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WW2 Petrol Lighter Restoration – The German Version of a “Zippo”



#restoration #lighter #ww2

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Hello all,

in this video I am restoring a gasoline lighter from the time of the second world war. The german lighter was made until the 40’s and shows very clear signs of age. The functionality of the rusty lighter is almost identical to the legendary zippo lighter. My biggest goal is to keep the vinatge lighter as original as possible and replace as few parts as possible.

First i completely disassembled the vintage everyday tool to get a picture of the corrosion. After I had all the parts in front of me I cleaned them in deruster from rust and old coatings. Then all the parts of the rusted WW2 lighter were sanded and then polished with scotch brite.
I then chrome plated the lighter from the second world war. When chrome plating, the layer build-up is crucial and all layers must be polished most carefully, as the preparatory work is crucial when chrome plating.

The layer structure is as follows:
1. An alkaline copper layer as a base and spear for the second layer.
2. After the barrier layer has been applied, copper plating can be carried out with acid electrolyte. Without the underlayer, the acid would quickly eat through thin metal layers. Copper plating must be done because it evens out uneven surfaces very well and provides the best rust protection for the steel.
3. Nickel is now applied as a barrier layer. The nickel prevents the chrome from reacting with the copper.
4. Finally, I apply the final chrome layer with pen electroplating. It provides a dark noble shine. In germany, only chrome III may be used for this purpose by private users. Specialists may also use chrome IV, which provides a brighter shine. Chromium VI is completely banned due to its toxic vapors.

Finally, I still replace the wick and then I reassemble everything again
I hope you have fun with the video. And remember, leave a comment and with a little luck you will win the pocket knife.
In the beer test this time a “Grolsch” from the Netherlands must prove what it has to offer.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/notterriblerestorations

Stay healthy
Dr Beer

00:00 – Intro
00:43 – Disassembly
03:56 – Rust removal with rust remover
04:24 – Metalwork tank
05:28 – Metalwork main body
06:53 – Metalwork side flap
07:30 – Metalwork flint holder
08:23 – The tumbler parts
08:58 – Adding a knurling
09:20 – Turning a new rivet
10:04 – Chrome plating
12:35 – Replacing seal and wick
12:56 – Beer tasting
13:54 – Assembly
15:40 – Result
17:12 – Testing

Music:
Intro:
Elegant Logo by Free Music | https://soundcloud.com/fm_freemusic Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…

Result Scene:
Timeless – Lauren Duski from Youtube audio library

42 Comments

  1. Primus54

    Wow… Perfectly restored, perfect video recording, perfect editing, and extremely creative production. I really liked how you dumped the old cotton into a medical instrument tray… clever! Thanks for a very entertaining video! 👍👍👍 ~John in Ohio

  2. Keith Fulkerson

    I had a cheap copy of this and sometimes the fluid would pool up in the cap, so when you lit it, some fireballs would fly out.

  8. o.o

    SALUDÓ DESDE LA REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA EXCELENTE VÍDEO 🇩🇴👏🏿👍🏿👷‍♂️🎖🏆

  16. Joker Ink and Custom Builds

    Austrian version of Zippo that is… Imco is the brand. 1920 Vienna was the time and place where it started… Today a chineese company owns the patent to that lighter and it can be bought new from around 10 dollars. I have carried one for the past two decades. waaay better than zippo. Holds fuel better and smells less. And the mapreading/candle light feature is just cool. So is the gunlike loading style for the flint stone…

  25. Alex De Leon

    This restoration was so relaxing to watch. As I see it, a proper restoration of a lighter requires exactly the discipline you possess. I agree that the parts should be kept as intact as possible. The plating was the ultimate demonstration of skill, and patience. After assembly, the lighter looked as if it was made yesterday! I cannot thank you enough for resurrecting these machines from the past. It gives the young people watching a glimpse into the methods, and design engineering from the early 40s. More importantly, it will inspire some to learn a trade that involves using tools, sandpaper, and chemical processes, instead of spending hours playing video games. Grolsch is one of my favorite beers. It is unpasteurized because the Dutch believe that this treatment changes the character of the finished brew. I want to try Grolsch Dark, if I can find a reputable vendor who carries it. Thank you once again for this incredible posting. I look forward to the next. Stay safe during this modern-day pestilence.

  26. Miri crafts

    Great restoration! How long time is needing for coppering process? and is need protective layer after coppering proces in order to were not after time black surface?

  29. StressMaster BK

    Do you have a rotory tool if so there is some awesome flap wheels that are rubber in different grits upto 5000 that are cheap on amazon you may want to look into.

  37. Absolute Terror

    I have to say I LOVE the beer ratings. On YouTube there are a handful of really excellent restorers who all show great care and attention to detail on every project, and you are most definitely on this list.

    BUT because you had the great idea to do something simple and extra like tasting and rating 1 different beer with each restoration, you unmistakably stand out from your peers. There are maybe a couple dozen other really great restoration channels on your level, but there is only 1 Dr. Beer!

    I have no doubts that so long as you are willing to keep going you will find ever greater success with your channel and it is well deserved, cheers!

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