Cigarette lighter effect?

[northcoastlts]

Greeting, all!
We're doing a high school production that requires kids to light cigarette lighters on stage. I'm trying to figure out a way to do that without involving real lighters and the accompanying flames, etc.
Anyone have any suggetions?

 

[sk8rsdad]

Mime it and trust the audience?
Wire up a small LED with a battery and add a pushbutton switch to the prop? You can probably harvest most of what you need from some dollar store trinket.

 

[almorton]

If you look at the flame head of city theatrical's electronic candles, it's 3 grain o' wheat lamps (or 3 LEDs for the low power version) made to flicker by a microcontroller and they look very convincing from more than a couple of feet away. Something similar but simpler could be cobbled together maybe - the main effect is just a couple of flickering lamps wrapped in a plastic that diffuses the light of the "flame".

 

[Harrison Hohnholt]

If you look at the flame head of city theatrical's electronic candles, it's 3 grain o' wheat lamps (or 3 LEDs for the low power version) made to flicker by a microcontroller and they look very convincing from more than a couple of feet away. Something similar but simpler could be cobbled together maybe - the main effect is just a couple of flickering lamps wrapped in a plastic that diffuses the light of the "flame".

Here is a write up on using the candle as a lighter. https://www.citytheatrical.com/news_letter/Candle Lighter.htm. Unfortunately the video is no longer available on Youtube. Let me do some digging in our files, I might be able to find it

 

[Harrison Hohnholt]

Here is a write up on using the candle as a lighter. https://www.citytheatrical.com/news_letter/Candle Lighter.htm. Unfortunately the video is no longer available on Youtube. Let me do some digging in our files, I might be able to find it

Found it!

 

[almorton]

Dont suppose the lamp assemblies can be bought separately, can they? A bit of set fell on one of ours and broke two of the lamps.

 

[Harrison Hohnholt]

Dont suppose the lamp assemblies can be bought separately, can they? A bit of set fell on one of ours and broke two of the lamps.

Actually, i think they can. Give me a call on Monday and we can figure out how to get you some.

201.559.4224

 

[almorton]

That would be great, thanks, although I'm in the UK so maybe there's someone this side of the pond?

 

[Harrison Hohnholt]

That would be great, thanks, although I'm in the UK so maybe there's someone this side of the pond?

We have a London office too. I’ll PM you contact info.

 

[almorton]

Great, thanks.

 

[jonliles]

a 555 timer IC, 3 flickering LEDs , 3V battery back , and a button switch and you are in business.