How to Do Zippo Tricks

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: July 11, 2024 References

More than just a fire-starting device, Zippo lighters can also be a fashion statement. One of the coolest things about Zippos is that you can perform tricks with them to impress your friends. While tricks like the "basic squeeze" are fairly easy to learn, more advanced Zippo tricks like the "back and forth" can take weeks or months to master. If you have patience and use the right methods, you can successfully learn how to do a variety of different tricks.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Doing a Basic Squeeze

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Your index finger should be wrapped around the Zippo while your middle finger helps support the base of the lighter. Place your thumb on the top of the lighter and make sure that the lighter is secure in your hand.^{[1]
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Create tension with your thumb by pushing down on the lid of the lighter. At the same time, you should be pushing up with your middle finger on the base of your Zippo. Your index finger will help keep the lighter in place.^{[2]
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Slide your thumb across the front of the lid. Once you've built up enough pressure, sliding your thumb across the front side of the Zippo lid should cause the lid to spring open.^{[3]
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- If you can't get it to work the first time, keep practicing and make sure that there is enough tension being created to open the lid.
Use your thumb to strike the flint wheel on your lighter once it's open. You can now light whatever you need to.
Once you're done using the lighter, you can close the lid with your other hand, or use your index finger to close it with one hand. Continue to practice until you can get the lid to pop open on the first try. ^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Doing an Advanced Squeeze

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Use your index and middle fingers to press down on the top of the Zippo while your thumb presses up on the bottom of the lighter. Your hand will look like a claw while you hold the lighter. Make sure that your index and middle finger touch.
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Squeeze down with your index and middle fingers. Squeeze tightly and slide your index and middle fingers down the side of the lighter. If you do this hard enough, it should pop the lid.^{[5]
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- You need to create enough pressure on the lid of the lighter so that it pops open.
3
Slide your thumb on the side of the lighter. As the lid opens and your index and middle fingers slide down from the lid to the body of the lighter, your thumb will also have to slide across to the other side of the lighter. This small movement will ensure that you have control over the lighter.^{[6]
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- While the trick is simple to do, it may take several tries until your lid finally pops open.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Learning the Back and Forth

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Place the Zippo in between your pinky and ring finger. The rest of your fingers should be bent. The top of the Zippo will pop out slightly above the top of your fingers.^{[7]
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Use your middle finger to push the top of the lighter down while removing the tension in between your ring and pinky fingers. This will cause the lighter to roll over your ring finger and end up in between your ring and middle finger.^{[8]
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Do the same motion that you did with the previous finger, but this time with your index finger. This will cause the lighter to roll over your middle finger and land in between your middle finger and index finger.^{[9]
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Once your lighter is in between your index and middle fingers, you can use your thumb to press up on the lid and open the lighter. Then, use your thumb to strike the flint wheel to light the Zippo.^{[10]
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Once you're done using the lighter, use a strong downward flicking motion to snap the lid of the Zippo closed. This should extinguish the flame.^{[11]
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Roll the lighter backward across your other fingers. Once the lighter is closed, you can safely roll it back across your fingers, but this time in the opposite direction. Use the same method to roll the lighter back, but this time use your ring finger to do so.^{[12]
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- Once you become proficient with quickly rolling the lighter back and forth, you can incorporate it into other aspects of your Zippo lighter trick routine.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Lighting Your Lighter With One Hand

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Hold the Zippo right side up with your thumb and index fingers on both sides of the lid. The rest of the lighter should be in front of your palm, and the lid should be facing upwards.
As you press down with your pinky finger on the case, you'll want to lift up with your middle and index finger. This should begin to open the case.
Rotate your wrist as the lid opens so that the bottom of the lighter can rest in your palm, while your index and thumb continue to hold the lid.
Immediately after opening the lid on the lighter, strike the flint wheel in one motion with your ring finger. If you do all the steps quickly in succession, it will look like you flawlessly lit your Zippo using one hand, in one motion. ^{[13]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Performing the Gun

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Put the lighter upside down, with the lid facing downwards. Your index and middle finger should be extended out, to look like a gun. The lighter should be nestled near the top of your palm. ^{[14]
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With the Zippo tightly secured between your fingers, quickly flick your wrist upward. This motion should open the lighter, with the flint wheel facing upwards.^{[15]
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Quickly strike your palm over the flint wheel towards you, to light the wick on your Zippo. This movement will replicate pulling back the hammer on a revolver, hence the name of the trick, "The Gun." Light whatever you need to with the flame.^{[16]
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Making a quick downward motion with your hand will close the lighter and extinguish the flame. You've successfully pulled off the trick. ^{[17]
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