Any tips on making your own storm proof matches

[John McVicker]

You can buy them cheap enough but I just thought I might try to make some.

Google.says to dip them in turpentine , clear nail polish or wax, in that order.

Any tips from anyone that has done this ?

Thanks, John

 

[cruiserpilot]

Well, 40 yrs ago in boy scouts we used to melt those emergency candles into a puddle of wax, roll a strike anywhere match in the wax, and before you put it down it was dry enough to put in one of those old steel match containers/35mm film canister. Worked for ever, in fact I even found some of them a couple of months ago, still struck and burned!

 

[badlander]

^^^^
What he said. Only way to go.

 

[John McVicker]

Ok guys, did the wax trick and it seems to be good...easy and quick.

Went and bought a cluster of 10 small boxes of strike anywhere (more about this later) matches. Put candle wax on the tips and tested them.

Let the wax set for 15 mins or so - pealed the wax off and struck them to the side of the box, got great flame. As an extra test I took a few of the waxed matches & dipped them in water, pealed the wax off and they too fired right up.

Regarding the part about 'strike anywhere' matches, well sometimes yes & sometimes no. However they always start if you strike on the side of the box...problem is, that striker part is small & it's easy to wear out. So inside the box I also put a small square of crocus cloth. Strikes every time & you have a lot more striking surface.

Right now I put the waxed matches back in the small boxes, once I find my old film canisters, I will put a full one in each of my rigs.

Thanks, John

 

[scrapdaddy]

I always used my zipper as a match striking spot, if nothing else available.

 

[John McVicker]

You know, I read about using a zipper when I was googling this, good idea. I'll go for the zipper when I run out of crocus.

Thanks, John

 

[skidplate]

Another old school Boy Scout here. The wax thing always worked for me as well. As John Mc stated, the newer "strike anywhere" are just not what they used to be. Must be some regulation to make them "safer".

 

[John McVicker]

Yeah, now days the ignition part is only on the very very tip of the match with the 'burn' part down the side of the stick a bit. If it doesn't light on the 1st or maybe 2nd attempt you might be SOL

In the old days I believe the ignition part also came down the sides of the stick a bit. IDK, maybe that made spontaneous combustion in the box or in your pocket more likely ??

Thanks, John

 

[cruiserpilot]

I always used my zipper as a match striking spot, if nothing else available.

That brings a smile to my face, cause back when strike anywhere matches were well made, all of us, me included, had an incident of burning jeans from striking on the fly of a pair of jeans!

FWIW - I just came back from India and the matches there are old school.
I brought about 4 boxes home. Way better than modern matches we buy here now.

 

[rusty_tlc]

....

Right now I put the waxed matches back in the small boxes, once I find my old film canisters, I will put a full one in each of my rigs.

Thanks, John

These work much better than film canisters, especially if you tape a Bic to the side.
http://shop.coolmaterial.com/products/match-case?gclid=CLKn_YzGlbsCFYU5QgodAhIARQ

 

[John McVicker]

These work much better than film canisters, especially if you tape a Bic to the side.
http://shop.coolmaterial.com/products/match-case?gclid=CLKn_YzGlbsCFYU5QgodAhIARQ

Somewhere I've got at least one of those, maybe two. In your link it talks about a seal to protect it from the elements...haven't seen mine in awhile, not sure if mine have that seal.

I also have some of the more common plastic orange canisters that do have the seal.

John

 

[cruiserpilot]

That match case listed above is what I have about 3 of. They used to be made in Springfield, Ill, brass and really nice works of precision. They're old, I like old! Now I've seen some newer versions that I feel aren't as nice. But they do work well.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Somewhere I've got at least one of those, maybe two. In your link it talks about a seal to protect it from the elements...haven't seen mine in awhile, not sure if mine have that seal.

I also have some of the more common plastic orange canisters that do have the seal.

John

The seal is a round piece of rubber, find an old inner tube.

 

[John McVicker]

All set now.

The waxing of the tips of 'strike anywhere' matches works great. And even in my small town, I found the metal match case/holders. The ones I found aren't MARBLES brand...made in China stuff, but they do have the rubber seal and should do the job just fine.

Thanks, John