How to Flick a Zippo Lighter

If you like doing stupid human tricks, then play with a Zippo lighter. It's a great way to keep your hands busy. Tricks abound for flicking it open and lighting it as well as putting it out. Flick the lighter without using your hands and you're practicing one of the most popular ways to play with it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Zippo lighter
• Jeans or corduroy pants

1. Hold your Zippo with the flip top facing up and the hinge near your knuckles. Swing the lighter down against your pants, letting the friction pop the lid open.

2. Drag the wheel of the lighter against your pants as fast as you can so the friction spins the wheel and lights it without lighting your clothes on fire.

3. Light anything you need to light with the flame. Be careful to avoid lighting things on fire that you shouldn't. Cotton fabrics have fibers that flare up and catch fire easily.

4. Put the flame out by flipping the top of the lid shut by pushing it against your leg. Keep your fingers away from the top of the lighter and your skin out of the hinge between the lid and the lighter.

5. Practice this technique until you can do it without watching yourself. Start performing your new trick in front of other people.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you've mastered this technique with jeans or corduroys, try it with pants made out of other fabrics, the side of your shirt or your sleeve.
• Be extremely careful playing with fire. Pyromania is a fun hobby, but you don't want anything to catch on fire that shouldn't, like your hand, your clothes or your house.