Crumbly matches

[Tengu]

Like an idiot I bought about 20 boxes.

fine at first, but they have absorbed the damp and are now crumbly.

I assume I can treat them with something?

To hand I have wood glue, beeswax and acrylic varnish.

 

[Mesquite]

Dry them out carefully then dip in wax ensuring you do both ends

 

[TarHeelBrit]

Dry them out carefully then dip in wax ensuring you do both ends

Mesquite beat me too it. As said carefully dry them out. I did mine by laying them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and leaving them in the airing cupboard (or anywhere nice and warm) Try not to touch the ends as they will fall apart when damp. Dip them in wax and you have moisture resistant matches that burn longer thatnks to the wax coating.

 

[Tengu]

Well, the logical, BCUK, anal thing to do would be to try all three coatings...

At the moment Im doing homework, maybe next few days?

They are not wet...just crumbly.

Shows how vunerable matches are; have been stored in the kitchen coupboard.

 

[rik_uk3]

Tengu, throw them away and don't waste time messing about.

 

[Toddy]

I agree with Richard. Maybe in the past when things were expensive and in daily need then it was worth drying them out and trying to save them by waxing them, etc., but you can buy two big boxes of cooks matches for £1 these days.
It's not worth the hassle, and if you are needing a match now, then you need to know it's going to work.
If the heads are already crumbling, chances are they'll fall apart when you try to use them regardless of what you do.
Wax new ones if you're going to.

M

 

[Robmc]

Use em for kindling!