No, this is a different one.

Safely coiled in a reservoir of mineral oil, a wire of potassium remains inert until a turn of the thumbwheel advances it out of the reservoir, exposing it to the air. Reaction, combustion, and ignition follow swiftly.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 24 2015

Because mineral oil isn't combustible at all...
-- RayfordSteele, Sep 24 2015


Fuelless lighter: broadcasts the radar signature of an enemy aircraft. Stand next to something flammable, wait for the airstrike, then light what you need to light in the flaming rubble.
-- sninctown, Sep 24 2015


combustible [+]
-- Voice, Sep 24 2015


Pyrophoric alkali metal [+]
-- 8th of 7, Sep 24 2015


Youtube people slicing up potassium shows it just sort of tarnishing. You either need a more reactive metal, or an ignition source.
-- bs0u0155, Sep 25 2015


yep, you need cesium. Could add to the cost.
-- bs0u0155, Sep 25 2015


I'm sure someone could devise a lighter that involves a small guillotine style cheese grater; a block of oil protected sodium; the means to spray water on the resulting unprotected sodium particles which have been made airborne by mechanically created, compressed air. Most suitable for cooking croissants.
-- xenzag, Sep 26 2015


Should be pretty exciting when the the reservoir breaks and the oil leaks out... while in your pocket.

So when the wire is pushed above the surface of the oil, how long will it take for the film of oil to recede and actually expose the wire to the air? Seems like it would take a variable amount of time and would require some patience. Then, wouldn't it burn very quickly? Might be tough to light the cigarette.
-- jtgd, Sep 26 2015


This is a MaxCo. product. The words "break" and "leak" are not part of our vocabulary. Of course, this causes problems when one of us needs to pop out of the lab for five minutes to take a pee.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 26 2015



random, halfbakery