Matches

[Tony]

We always talk about sparks from firesteels etc....But what about the humble match? Which matches do you prefer and why? Do you even carry them. We've got the thread going where loads of people are getting match safe's, which would imply that a lot of people do carry them. How do you usually carry them and when do you usually use them?

Umm, just a few questions in there :o):

[Adi007]

I can tell you which matches not to carry ... those wind/waterproof ones... all fizzle and no flame. OK if you have good quality tinder that will catch sparks but useless otherwise. If I have good quality tinder, why do I need a match?

[TheViking]

Hi...

I carry matches! A firesteel lasts longer, but matches are so easy, I think. I carry a very good match called 'Tordenskjold' safety match. It is made in Sweden and think it's made of swedish wood too.
But as with all safety matches, both the match itself and the box has to be protected against moisture... :roll:

So i've made a big matchbox out of a tobacco tin. I'd say there is approximately 400 matches in the box and inside the lid I taped some matchbox sides, to strike them on. :wink: There's different sizes of matches in it and I made most of them waterproof by soaking the top in liquid candlewax.

About the stormproof matches: i don't swear by them either! :wink: Not a descent flame and burns too quickly! :biggthump
If I should carry a lighter it should be a stormproof/blue flame pocket torch, something like that.

My opinion anyway... :wink: :biggthump :wave:

[bothyman]

I had some Lifeboat Matches once had them for years, never opened them,
When I did they did not work?? maybe they are only supposed to work if you are in a Lifeboat?? :cry:

[Adi007]

I had some Lifeboat Matches once had them for years, never opened them,
When I did they did not work?? maybe they are only supposed to work if you are in a Lifeboat?? :cry:
Exactly what I though ... they'd probably set fire to the raft alright!

[ANDYLASER]

I also carry lifeboat matches as an extra. You need to mahe sure they are the ones that have a long head ( 2cm ) on them. these are also individualy varnished and work very well.

http://www.edirectory.co.uk/penrith_survival/pages/moreinfoa.asp?recordid=52813&cid=55

[Adi007]

I also carry lifeboat matches as an extra. You need to mahe sure they are the ones that have a long head ( 2cm ) on them. these are also individualy varnished and work very well.

http://www.edirectory.co.uk/penrith_survival/pages/moreinfoa.asp?recordid=52813&cid=55
Those are the ones ... made by Octavius Hunt. Maybe they deteriorate with age or something (mine are a few years old ...).

[ANDYLASER]

I shall go and play.

[ANDYLASER]

OK. just opened a sealed tube of those matches, the pack is at least 5 years old. The first match lit perfectly. The second I dipped in water first. It took 6 strikes, the lit and burned perfectly, I dipped it in water and it relit instantly. I would trust these matches if I were outdoors.

Edit, these are Survival Aids ones NOT Octavius Hunt. They are D.T.I. approved.

[Adi007]

I've never found the problem to be lighting the actual matches ... they seem robust enough. However, lighting something else from them is much more of an artform ...

Firstly, while being windproof for sure, they don't give off much in the way of a flame, choosing instead to burn more like a sparkler.
Secondly, the flame (if it can be called that) travels along the match really quick so it's not easy to transfer the flame to the tinder.

It might be just me and that I'd rather use a firesteel and cotton wool for most things, but if given the choice between a tub of 25 wind/waterproof matches and 25 Swan Vestas in the same pot, I'd take the Swans any day.

Now, if we have matches like the americans have, that would be cool!

[ANDYLASER]

I admit they do burn fast, but I also carry a blast match and wetfire tinder. Plus being a smoker the trusty Zippo is always to hand. If you cant get a fire going with that lot, then you probably shouldnt be outdoors. :chill:

[Adi007]

Ahhh, BlastMatch ... the king of firesteels! I love mine too. WetFire also helps ... lifeboat matches should have no problems with that!

[sargey]

the lifeboat/storm matches really come into their own for lighting hexyblocks in crap weather.

for the most part i don't bother with matches :shock: i just use fire steels or a clipper lighter. when i do use matches it's either bryant and may, englands glory or swan vestas, in the obligatory film canister. i sometimes have lifeboat matches kicking around, but they're my "looking at" matches, too posh for everyday use!

cheers, and.

[PC2K]

i always carry lifeboat matches combined with "normal" matches. Lifeboat matches recuires tinder, normall matches light things more easilier.

[bothyman]

I also carry lifeboat matches as an extra. You need to mahe sure they are the ones that have a long head ( 2cm ) on them.

Those are the ones I had, can't remember the name but I would'nt trust them in an emergency.

[bushwacker bob]

I carry about 50 swan vestas in a1950's pressed steel palmolive shaving soap tube.Its water tight and i have a circle of Alu oxide paper and cotton wool in the lid.If I have tinder I dont need matches.I still carry them but have never used them to light a fire. Thats why they're in my PSK amoungst the other stuff I carry but never use...???

[Stuart]

I carry the american made red head (at least thats what i think there called) matches, american matches are much better but are illegal in the UK

its a bit extreame to go to the states for you matches but if your there bring some back

I also carry some englands glory (made in sweden)

[PC2K]

bring some of them back from the states ? ahem FAA fine's for hazardus material is pretty high. Just remeber that wenn "importing" them, assuming you travel by air.

[TheViking]

Hi...

Why are US matches illegal in UK?? :roll:

[Lithril]

Does anyone else here work in a lab or has heard of Parafilm? Its quite amazing stuff that we use for sealing containers at work. Its very very stretchy and sticks to itself really well, I soaked an SAK in oil the other day and wrapped in this stuff and nothing leaked out, I'm pretty sure you could wrap some matches in it, leave em in a bowl of water and they'd never get wet. I'll try and aquire some from work and bring it along.

[den]

:yuck: The wind proof matches even burn under water.Shame they are almost impossible to light anything with them. I've seen people use endless amounts trying and light a hexy,only to give up and use normal matches with success.
I don't rate them one little bit. Oh and if you are a smoker don't light your fag with one :yuck:

[TheViking]

And they're very expensive too! :wink: :shock:
20 small ones, for 1£, over here! :yikes:

[Adi007]

:yuck: The wind proof matches even burn under water.Shame they are almost impossible to light anything with them. I've seen people use endless amounts trying and light a hexy,only to give up and use normal matches with success.


I think it's this burning underwater trick that is part of the problem - the match contains it's own fuel and oxidizing agent (oxygen to burn). This means that the match is burning internally rather than outwards. Add to that the fact that hexy is classed on safety data sheets as only being of low flammability :rolmao:

[den]

Add to that the fact that hexy is classed on safety data sheets as only being of low flammability :rolmao:

mmmm..hexy low flamability ,thats a new one for me.It was quite flamible last time i played with it. :rolmao:

[Adi007]

Does anyone else here work in a lab or has heard of Parafilm? Its quite amazing stuff that we use for sealing containers at work. Its very very stretchy and sticks to itself really well, I soaked an SAK in oil the other day and wrapped in this stuff and nothing leaked out, I'm pretty sure you could wrap some matches in it, leave em in a bowl of water and they'd never get wet. I'll try and aquire some from work and bring it along.
Yeah, I've got some Parafilm ... very useful stuff (like self-sealing tape for those who havent seen it). Very handy for sealing little containers or kits.

[ChrisKavanaugh]

For normal use Lifeboats are a PITA. They tend to snap the wood and burn rapidly. You also have to strike them in a near vertical reverse jab, something never mentioned by the maker. However, in extreme conditions of wind and wet (ie a lifeboat :shock: ) they work well. Not that I ever lit a fire in a lifeboat, and I've BTDT. I carry strike anywhere matches. You do have to sort through them. A small percentage have poorly formed heads or other defects. They are becoming difficult to find in some areas due to stupid legislation lumping them with HAZMAT materials. This makes shipping expense prohibitive. I carry a good supply too. matches have one salient feature over all other systems- familiarity. I once followed a firemaking thread on another board hosted by a published 'expert' survival insturctor. Matches many disadvantages had been hammered home by the bowdrill crowd. I finally posed the following scenario," Our instructor has gone flying off a waterfall and his kayak is wedged in a pine tree. He is lying unconscious on the ground, rapidly succumbing to hypothermia. A troop of novice girlscouts comes walking down the trail and find our expert. They rummage his gear and find a firesteel, bowdrill and box of wooden matches. Now, what system is almost universally familiar and understood worldwide?" :chill:

[alick]

I like a few alternatives.

Keep a windmill lighter in my shell jacket and clipped to my pack, that sorts most things, but I keep a firesteel, a few short maya sticks as waterproof kindling / candle, and an old screw top contact lens pot with lifeboat matches and four striker strips in the pocket too.

I keep swan vestas with my trangia in case I have a brainstorm and don't have anything else with me. Matches are also good with the trangia because they can reach down to the meths even when the burner is only part full.

Cheers

[Adi007]

Good post Chris!

What are good match brands in the US?

[Adi007]

I like maya wood too Alick ... a good, waterproof firelighting aid!

[Carcajou Garou]

We carry wood "Eddy" strike anywhere matches in 35mm plastic film cans, paper penny matches in baggies, BIC lighters, and ferro rods. These are dispersed in our pockets and rucksacks.
just a thought

[ChrisKavanaugh]

www.diamondbrands.com is the major supplier in the USA. The strike anywhere match will have a red tip and white bullseye. While still very good,the old chemical makeup is long gone, match heads being used to improvise explosive devises. Theoretically, the matches can self ignite through rough handling and friction against each other, hence the shipping surcharges and HAZMAT classification. I know the old matches definitely could. Some people proof them with thin nail polish. I found it makes ignition more difficult and just soak them in paraffin. large boxes carry a count of 250. I've found again @ 10% need to be culled for defects. @ $1.00 USD a box it's well worth it. There are also safety matches lacking the white dot. These must be struck on a provided flint strip on the box ( the SA's have this usefull strip also.)

[Adi007]

www.diamondbrands.com is the major supplier in the USA. The strike anywhere match will have a red tip and white bullseye. While still very good,the old chemical makeup is long gone, match heads being used to improvise explosive devises. Theoretically, the matches can self ignite through rough handling and friction against each other, hence the shipping surcharges and HAZMAT classification. I know the old matches definitely could. Some people proof them with thin nail polish. I found it makes ignition more difficult and just soak them in paraffin. large boxes carry a count of 250. I've found again @ 10% need to be culled for defects. @ $1.00 USD a box it's well worth it. There are also safety matches lacking the white dot. These must be struck on a provided flint strip on the box ( the SA's have this usefull strip also.)
Sounds like you folks can still get better matches than us brits ... :roll: :cry:

[bigjackbrass]

In his entertaining collection of outdoor essays "From a Wooden Canoe" Jerry Dennis laments the disappearance of his favoured type of match. New regulations aimed at hampering the criminal and helping the careless do tend to make life difficult for the rest of us.