Tricks With a Zippo Lighter

The Squeeze

• One of the first techniques that many Zippo owners learn, The Squeeze allows owners to open the Zippo lighter without pulling the lid open in the traditional manner. Instead, the performer holds the lighter tightly in her hand, stretching the index and forefinger along the hinge-end of the top of the lighter. Then, the performer slides these two fingers down quickly. Done with enough force, the lid should pop open, as if on its own.

Flame Levitation

• Another fairly simple Zippo trick to perform is to make the flame of the Zippo appear to levitate. All the performer must do is open the lighter's lid and light the flame. Then, carefully and slowly, the performer begins to close the lid. Done gently enough, the flame will gradually get weaker at its center, until eventually just the tip of the flame is visible. This gives the flame the appearance of levitation.

Lid Smack

• The Lid Smack is one way to ignite the Zippo's flame that makes it look effortless and automatic. It also requires a decent amount of hand dexterity. Basically, the performer situates his forefinger and thumb on both the hinge side and the opening side of the Zippo. Then, he smacks the bottom of of the lighter against a hard surface such as a counter top or bar. At the moment of impact, he flips the lighter in a direction that is opposite the Zippo's hinge. If done correctly, the flip will utilize centrifugal force to allow the lid to pop open and the smack on the bottom of the lighter will ignite the Zippo's flame all in the same instant.

Other Tricks

• There are a multitude of additional Zippo tricks out there, though many of these require some sleight of hand ability and a lot of practice. Additional tricks include one where the performer puts out the flame, then seems to start it again just by pointing at it. Another involves the performer's seeming to grab the flame and pull it away from the lighter with one of her fingers. These, along with other moves where the Zippo is threaded through the fingers almost as if it's another one of the performer's appendages, involve much practice and concentration to perfect.