Author Topic: I played with matches today (Read 2937 times)

Elijah Gunn · « **on:** July 17, 2009, 10:58:18 PM »

I was looking through some of my gear today and came across my waterproof match case. It's a plastic cylinder with a screw on cap. There is also a small "striker" glued to the bottom of it.
I read an article a while back about what kinds of things were in great demand in Bosnia during the wars there. Matches were pretty high on the list.
I keep the "strike anywhere" matches in it, and they work well, but they are getting harder to find at the store these days, so I tried to light some of the "strike on the box" matches I have by using the striker on the match case. They would not light using the striker on the match case. I'm glad I found that out now. I also tried to light some book matches off the striker on the waterproof match case but no luck there either. It would be handy to have a striker on the match case that would light any type of match.

I also keep some disposable cigarette lighters. They have a couple points to be aware of.
1. They can fail to work if they get wet.
2. If you keep them lit for too long they can break. I just had this happen, I kept the lighter lit for maybe 30 seconds and it melted the plastic that held the metal housing onto the lighter. When that came loose it was then impossible to use the striker.

Dand · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2009, 09:31:09 AM »

On the bottom of some of my match cases there is a little black rod that I think might be some magnesium compound to use as a sparker, not a match striker. I think - but I'm not positive.

Yeah good strike anywhere matches are harder and harder to get. Shipping is considered haz mat and runs up expenses. Frustrating some days lighting my wood stove when the matches won't light or stay lit even in my warm dry house.

In my match cases, I try to put a small pellet of wadded wax paper just inside the cap as a pad for the match tips and as an easy to light fire starter.

Some of the waterproof matches sold now aren't that great either. Too small, too flimsy and too hard of tips - wear out the striker patch in a few strokes and the rest of the matches have nothing to work on.

The best waterproof matches I found came in a white plastic vial with a striker on top. The actual match-head was about a half inch long and the things would burn like a torch for about 30 seconds. I haven't seen any available for quite a while. The heads were a orange/brown color. I think they might have been called "Life Boat Matches". Don't recall where mine came from. Don't have any these days.

spruce · « **Reply #2 on:** July 26, 2009, 01:18:12 PM »

Use to have some of those life boat matches - you're right they burned like crazy! I think I got them from a company called Campmor (sp?). They were a mail order company. Don't know if they are still in business, haven't got a catalog from them in several years.

Elijah Gunn · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2009, 01:41:43 PM »

I think "lifeboat" matches are also called "windproof" matches.
Dand, what I called a striker you call a sparker,and I think the one on my match case is magnesium. I have one box left of the Ohio bluetip matches that are supposed to be damp proof. I found some strike anywhere matches at a hardware store and bought their last 6 boxes.

Dee · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2009, 03:13:32 PM »

I don't carry matches anymore and haven't since the late seventies. Don't carry disposable lighters either. I carry a Zippo, with extra flints in the bottom. When I was working the Red River bottoms on the Texas-Oklahoma border looking for marijuana growers patches I found that #1 I didn't need to build many fires, but when I did, I needed it then.
A Zippo is not affected by cold or heat, a butane lighter IS. You can build a small tepee of sticks, light it, and just stick it (the Zippo) under the tepee until it is lit. If your fluid expires the flint striker can be used on tender to spark it.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2009, 03:20:21 PM »

dip strike any where matches in parafin
then store in old pill bottles

ever see those joke birthday candles that don't go out
i have some of thosed [used] in a pill bottle some where

candles are great to start a fire with

Elijah Gunn · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2009, 03:18:13 AM »

I didn't know a Zippo threw enough of a spark to light tinder. What kind of tinder works best when using a Zippo?

Dee · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2009, 05:32:39 AM »

Try the cotton ball vaseline combo, and see if it works. A flint and steel puts out less spark than a good flint in a Zippo. Honestly I have never had to use anything else because part of my pack contains a very small container of lighter fluid. Gasoline will work in a pinch. That I have used. Didn't like it but, it worked.
I have used a commercial flint striker, and I have seen guys carry an acetylene torch lighter in their pack. I have also used a bow and drill wood.

Elijah Gunn · « **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2009, 04:15:19 PM »

Thanks Dee

Rex in OTZ · « **Reply #9 on:** September 10, 2009, 02:55:09 PM »

last weekend we built a fire useing our Honda's ATV header pipe and a handfull of dry grass works great!

That ChapStick lip balm in them little tubes works just as good run out a smidge and work it into some dryer lint and loft it up some and strike a spark to that!

45-70.gov · « **Reply #10 on:** September 11, 2009, 04:44:49 AM »

i have used my batery powered dewalt grinder
cathered pine straw and an old broken shovel
started cutting the shovel burried in straw
it worked to start the fire

other than that it is matches lighters gasoline propane touch
all the normal boring stuff

and once used the stove burner and paper
along with airosol can to burn out some wasp

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #11 on:** September 11, 2009, 10:18:06 AM »

When hunting in Canada i carry a zippo in my pocket ( yep extra flints in the bottom and cotton balls in a plastic bag ) , a bic lighter in the boat and shooting bag and matches on me in a brass match case with a compas on the lid ( place a small piece of 600 grit sand paper in the container with the matches in a way they won't strike ) and extra matches in a military match box in the boat/shooting bag .
and as a mater of fact i do wear a belt and suspenders !
BUT SO FAR I AIN"T GOT CAUGHT WITH MY PANTS DOWN

hesco · « **Reply #12 on:** September 11, 2009, 12:52:30 PM »

the thing i dont like about zippos, lighter fluid evaporates quickly, diesel fuel works fine still evaporates but not as quick. also carry a doan machine and tool magnisium flint, works great.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #13 on:** September 11, 2009, 01:15:21 PM »

I have two zippos and every other day just give a quick squirt into them and they stay full.
the other neat thing about a Zippo is you can dry out the striker wheel when it's raining and get it to light.
I also found the sometimes it is easier to light a cigar and use it to light kindeling. I smoke cigars so I generally keep one in a tube in my hunting gear. When Goose hunting two years ago it was cold and rainey and I was only able to get a small fire going with the kindeling and the cigar as the rain made it hard to get the Zippo relight with the wet striker wheel.

Hooker · « **Reply #14 on:** September 12, 2009, 04:54:56 PM »

I carry a Strike Force and a fire piston both will work even if they are wet.
http://www.wildernessoutfittersarchery.com/FirePiston.html

Pat

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #15 on:** September 14, 2009, 09:21:29 AM »

Oh my old cigar shop would sell a disposable torch lighter for about $5. they work great to get a fire going as well.
But only if you are under 3,000 feet.
above that the air it too thin for the fuel mix and they don't burn.

powderman · « **Reply #16 on:** September 14, 2009, 05:04:44 PM »

The last strike anywhere matches I bought was at Rural King, a farm supply store. I cut a piece of CORRUGATED cardboard about an inch wide. Insert a match in every other hole, alternating tips. Roll up loosely with 12 or so matches, tie with string and dip the whole thing briefly in melted parafin, I usually do it a couple of times. If parafin is too hot it will penetrate the head and ruin it. To light use the cardboard too, it burns hot. I've carried these since I was in grade school, a long time ago. The candles are a good idea too, don't have any, but I'm going to get some of the kind that relight. POWDERMAN.

Rex in OTZ · « **Reply #17 on:** September 15, 2009, 09:40:43 AM »

Paper matches are great! they are good in a zip-lock baggie and cheap!
Safety matches arnt classified the same as strike anywhere matches, strike anywheres require DOT hazard transport paperwork like flammable items, high pressuer gasses and explosives you see them diamond emblems on the side of truck's stateing what kind of mean evil nasty items are inside in case of a accident fire fighters have a chance, a few transport truck fires has lead to this and now the related handling and paperwork cost has added the Hazmat fee it was $15 in 1999 then went to $25 now its over $50 here in NW Alaska.

Ive seen seal hunters and the boat captin light up ciggerette's while under way by lighting up inside the jacket in the armpit area shielded from the wind, if it works for smokes it should be good for fires too, smoke 1/2 of it and use the rest to light your fire, we all use coleman cookstoves along the Arctic coast. wet drift wood and damp conditions its not all that easy to get a fire when you need one pluse the need to have a special set up to start a fire on a boat doesent seem all that safe or practical while off shore or on the pack ice, when on dry land a hand full of dead dry grass is a winner for tinder.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #18 on:** September 16, 2009, 11:49:57 AM »

My frineds call Gasoline / White gas LIQUID BOY SCOUT
The squeeze tubes of jelly and other charcoal lighter gimics CUB SCOUT PASTE.
And are usually suprised when Boy Scout Brian can get fires going well with out any of that when we are hunting.

mechanic · « **Reply #19 on:** September 16, 2009, 12:00:13 PM »

Quote from: mcwoodduck on September 16, 2009, 11:49:57 AM

My frineds call Gasoline / White gas LIQUID BOY SCOUT
The squeeze tubes of jelly and other charcoal lighter gimics CUB SCOUT PASTE.
And are usually suprised when Boy Scout Brian can get fires going well with out any of that when we are hunting.

We refer to the latter as "girl scout juice". A torch lighter (striker for an acetelyne torch), works great, as it has a little shielded cup area to put tinder. Cotton fuzz from shorts or socks or whatever is a good tinder, along with some vaseline to the side. In the sunny south, "liter" wood or pine hearts burn like gasoline, even wet.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #20 on:** September 16, 2009, 01:01:00 PM »

In my day pack I keep some tinder (mostly the cedar liners or wraps from cigars), a few birthday candles (2 are the ones you can not blow out) and three pieces of the Georgia fat wood and an old 35mm film container of matches and another of vasoline and cotton swabs.
also works for small cuts. All in an old cigar sampler box. If I need my plan is to build the fire in the box.

45454 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 16, 2009, 03:23:05 PM »

Those alcohol prep pads are nice also.

powderman · « **Reply #22 on:** September 16, 2009, 04:56:20 PM »

I also cut straws in 1/2, take cotton and work vaseline into it. Heat one end of the straw then pinch it shut to seal it, pack the soaked cotton into the tube, a cotton swab works good, then heat and seal that end. I keep several in my hunting jacket. Cut open and light, burns hot. POWDERMAN.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #23 on:** September 17, 2009, 01:20:05 AM »

nothing makes beter tinder than to cut a light wood knot into small pices and place in a container ready for use as needed .

myronman3 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 24, 2009, 09:29:09 AM »

white birch bark can be used for more than making your canoe....it has a chemical in it that burns like crazy. i have taught my boys how to light a fire even after it has been raining quite a while by using white birch bark.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #25 on:** September 24, 2009, 12:30:36 PM »

I remember back in Boyscouts we would have the Klondike Derby and we would have to make a fire in a pit and burn through a string that held a bag of water that would fall and put the fire out.
We would use the Birch bark and would win.
I think we ended up ringing two complete trees in one of our local parks to get fire starting material.
Our troop usually was in the top 5 of the Derby.

mikemayberry · « **Reply #26 on:** October 05, 2009, 07:26:19 PM »

Last week at our ODWC Wildlife Expo I saw something about firebuilding I almost wouldn't have believed--now I am a total convert.

Before leaving the house, pack a few cottonballs with vaseline--work it into the fibers by pulling the ball apart and then working it back together.

Now when you need a fire, pull the cottonball back apart so that "hairs" stick out and then press the two pieces back together. Any spark firestarter will ignite this "hairy" cotton ball in one or two passes. Now for the amazing part: it will burn in the wind or the rain. It can even be lighted when wet since the vaseline displaced the water and prevents its absorbtion.

Finally, it burns for 3-5 minutes with a hot flame and certainly enough to catch tinder on fire and build from there.

Try it at home, but do it outside--the smoke will be sooty and burn a bit black when the cottonball is lit. With this arrangement Dee, you don't need to rely on any mechanical firestarter.

Wow! One last thought, store the vaseline coated cotton balls in an airtight watertight container in your pack and they will be good for years.

MM

PeterCartwright · « **Reply #27 on:** October 07, 2009, 03:22:42 PM »

The jellied petroleum/cotton ball trick works well in zip lock bags, too. Evacuate the air from the bag and it takes up almost no space. I have them stuck in vests and coats I walk in, as well as in my day pack. I've just started carrying a knife around my neck with a "Light My Fire" rod, compass and whistle all attached. I also tie a few feet of jute cord to the knife case. A six inch piece of cord, separated and frayed lights with one strike too, although it doesn't burn forever like the cotton balls.

PC

Terry1 · « **Reply #28 on:** October 20, 2009, 05:29:50 AM »

I have one of these to carry matches:

http://www.kmmatchcase.com/index.html

Great item and very well built!

levrluvr · « **Reply #29 on:** November 23, 2009, 11:23:20 AM »

Cotton balls and a striker are a mainstay.
The newer blue tip strke-anywheres are not consistent enough to be trusted anymore.
A 9-volt battery will keep for years and years in a backpack or survival kit; keep a little fine steel wool in a ziploc, attach a strand or two to the terminals, you have fire.

These matches are worth every penny to those serious abou survival. I have a good supply.
http://www.rei.com/product/617046