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How To Make a Dead Lighter Work Again (3 Methods)

Updated by Editorial Staff

How to make a dead lighter work again

Did your BIC lighter go empty and die? In this post, you’ll see how to make a dead lighter work again and bring it back to life for at least one more light. There are multiple ways to bring a dead lighter back to life. We’re going to go over three of the most reliable, tried, and true methods.

Table of Contents

  • Option 1: Apply Heat
  • Option 2: Stock Used Flints
  • Option 3: Lighter Trick

Option 1: Apply Heat

If you have a lighter that just ran out of fluid, there’s a way to get one more light out of it. Rub the lighter in between your hands for about 15 seconds. The heat generated from your hands will cause any remaining gas in the lighter to expand. Usually it’s enough for one more light.

If you live in cold climates such as Alaska or Canada, you may already know this. In cold climates, you may have to warm up the lighter that has fluid in it in order for it to function.

Option 2: Stock Used Flints

BIC lighters in particular have larger flint sticks that can be taken out and then used in Zippo lighters. When your BIC lighters are exhausted and are about to dispose of them, remove the flint sticks from the lighter first and store the flint in a cool dry place.

Afterward over time, you’ll have a nice stock of used flint sticks for emergency scenarios that you can use for a Zippo lighter to get a few more lights. If you happen to work for an apartment complex, adult care home, or similar, you may be able to easily find multiple disposed BIC lighters.

Option 3: Lighter Trick

For lack of a better way to describe this method, it’s a survival hack for getting a dead lighter to get one more light. This works with multiple types of lighters, including BIC lighters.

First, turn up the flame as high as it goes or just a little before the max level, depending on the lighter. Then remove the metal part of the lighter and hold the button down with one hand while snapping the wheel with your other hand, you’ll typically get a few more lights. It likely will be a smaller flame than if it were full of fluid, but enough flame to get the job done.

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If you’re using this method with a BIC, remove the metal “guard”, hold the button down, while also rolling the wheel and this will get you a few more lights.

Another hack with BIC lighters is to cover the top of the lighter with your finger. Then hold down the gas button for 15-30 seconds and then trying to light it, you’ll get another light or two as well.

I hope this post on how to make a dead lighter work again helps you. If you’re interested in more, see the guide on different uses for BIC lighters.

About Editorial Staff

Editorial Staff at The Survival Journal is a team of survival experts in a range of survival expertise from wilderness survival, disaster preparedness, to preparing for the next financial collapse.

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