Humans are fascinated by the fact they can create and control fire ever since they first learned to harness its power 500,000 years ago. A good is ideal for starting a campfire or lighting candles for a romantic date, which just means that while this tool is not for everyday use, it's something that you should have at your disposal.
Early humans have used fire to light and warm their caves and deter large predators Now, you can pick up an inexpensive yet reliable plastic butane lighter at just about any convenience store for as much as a pack of gum or cup of coffee.
History of lighters
The inventor of the first lighter, called the "Dobereiner Lamp" is commended chemist Johann Wolfgang Dobereiner. The invention took place in Germany in 1923 and was still dangerous and inconvenient but undeniably a good foundation for the modern lighters. Different inventors at that time were quite interested in this concept that involves a flammable hydrogen (created through chemical hydrogen) that must be sparked to ignite.The next major step was the creation of the alloy ferrocerium which is the substance used to create a spark which ignites the fuel. This alloy is usually compared to the flint but it was found out that the former can produce sparks more consistently with very high temperatures. The reliability of lighters primarily rely on this material.
Lighter fluid, butane, and batteries
Modern lighters are categorized based on their fuel. Zippos are very popular but some don't like them for pungent lighter fluid aroma they produce. There are people who prefer electronics lighters, which create a small electric arc, and butane lighters because they are both cleaner and odor-free. Here are pros and cons as well as different characteristics of every variant.Lighter Fluid: Also known as Naphtha, this highly flammable mixture are utilized in the production of lighters since the early 1900's. This terms is actually a Latin word for petroleum. The popularity of this fuel type still continues because they are refined many times to have a cleaner burning flame with less distinctive smell. While these have proven to be a favorite among some consumers who enjoy the nostalgic appeal of these lighters, others have found the upkeep and having to refill it is a major drawback.
Butane Gas: Butane is an organic compound that was first discovered by English chemist Edward Frankland in 1849. Butane can be mass produced and is highly flammable, making it perfect for fueling disposable and refillable lighters. Common lighters such as BICs and Crickets use Butane as fuel. It is also used by high heat torch lighters that can cut rope with several thousand degrees temperature. There are inexpensive disposable Butane lighters such as BIC , and there are also Dunhill and Colibri lighter brands that have top quality refillable butane lighters portraying elegance and class.
Electricity: These are lighters that don't produce a flame, rather they create a small blue electric arc between two points. The heat it produces is enough to light up a cigar or kindle for a fire. If you have a laptop or any gadget that has USB port, you can recharge this lighter through it. They also don't emit a pungent smell.
What are that components?
Even though electric lighters are now existing, they still don't match the popularity of lighters that releases a flame by means of igniting a fuel through a spark. It's a simple concept that continues to be the basis of the design and yet each manufacturer has their own distinctive elements that help it to stand out from the crowd such as the distinctive Zippo "Click" when opening the top. While lighters range in price from less than a dollar to several thousands of the dollars, the basic structure of how they work is more or less the same.The Body: The body is either made from brass, chrome plated steel, or plastic. All the lighter's components are held by the body, such as the fuel. Colibri, Zippo, and other expensive models have a refillable fuel storage and replaceable flint while lighters such as BIC's and Scriptos are disposable and safely sealed. There are lighters like older Ronson's that have a bigger body and weigh more than a pound. They are usually placed on the desk rather than hand-carried.
The Flint: What most people think of as a flint is in truth, a man made alloy called ferrocerium that proved to be one of the biggest advancements in the development of modern lights. When this material is struck, it is capable of producing sparks that cause fuel ignition. A normal flint is very small, but they can produce up to 5,000 lights before wearing out. Often times, Zippo users will stash a spare flint in the stuffing of their lighters, just in case the one they're using runs out.
The Flint spring: is struck, a spark will be created. These are easily removed on Zippos to allow the user to replace the flint as needed.
The Wheel: Common to both fluid and butane lighters, the function of the wheel is to create a spark by rotating down across the flint. While disposable models use cheaper materials due to the temporary lifespan of the product, manufacturers such as Zippo use a much harder metal that won't wear down over time as fast and some of their lighters from the 1940's are still functional nearly 80 years later.
The Wick: Found in liquid fuel lighters, the wick allows contact between the fuel and the flint. On butane lighters, the wick is instead a small gas jet valve that lets butane out at a controlled rate to maintain a consistent flame.
The Stuffing: It serves as a fuel storage that is why it is very important to the function of liquid fuels lighters. Usually, cotton is used to make this component. Manufacturers are still developing other materials that can be used as an alternative for cotton. The goal of the wick is to saturate the cotton by running through the stuffing by releasing lighter fluid into it. Older users will advise you to make the stuffing "seasoned" so it will be able to hold sufficient fluid to last longer. This is possible by using the lighter for a couple of months.
The Wind Guard: Around the wick or gas jet is this small piece of perforated metal that provides sufficient air to the flame for safe combustion. This is one of the main selling points of Zippos, known for being the first "Windproof" and thus being extremely popular with sailors and other people who face the elements on a regular basis.
Large scale production
Different brands were able mass produce lighters; Zippo is producing as much as 50,000 daily while BIC is making up to 6 million on a daily basis. The means of productions differ from one manufacturer to another but they still follow the same basic steps.- The raw materials such as brass and plastic are delivered to the factory and inspected for quality before being processed.
- After loading of materials, the processing of the outer case will commence. Zippo lighters' metal body is shaped right after punching out and formatting the raw metal. BIC's have a lightweight, impact/rupture resistant body because it is made of polymer resin Delrin.
- From there, the case is trimmed and folded into a box like shape and welded together to form the body of the lighter.
- While this is happening, other parts of the factory are busy working on other components such as the flint spring and the top hinges that will be added to the body. BIC produces lighters with speed and efficiency using the most sophisticated injection that molds thee wheel, wind guard and other parts. Components produce by such technology are faultless and doesn't cause lighter malfunction.
- After making the body and components, the assembly process will start, wherein workers assemble every lighter body, the wheel, wind guard and other parts altogether.
- From here, the lighters are polished in the case of Zippos or wrapped in various designs and motifs such as sports teams for BICS.
- Workers will then test and check the quality and safety of every lighter. At the BIC company, over 50 various inspections for every lighter are carried out using a very advanced technology. The same company also make impact and heat resistant lighters.
- When the lighters pass inspection they are then packaged either in individual cases or in packs ranging in size from two to twenty-five.
- The final stage is shipping to various wholesale outlets or online via their own website.
Brands that are Leading the Market
The simple concept revolving around lighters were unchanged yet made better by many manufacturers. Regardless of budget, you can always find a lighter that will get the job done.Zippo: This company was started in 1923 and has since grown to be one of the most popular lighters on the market. Sailors and soldiers prefer these lighters because they have a distinctive opening "Click" and extreme resilience.
BIC: These butane fueled lighters are made to be disposable, making them a favorite of consumers since the early 70's when they are first manufactured. These lighters vary in color and design and are simple yet quite functional. They can also be used as promotional items by simply customizing it with a business details or logo.
Ronson: Although this is the first major manufacturer of high-end lighters and men's accessories, they aren't as popular as Zippos or BICS. Since 2012, they have been owned by Zippo
Colibri: Colibri was established in 1928 in the city of New York. This company was the first to make "semi-automatic" lighter and electric lighter. They are a great brand for premium lighters and other smoking items.
Alfred Dunhill: This was a saddlery company in England in the late 1800s and later became a distinctive and classy lighter brand. Commended actor Sean Connery is simply an epitome of cool when he used a Dunhill lighter in the opening scene of the James Bond film "Dr. No".
While often associated with smoking, a lighter has far more uses than that and is one of the most useful, yet underrated and overlooked, inventions of modern times. Where the lighter you use is the cheap disposable one or the long lasting Zippo, you will see it as a symbol of how we are able to control fire. From birthday candles to the slow song at a rock concert, there's still something magical about the flicker of the flame.
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