How a Utility Lighter is Made?

A lighter makes a flame when fuel, usually naphtha, is poured onto a flint wheel. In modern lighters, flint is a cheap, man-made metallic material that produces a large spark when it is scratched and the fuel is thrown or blown over it.

Lighters are manufactured in a variety of ways and have different features. Some are simple, while others are more complex and have multiple parts.

Most multi-purpose lighters have an outer case that is made from brass. Inside the outer case, a number of small metal parts are fabricated from stainless steel. The cam spring, eyelet, and rivet for the flint tube, for example, are made from stainless steel.

Many other parts are welded to the inner case, including the hinges connecting the case lid and bottom to both parts. These specialized pieces are welded by a precision machine, called resistance welding.
The lighter maker then uses a machine called a deep drawing press to punch in the edges of the outer and inner cases and key details. These presses also punch the holes in the flint wheel and chimney (wind hood) area of the lighter, a process that requires precise measurements and accuracy.

A lighter manufacturer can produce many designs for a variety of markets and prices, including promotional products. Some of these designs are printed on the outside of lighters, and some are etched or sublimated into the surface coating. This technigraphic method allows designers to create a design that extends over several lighters, such as a jungle scene or a puzzle with four different pieces.