How To Take Off The Safety On A Lighter
You might have noticed that many lighters have a little lever or button on the side that ensures it is turned to the “safety’ position before you can actually use it. This kind of lighter is also known as a thumb ignitor lighter. In this article, we will be exploring how to take off the safety on your thumb ignitor lighter so you can use it again
Lighters are as useful as they are ubiquitous. They’re great for outdoor activities like camping or hiking, and they can even come in handy at the office if you have a smoking break every now and then. But just like any other piece of equipment, lighters also come with their limitations.
Unless you know how to take them apart safely, chances are that your lighter might not work so well anymore after several uses. This is especially important when it comes to lighters used outdoors. A broken lighter isn’t only inconvenient; it can also be dangerous, especially when it’s raining out or there’s a drop of moisture in the air.
That’s because lighters don’t have sealant fluid or other lubricants to keep them from sparking whenever pressure is applied against their flint bars. This means that lighters could start firing sparks under certain conditions, which could cause burns or fires if ignited by something flammable (like a strong wind).
Safety first
Disassembly basics Before you begin disassembling your lighter, make sure that you’re wearing rubber gloves to protect your hands from sparks. You should also wear a face shield, safety glasses, and a hat to keep your hair and clothes away from the sparks that may fly out.
And if you’re working with flammable liquids (like lighter fluid), do so in a clean, well-ventilated area. The first thing that you should do when disassembling your lighter is to purge the lighter of any flammable vapors by pouring out the fluid and refilling it with fresh fluid.
This will prevent your lighter from igniting when the new fluid touches the still-combustible components inside.
Remove the flint assembly
The flint assembly inside a lighter is made up of two parts: the flint and the striker. The flint is the part that creates sparks when pressure is applied to it via the striker. On most lighters, the flint is built into the end of the body.
As far as removal is concerned, however, it’s the striker that’s much more important. Most lighters have a safety feature that prevents the lighter from igniting if the striker is not in contact with the flint. To remove the flint assembly, you’ll need to use your fingernails or a thin flathead screwdriver to wedge out the striker.
Remove the body cap
The body cap on most lighters is a metal cap that covers the lighter’s fuel chamber. To remove it, you’ll need a small flathead screwdriver. With the cap off, you should be able to see the fuel rod inside the lighter’s fuel rod chamber.
Flip the lighter over and remove the nubs
With the body cap removed, the next thing that you should do is flip your lighter over and remove the two nubs on the bottom. These will allow you to flip the lighter over without having to remove the bottom cap. You can do this with your fingers or a small flathead screwdriver.
At this point, the lighter should look like an upside-down “T” with the fuel rod pointing down. If you’re using a windproof lighter, you may want to remove the windproof cover next to the fuel rod. This will expose more of the lighter’s fuel chamber and make it easier to flip the lighter over.
Pull off the bottom rubber boot
The rubber boot on the bottom of most lighters protects the fuel rod and the fuel rod chamber from dirt, debris, and rust. The boot typically allows you to pull the lighter off the table or desk. The boot can usually be removed by sliding a small flathead screwdriver under it.
Twist out the fuel rod to expose more fuel
The last thing that you should do is twist the fuel rod out by hand. This will allow for more fuel to flow into the lighter’s fuel chamber and make refilling your lighter easier. If you’re using a windproof lighter, you may not need to twist out the fuel rod. In that case, you simply need to flip the lighter over so that the fuel rod is exposed.
Insert a piece of cloth or paper into the jet tube
The jet tube on most lighters is a piece of brass that allows you to inject the lighter’s fuel with a stream of flaming liquid. In order to get a new lighter going again, you should clean the jet tube of any debris.
This can be done by gently twisting the lighter to expose the jet tube (as described above) or with a small brush. Next, you should insert a small piece of cloth or paper into the jet tube to prevent debris or fuel from accidentally coming out of the jet tube while it’s being used.
This will prevent damage to the lighter or fuel if the jet tube were to accidentally hit something.
Get a new lighter
While a lighter that won’t light is annoying, it’s far more dangerous if the lighter still works. So if you break yours, try refilling it with lighter fluid. If that doesn’t work, try buying a new lighter.
Lighters are typically designed to be disposable items, so they don’t usually have a long lifespan. That said, some manufacturers have begun making lighters with enhanced durability. So if your current lighter is causing problems, try a new one.