyone that has this and has bought the maintenance kit, which o-rings does that come with, because the picture looks like only two, but I count at least 6, possibly 7: Heat Resistant Wick Flint Top Flint Bottom (inside bottom of screw collar?) Flint Ram Rod Fuel Cap Reserve Fuel Cap Spare Flint Cap Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
On the BladeHQ site, in the product description is actually says: "The Field S Kit from Douglass has two o-rings and core strand." I am assuming that the 6-7 o-rings are the same size and they don't expect you to have a catastrophic failure of all of them at the same time. If you do, you might want to stay away from casinos. ATB, Sam
Lol, good points! I can assure you though, that if there are any alike, at most, it’s two. The others range from the smallest o-ring I’ve seen, to about half an inch! On another note, the only issue I’m seeing with this thing is that it doesn’t like to stay closed. Meaning when the screw collar is in the ready to use position, the ball detent likes to pop out of the hole on the windscreen. Normally I guess this wouldn’t be too big of an issue, but having this happen, it makes it somewhat difficult to strike, as there’s not enough of a “flick” to get the flint to spark. Perhaps oiling the heat resistant o-ring? That’s about all the instructions mention. The screws that hold the flint wheel, and make up the hinge, are some weird kind of tri-blade head screws, so I didn’t have a way of seeing if those just needed to be tightened slightly... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah.... if I thought about the flint compartment, I should have caught myself (dangers or late night posting). So it looks like the 2 o-rings are for the primary seals. I dug through the Tokyo Pipe Company that makes the Douglass Field S and couldn't find any info on the other O-rings (regarding size). You might want to contact one of the US dealers (like BladeHQ) or contact TPC directly at (info-t@topai.co.jp) to at least get the specs for all the other o-rings even if you buy them from a third party. ATB, Sam
Did a Google search, but didn't find a definitive answer. I have a Bronica Boxer II butane lighter that I bought in the 80s in Tokyo and am trying to find a forum which may get a resource to repair this lighter. What do you all suggest as THE Forum?
I don't know of any forums dedicated to lighters. OTOH, I did know of forums dedicated to cigars, pipes, and so forth. Lighters I'm sure would be discussed. What can I say further? Google is your friend methinks! Good luck! L'chaim! Moshe ben David
