Sciencemadness Discussion Board

My zippo lighter

User - 24-5-2011 at 00:23

Just for fun I would like to test some alternative fuels/mixtures for my zippo lighter.
"No science just messing around..."
Price and common sense are not important.


Currently my lighter burns white-spirit, which is fine but not very exciting.
What would be fun to try?

In the past I used nitromethane/MeOH.
Mixtures of MeOH/white-spirits.
Also mixtures of kerosine and alcohols.

Any (science)madness ?

[Edited on 24-5-2011 by User]

mewrox99 - 24-5-2011 at 03:09

Here was an idea I read somewhere

Dissolve some CuSO4 in H2O
Dissolve a bar of soap in boling water
Mix
Filter the ppt
wait for it to dry
add some into the lighter fluid

You should get a green flame

You can also try MeOH with things dissolved in it.

plante1999 - 24-5-2011 at 03:49

boric acid disolved in methanol.....

Neil - 24-5-2011 at 09:17

A drop of tri methylborate dissolved in a large volume of methanol makes a nice green, but Boric acid/methanol just clogs wicks.


This MSDS lists the ingredients for the colored flame lamp fuels.