It works, but I used a little butane torch when I tried it a while back. I don't see how the lighter was able to get it hot enough to trigger the capillary action.

I could see how someone who was a mechanic might give this as a tip for the average Joe who might not have a torch and wd40 handy.

That worked better than I expected! I actually have a teensy little one of those for water paint or for lacquer coating a page. The principle is that you have two pipes at right angles, capillary action draws paint up the little one, and you blow through the big one and the liquid sprays out and spatters unevenly onto the page... which is good if you are after a spatter effect.

I didn't know there were bigger versions, and would not have expected such a good result from one.

*wheels