How a Zippo Lighter Works

The Zippo lighter is a true icon of 20th century design. Largely unchanged since it's introduction, the Zippo lighter is a fascinating piece of engineering.
In this video, we'll take a look at all of the major components of a Zippo lighter.

[@grumpyowlstudios7023]

Awesome job man.

[@extrapixels]

Thanks!

[@vividist]

Incredible video explaining one of the coolest inventions of all time

[@anjahoeck9428]

Great video animation of one of the few thing that stayed cool over so many decades. Content like yours is the best of KZbin.

[@expyres]

perfect video explaining how they work, the animations are wonderful great work

[@extrapixels]

Thank you!

[@shiden239]

Looked up this video specifically hoping you would describe the closing mechanism. Was not disappointed. Thank you

[@extrapixels]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@zaqwe]

Loved this video, been thinking on how these lighters work since I’m planning on getting one

[@betofelan]

Still have my old collection of Zippo lighters I would find working in movie theater in the 80s when people smoked a lot. Thanks for the vidoe.

[@Rick-k7m]

My ONLY gripe...I'd like to know how it's windproof, and seeing an animation of that would be awesome. However, that being said, this video was fantastic. And it taught me more than I thought it would (date codes, why the sounds are so crisp, etc). Great video!

[@extrapixels]

It's windproof for a few reasons. 1. The fuel can burn at very low temperatures. 2. The wind guard protects from gusts. 3. A stream of gas can be blown away faster than it can combust. Which can't happen to a physical wick.

[@tumo07]

After the fan turn off you can see the lighter is still burning and also you can still light a cigarette by sticking it in the chimney

[@TheWeifung]

Very well made. Thank you for creating this

[@extrapixels]

Thank you for watching!

[@tumo07]

1:49 the wick actually have copper to conduct heat to the whole wick which help draw more fuel to the exposed wick. Old zippo wick don’t have it and it will starve of fuel if you light and close it a few times in succession 4:25 the noise is not made by the spring hit the cam but rather the cam hitting the inside of the lid because the metal leaf in the lid make a slot wider than the cam so when the cam snap open it hit the lid create the sound. You can check this by bending the metal leaf away or closer to the hinge and hear the difference

[@leanne4006]

So satisfying and informative. Thank you!

[@Eternal_999]

The intro is why you are the 🐐 of the day. Straight to the point 🔥

[@elCajetas]

Thank you, I recently buy a zippo and I was curious about how it works

[@anstef1485]

Nice animation and video! Thanks!!!

[@extrapixels]

Thanks for watching.

[@internetperson14]

This video was amazing thank you

[@anthonyb2990]

Despite your fan blowing it out, it would still be able to light whatever you put into the chimney.

[@carloc8763]

This is an exceptional video.

[@extrapixels]

Thank you!

[@azulcabrera1345]

Hi! I really enjoyed your video. Could you please share the plans or the software you used to create this lighter? I'm working on a practical project for school and this information would be incredibly helpful. Thank you!

[@extrapixels]

I used Blender. www.blender.org/

[@The.Omnipotent.1]

3:02 Seeing as how there’s already been one pedantic comment, here’s mine!🧐😁. The spark doesn’t light the fluid, it lights the gas vapour, the evaporated fluid. If you throw a match in a can of petrol, it will extinguish, it’s the evaporated petrol that lights.

[@extrapixels]

Yes, true.

[@ndoxcampunk3730]

where the sound "clink" come from?

[@yommish]

It seems like half of the comments didn’t watch the video

[@nick-wi6et]

so you saw 1 comment that seemed misinformed and youre saying its half lol

[@hyperboytkl1077]

I tried to test using WD 40 in my new zippo lighter my babysitter girlfriend gave to me as a gift and burned my hand as I lighted it. Basta the entire lighter burst into flames along with my hand holding it! My mom and me both screamed ỉn horror and me in pain, and I got rushed to thé emergency. I got 1st and second degree burns in my left hand. Was still lucky l lighted it far enough from my face with a cigarette in my mouth. I may be a tough strong grown man but this was the time I really squealed and cried like a little boy due to pain.

[@extrapixels]

Yeah, don't do that. WD40 isn't fuel.

[@Barberdon2022]

👌

[@TuTorials17]

👍👍👍👍

[@bulletz4life]

the hole in the felt is not a fill hole, it specifically states "Lift to fill" for that reason, please stop spreading misinformation. Also, the copper in the wick helps to "wick" lighter fuel from the rayon, thanks to the copper getting hot. The heat draws more fuel to the wick.

[@extrapixels]

Technically the hole isn't there for fuel or as a place to store flints. It's only intended purpose is to make lifting the flap easier. But that isn't how people use the lighter in reality.

[@extrapixels]

@tgwaste Me too. I've been using Zippos for almost 20 years and it's never caused any issues for me.

[@Zippoguy338]

Well to be fair he said it "can" be used for that or storing flints

[@Rick-k7m]

Yea, like others stated...no, it's not the specific design purpose. But it kind of is...

[@peacefulpresentation8330]

Can, not is for. The distinction being that is is perfectly functional as one, even if not designed for it. Unclench ya snob

[@johnfaulders9880]

Zippo’s can be blown out! If you blown on them from the top down!

[@extrapixels]

Yes they can.