In this article, I will talk through exactly how to refill Bic lighters with two of the simplest methods, depending on your materials.
Bic lighters are not meant to be refillable, according to the manufacturer. Yet, I wouldn’t say I like the thought of having to buy a new lighter each time my lighter runs out of fuel.
It’s financially inefficient. It increases the amount of plastic waste. And it contradicts my morals of self-sufficiency.
There’s no reason to spend money on a new one because you can refill the one you already have.
Let’s dive right in.
BIC lighters are refillable, but you will need to carefully follow some steps and have a few basic things on hand like a thumbtack, rubberband, pliers, a drill, drill bits, and a fuel refill valve.
Once you have gathered all these essential items, you’re ready to refill your BIC lighter.
Why You Should Do This
If you use lighters excessively and need to replace them, you should consider purchasing a refillable lighter.
Many are inexpensive and perform as well as (if not better than) a Bic lighter. In terms of butane lighters, I personally like the UST Floating Lighter (Amazon Link).
Knowing how to refill a disposable lighter, on the other hand, is a useful survival ability and just good to know.
And of course, a word of warning, you are playing with fire here, so please refill the butane lighter at your own risk.
1. The Pin
What You Need
- A Pin or Thumbtack
- A Rubber Band or Rubber Grommet
- Pliers and Filer(Recommended; Not Required)
How to Refill the Bic Lighter
This method is more straightforward but can get messy. The video above will show this process.
Step 1:
Insert your pin into the small hole at the base of the Bic lighter. In the opening, a small ball seals the gas in the tank. You ought to insert the ball into the lighter. You’ll be able to sense it trembling inside.
Step 2:
Check that the lighter is absolutely empty. When you remove the screw, some fluid will spray out until refilling the lighter with fresh butane gas, making sure to empty any extra fluid. Attempt to light the lighter.
Step 3:
Butane would spill everywhere if you simply pressed the butane canister valve into the hole you created. As a result, you’ll need to add something to the valve to provide a proper seal.
In a pinch, a large rubber band would suffice. Cut a tiny hole in the rubber band with your pin and insert the valve into it. Or, if you have a good-fitting rubber grommet, that can work too.
Step 4:
Fill the lighter with butane while keeping it upside down. A classic-size Bic lighter takes about 30 seconds to fill. Although, if this is your first time, I recommend you put less, as you will see in step 5.
Step 5:
When you detach the butane canister, promptly place your thumb over the Bic lighter’s hole. Or else, all of the lighter fluid will only spurt out, which can be a little messy.
Step 6:
Remove your thumb from the hole and easily insert a push pin. This would close the gap and hold the butane inside. You may use pliers to shorten the pin and a file to smooth it over if you want. Alternatively, a flathead push pin may be used.
2. The Refill Valve
What You Need
- Drill
- Drill bits
- Fuel refill valve
How to Refill the Bic Lighter
There is another video above that perfectly demonstrates my steps on a method to refill a Bic lighter.
Place a refill valve at the bottom of the lighter using this process. This encourages you to reload the Bic lighter several times.
When you reload, there are no irritating push pins, no pressing your thumb over the hole, and no liquid fuel spurting anywhere.
To do this, you’ll need a small gas refill valve. Replacement valves for airsoft weapons (Amazon Link) or this one work well. It’s also possible to use the refill valve from a defective refillable lighter in your Bic lighter.
Step 1:
Locate the small hole at the bottom of your Bic lighter. Push on it with a pin or drill bit before the ball lands within the lighter.
Step 2:
The next step is to drill into the hole you just created. You ought to make it wider so that your refill valve will fit inside. The drill bit should not be larger than the valve you want to use. Ideally, the valve should be slightly wider than the drill bit.
Step 3:
After you’ve drilled your hole, flip the lighter over. Shake it up to get the ball and any drilling debris out of the lighter.
Step 4:
Inside the fuel chamber of Bic, the lighters are rubber dividers. If this divider is already in operation, you won’t be able to insert your refill valve into the lighter. As a result, you’ll need to insert something (such as a drill bit) into the lighter and hack away at the divider. When you’re done, shake the debris out.
Step 5:
Insert the refill valve into the hole. You can need to use a razor to scrape the hole’s edge a little. To make an airtight seal, some people apply a dab of silicone around the valve strings.
Step 6:
Now, all you have to do is fill it up with the fuel.
Last Word
Follow this article at your own risk, since there are always drawbacks of doing something like this at home, but if you follow these directions, you should be able to learn how to refill a Bic lighter with a fair amount of safety.
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If you put the lighter and butane in the feezer and get it nice and cold before u fill it the liquid will be way less volatile and not spew out of the lighter after you fill it
Good tip, thanks.