This red button is the ignition button that releases the gas from the lighter chamber. Grip the lighter at least half an inch below the metal portion. The metal gets really hot and you’re also more likely to get burned the closer you are to it.

You won’t see the spark. The spark is generated inside the metal housing of the lighter.

Don’t keep the lighter lit for more than 30 seconds. Let off the gas right after you light the object that you’re trying to light. The top of the lighter will get hot rather quickly, which can be dangerous. To get maximum life from your lighter, avoid burning it for any longer than necessary. Most lighters come with plenty of flint to outlast the fuel in normal use, so it is better to relight it than to keep it burning between tasks: e. g. lighting a great many candles. It’s unlikely that the flint will run out before the fuel does. When it does run out of gas, you’re out of luck.

Bic lighters should still work in somewhat rainy and windy conditions. If you are having trouble flicking the Bic, however, try cupping the lighter with your hand or otherwise blocking the wind so that it cannot steal away the flame. Create a dry space with still air.

If the lighter is out of fuel, throw it away. Disposable lighters are not meant to be refilled. You should be able to get up to 3,000 lights from a full-sized Bic lighter.

If the Bic is still producing a spark, you can hold the striker wheel down hard and very slowly turn it, grinding a little bit of flint off the stick. When the striker is hit full force, it should scatter and ignite the flint, which should be enough to light the butane. Be careful: the bits of flint can scatter and land on skin or clothing. The likelihood of burning yourself is very small, but still existent. If the striker produces no spark at all but there is still butane in the tank: put the tips of two lighters together. Hold down the ignition button of the first lighter to release fuel. Then, use the striker from the other, functioning lighter (possibly one that has run out of fuel) to light the first.