Zippo lighter restoration - Vietnam War repair

[ironsniper1]

saw this on youtube and thought y'all may find it interesting, i know i did.

[DaveTN]

Pretty Cool.

[Omega]

Came out nice, but was it just me that cringed in the way he did it?  The way he used those pliers, vice, dremel and brush, even the WD-40 was IMO wrong.  I would have soaked it in Kroil, or evapo-rust first, then nylon brushes after that.  

[jpx2rk]

Zippo's are pretty tough items.  I've got my 1st one from high school, or there abouts.  If I put some lighter fluid in it, it would probably light right up.  Sometimes you got to use a bit of force to get those corroded items apart,  

I wonder if the lighter was his fathers, uncles, etc, or just one he got some how.  

[Dirtshooter]

Pretty cool, I too would like to know the story behind the lighter. I often think about all those men that died or were injured for life in that far away land that I don't think we had a dog in that hunt. I was planning on an Air Force career, but my heart wasn't in that police action and I had a high draft number. But I do salute all those that went either volunteer or draft. Thank you guys and gals for your service to this Great country!!

[Grunt67]

I had one when I was in 'Nam. It was stolen along with all my other valuables, after I was wounded, and in the aid station. The SOB's stole $175 I had saved up for R&R, my wallet, watch. Left my wedding ring. Didn't realize this until I was in the Army hospital in Tokyo.

That said, Zippos' are tough, hard to wear one out. Would be interesting to know the story behind this one.