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How to Make a Lighter Shoot a Huge Flame Download Article Co-authored by wikiHow Staff
Last Updated: February 19, 2026 Tested
Download Article
Modifying the Fuel Mechanism
|
Lighting the Flame Safely
|
Q&A
|
Warnings
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 504,340 times. Learn more...
You can modify your lighter to shoot out a big flame instead of its regular tiny flame. Be careful, though, because you can burn yourself. If you’re a kid, only do this with adult supervision. To modify your lighter, take off the lighter’s metal hood and toggle the small plastic tab back and forth a few times. Then replace the hood, and get ready to test the flame. You need to be extra careful, since you don’t want to burn yourself or anything around you. Test the flame away from flammable materials and if you have long hair, tie it up. Get ready for your awesome flame!
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Modifying the Fuel Mechanism
Download Article
1 Pry the metal hood off of the lighter with a pair of pliers. Wriggle the pliers in under the sides of the metal hood and pry it off. It may take several attempts. Try not to bend the metal as much as possible, because you’ll need the metal hood later.[1]XResearch source
If the metal hood gets quite bent when you take it off, just squeeze it back into position with the pliers.
2 Locate the tab sticking out under the jet. This will look like a small plastic tab that sticks out over the gear that controls how much fuel gets fed to the flame. Normally it isn’t visible, but you’ll be able to see it now that the metal hood is off. [2]XResearch source
You can normally adjust the flame from low to high, but this trick will let you make it go much higher than ordinary.
3 Lift the tab upward, move it to the left, and then to the right. Lift the tab upward so that it disengages from the gear. Move it as far left as it will go and press it down. Then lift it up, move it as far right as it will go and press it back down again.[3]XResearch source
This lifting and pushing process disengages the gear and makes more fuel available for the flame.
4 Repeat the lifting and pushing process 2 more times. Again, lift the tab up, bring it to the left, and push it down. Lift it up, bring it to the right, and push it down. Once you’ve repeated this process 2 times, your lighter should be modified enough to get a big flame.
Don’t try doing it more than 2 times at first, because you could end up with a way-too-big flame that spits out gas and is dangerous.
5 Replace the metal hood on the lighter and test the flame. You might need to squeeze the metal hood with your pliers to get back into shape. Then snap it back onto the top of the lighter. You’re ready to test your flame.[4]XResearch source
Make sure you test your flame in a safe, fireproof location.
Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Lighting the Flame Safely
Download Article
1 Find a place that’s free of flammable material. Before you test your flame, make sure that you’re somewhere fire-proof, away from stacks of paper, wooden tables, or other things that catch fire easily. You could go outside and test your lighter over the asphalt or the sidewalk, so that if you drop the lighter, it won’t light anything on fire. [5]XResearch source
Don’t light the flame near anything that will burn, like paper, or melt, like thin plastic.
2 Hold the lighter far from your face and tie back your hair if it’s long. Long hair can easily catch on fire by accident, so tie up your hair before you test out your new flame. Angle the lighter far away from your body so that you don’t ignite your clothes, and hold it far from your face to avoid accidentally singeing your eyebrows.[6]XResearch source
It may be a good idea to wear safety goggles for extra protection.
3 Test the flame and see how high it goes. Press down on the lever that you use to ignite a flame. You should see a big spurt of fire. If you don’t, retry the steps of removing the metal hood, and pushing the tab back and forth. Keep trying until you get a big enough flame.[7]XResearch source
If you get a big flame, it will run through the lighter fluid quickly, so be prepared to refill the butane more frequently, or just buy a new lighter sooner.
4 Avoid burning the flame for too long, because it will heat up the lighter. If you make the big flame last a while, it will really heat up the lighter and you’ll end up scalding your fingertips, not to mention running through all your fuel. After you’ve lit the flame, avoid touching the lighter or touching it to any surfaces that might not do well with heat.[8]XResearch source
For example, keep your lighter away from thin plastic material that could easily melt.
Community Q&A
Search Add New Question
Question If I wanted to turn the flame back down again, how would I go about it? Community Answer Do the same process (steps 3 - 5) in reverse. Have the "tab" at the far left position to start with. Lift the tab up, move it across to the far right while it's disengaged from the cog. Place it back down so that it is connected, and then move it to the left, which should be pulling the valve in the clockwise direction. This step can be repeated until the flame size is the size you want. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 45
Question Does this work with BIC lighters? Community Answer Any kind of lighter works with this. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 34 Helpful 29
Question What if your lighter is a different model or type? ElDiablo69 Community Answer It should not matter. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 3
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit
Things You'll Need
Lighter
Pliers
Fire-proof place to test lighter
Tips
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Warnings
Make sure there are no flammable materials near you when you test the flame. Thanks Helpful 31 Not Helpful 13
The flame becomes more dangerous the bigger it is. Thanks Helpful 30 Not Helpful 15
Don't try this on your own if you're a kid! Have an adult help you and supervise you. Thanks Helpful 24 Not Helpful 17
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Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 504,340 times. 27 votes - 70% Co-authors: 34Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 504,340 Categories: Magic TricksArticle SummaryX
To make a lighter shoot a huge flame, you’ll need to modify it so more fuel can be released. First, pry the metal hood off with pliers. Once you’ve removed the hood, lift up the plastic tab above the gear that controls the release of fuel. Move the tab as far to the left as possible, then push it down. Next, move the tab as far to the right as possible, and push it down. Repeat this procedure 2 more times, which will stop the tab from restricting the flow of fuel. When you’re finished, replace the metal hood. Remember to test your flame in a safe area that contains no flammable material. For example, test your lighter outside on the sidewalk so you're not close to fire risks, like stacks of paper. For tips on how to safely light the huge flame, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
WasteNot WantNot
Jul 10, 2021
"Well written; very easy to understand instructions and visuals! This also works when your lighters are low on fluid .... It enables you to use every last 'drop' (gases don't actually drop, haha). My only suggestion (coming from a little personal scare) - wear some sort of protection to cover your eyes - even if it's dollar store reading glasses! When removing the apron and wiggling the tab, other little parts do occasionally disengage and kind of pop at your face! "..." more Rated this article:
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Yes No Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer 27 votes - 70% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 34Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 504,340
WasteNot WantNot
Jul 10, 2021
"Well written; very easy to understand instructions and visuals! This also works when your lighters are low on fluid .... It enables you to use every last 'drop' (gases don't actually drop, haha). My only suggestion (coming from a little personal scare) - wear some sort of protection to cover your eyes - even if it's dollar store reading glasses! When removing the apron and wiggling the tab, other little parts do occasionally disengage and kind of pop at your face! "..." more Rated this article:
Elizabeth Wegener
Aug 29, 2019
"The instructions were clear and good. The pictures sealed the deal. I followed the instructions, and it worked."
Joseph Eynan
Dec 27, 2018
"Worked like a charm. Thank you, wikiHow!"
Bob Sapp
Nov 21, 2018
"Worked like a charm!" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 504,340 times. 27 votes - 70% Co-authors: 34 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 504,340 Categories: Magic Tricks Article SummaryX
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1 Pry the metal hood off of the lighter with a pair of pliers. Wriggle the pliers in under the sides of the metal hood and pry it off. It may take several attempts. Try not to bend the metal as much as possible, because you’ll need the metal hood later.[1] 
2 Locate the tab sticking out under the jet. This will look like a small plastic tab that sticks out over the gear that controls how much fuel gets fed to the flame. Normally it isn’t visible, but you’ll be able to see it now that the metal hood is off. [2] 
3 Lift the tab upward, move it to the left, and then to the right. Lift the tab upward so that it disengages from the gear. Move it as far left as it will go and press it down. Then lift it up, move it as far right as it will go and press it back down again.[3] 
1 Find a place that’s free of flammable material. Before you test your flame, make sure that you’re somewhere fire-proof, away from stacks of paper, wooden tables, or other things that catch fire easily. You could go outside and test your lighter over the asphalt or the sidewalk, so that if you drop the lighter, it won’t light anything on fire. [5] 
2 Hold the lighter far from your face and tie back your hair if it’s long. Long hair can easily catch on fire by accident, so tie up your hair before you test out your new flame. Angle the lighter far away from your body so that you don’t ignite your clothes, and hold it far from your face to avoid accidentally singeing your eyebrows.[6] 
4 Avoid burning the flame for too long, because it will heat up the lighter. If you make the big flame last a while, it will really heat up the lighter and you’ll end up scalding your fingertips, not to mention running through all your fuel. After you’ve lit the flame, avoid touching the lighter or touching it to any surfaces that might not do well with heat.[8] 
Community Answer Do the same process (steps 3 - 5) in reverse. Have the "tab" at the far left position to start with. Lift the tab up, move it across to the far right while it's disengaged from the cog. Place it back down so that it is connected, and then move it to the left, which should be pulling the valve in the clockwise direction. This step can be repeated until the flame size is the size you want. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 45 
Community Answer Any kind of lighter works with this. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 34 Helpful 29 
ElDiablo69 Community Answer It should not matter. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 3