Answering the question: How long will your BIC Lighters last in storage and what’s the best way to store them?
BIC lighters are time tested and simple. You spin the wheel and press down on the fuel button in the same motion and you’ve got fire. You can use it for quite a while to start fires, its pocket sized, and fairly water resistant. Because of these features, preppers, survivalists, and others just love the BIC lighter. We keep BIC lighters in our Bug out Bag, our Get Home Bags, and in our Vehicle Emergency Kits.
How long does a BIC Lighter last in your storage?
10 years ago, I bought some tools from an older gentleman. In the box of tools was an old BIC lighter. I was going to just toss it, but tried to light it first, and it lit right up. I would estimate that this lighter was more than 20 years old by the look and style of it. It was used for several years after that and it worked well, but I didn’t have any way of knowing for sure how old it was. The oldest recorded report I found was a gentleman who had one work that was 16 years old. I found a few other reports that they were still good at 15 years. We currently have tests going to verify and test life span, but it’ll be several years before that testing is useful. Our estimation is that if stored correctly, BIC lighters should last 20-35 years or more.
How long do BIC lighters last in storage?
20-35 Years or even longer if you have them stored properly.
How do you store BIC lighters for long term use?
Some people recommend storing your BIC lighters in the freezer. BIC lighters use a pressurized gas. By reducing the ambient temp of storage, the pressure will decrease. The boiling point (temp) at which butane turns to a gas is right around 30 degrees F. By raising its pressure to about 225 PSI, it will remain liquid at 100 F. So some recommend storing your BIC lighters in the freezer. I personally have too much in my freezer already. Frankly, most things would last longer in the freezer, so you have to pick and choose what goes in there.
Like many things you’re storing, BIC lighters are best stored in a cool, dry place.
How does a BIC Lighter Work
Above is a diagram of a BIC lighter. It works by turning the spark wheel against the stone, flint and steel, and creating a spark. At the same instant you press the button, opening up the nozzle, and allowing the pressurized gas to come out the nozzle, and burning. The two weak points to the BIC lighter is the pressurized fuel, and the flint and steel. Losing the gas will make the lighter ineffective. Having your flint or steel go bad, or having your spark wheel rust up will make it impossible to ignite.
Sometimes the valve seals can dry up or go bad over time. This essentially makes the adjusting wheel useless and can make it so your lighter is going full blast, like a little flame thrower. It eliminates the ability to make the flame smaller. They’re still functional, but they’ll go through the fuel faster, and you’ll make a really big flame. Not all old lighters have this happen, but after taking a poll in a forum, about half of people’s BIC lighters stored over a long period of time had this happen.
How to keep BIC lighters from losing fuel
The most common way that BIC lighters can lose their fuel is if the fuel button is pushed. That sounds really obvious, but it is usually the problem. Many people who try to pack a lot of BIC lighters together will inevitably put some pressure on some of the buttons. The smallest amount of pressure can cause the gas to seep out. There are 3 main methods for trying to ensure this doesn’t happen. There’s the zip-tie method, the rubber band method, and leaving it in the original packaging.
The Zip-Tie Method
The zip-tie method puts a zip tie in the gap between the lip of the button and the body of the lighter so the button cannot be pushed. You want to make sure the zip tie is as close to the same size as the gap as possible. This is the method people use when they want to pack a lot of lighters together into a small space.
The Rubber Band Method
The rubber band method of storing BIC lighters is very similar to the zip-tie method. You triple loop a rubber band around the gap between the lighter and the button, but rubber bands can occasionally pull down on the button a little bit as well. A rubber band can degrade, but is less expensive and easier to remove than a zip tie.
Instead of rubber bands around the top, a small zip-tie won’t bind or pull down on the button at all. You will need a knife or some other set of cutters to remove the zip-tie though, so its better for long term storage, not for something you’d use in a week or a month.
Store BIC Lighters in the Original Packaging
For long term storage, it is probably best to leave it in its original packaging. I would then put those packages into a zip lock. The original packaging leave enough space and are designed to keep the lighters from losing fuel. Further waterproofing the packaging in the zip lock only helps. This method is bulkier, so it has that drawback, but it works, and its how we store the BIC lighters.
Can you Rely on BIC Lighters After Long Term Storage?
Yes, you can rely on BIC Lighters after long term storage if you store them properly. I don’t rely on just a BIC lighter though. No, I store a bunch of BIC lighters. I also store matches, a ferro rod, and a blow torch. I love BIC lighters, but out of 10 lighters, you might have a couple that fail. If you’ve only got one or two, you’re not prepared. BIC’s are my favorite, so I store a lot of them, but I also store all the other fire starter methods.
Buy BIC Lighters in Bulk
Buying BIC Lighters in bulk can save you a lot of money. We found this great deal on Amazon for a bulk pack of BIC lighters. Just make sure you store them properly.
Frequently Asked BIC Lighter Questions:
Where to Store Bic Lighters?
Store BIC lighters in a cool, dry, location out of direct sunlight.
What Does a BIC Lighter Weigh?
A BIC lighter weighs about 0.9 ounces when its full. A BIC mini lighter weighs 0.4 ounces when full.
How Long Will a BIC Lighter Last?
A BIC lighter will last for up to 3,000 lights per lighter, give or take, and can be stored for years if stored properly. Below is a video that shows the actual run time and compares it to a zippo.
What is the Burn Time of a BIC Lighter?
Bic lighters are advertised to be able to have up to 3000 lights per lighter. Total burn time is about one hour. Bic mini lighters burn 20 minutes.
Do refillable Zippo Lighters use the same fuel as a BIC Lighters?
No. Bic lighters contain butane, a pressurized petroleum gas. Zippo lighters use a heavy naphtha fuel, similar to kerosene. You can see info comparing these and other lighters in our article Different Types of Lighters and Their Strengths and Weaknesses.
Are BIC lighters or zippo lighters better for long term storage?
BIC lighters are great to store long-term for emergencies because that can be used immediately. Zippos, while a great lighter, require a bit of set-up before use, but the fuel is more shelf stable over time. I wouldn’t say that one is better than the other, but our survival SHTF preference is the BIC lighter. It’s cheaper, and we just store a lot of them in case one fails.
What is BIC Lighter Fluid?
BIC Lighters are filled with butane, a pressurized petroleum gas.
Do BIC Lighters Expire?
BIC Lighters do not expire. Their shelf life is 30 years to indefinite if stored correctly. There is nothing about the material or the fuel that will really degrade or deteriorate over time.
What is inside a BIC Lighter?
Butane, the lighter fluid, a spark wheel, stone, nozzle, adjusting wheel, wick, and fuel space. SEE PRODUCT DETAILS
What Does BIC Lighter Stand For?
BIC is a shortened version of founder Marcel Bich’s last name. It was probably a wise decision for them to not be called Bich lighters.
Are BIC Lighters Refillable?
All BIC lighters (pocket and multi-purpose) are filled with a pressurized gas and are non-refillable.
Where Can I Buy BIC Lighters?
Bic lighters can be purchased at many locations, from gas stations to grocery stores. Amazon has a great bulk deal available HERE.
Keep Learning
Prepping is an ongoing venture. Because of this, we recommend that you subscribe to our bimonthly newsletter to keep prepping, emergency preparedness, and self reliance on your mind. We promise, we’re not spammy, which is why we only email you twice per month. We hope you think about being prepared more than twice per month, but our newsletter is a valuable resource to help you learn new things, and just to keep prepping on your mind. Right now you can also sign up for free. You can also follow our Facebook Page for regular articles and resources.
