Is it just me?

  • BushMoot: Come along to the amazing Summer Moot 31st July - 5th August (extended Moot : 27th July - 8th August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.

Tengu

Full Member
Jan 10, 2006
14,218
2,346
53
Wiltshire
Or do matches only light on the box they came in?

(Im talking safety matches, not strike anywheres)
 
There is a chemical (red phosphorus I think) on the strip on the side of the box. It's a necessary part of the friction mix to create flame.

I knew a man who went up through a tight loft hatch, and in that squeeze the box of matches in his pocket actually went on fire. He was badly burnt. The trousers melted onto his skin. He worked with my Dad and he was spoken of as a salutory lesson.

Safety matches might be a pain at times, but there were reasons for their development.
 
Or do matches only light on the box they came in?

(Im talking safety matches, not strike anywheres)
Apparently, you can light them on dry split wood. (Yes, safetly matches). But you need a decently long section....

Alternatively, you can just buy self adhesive striker paper...Like this

Or just buy strike anywhere matches....These don't seem a bad price...

Quick vid....

 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Toddy
Ok, so i had a rummage. Found some extra long safety matches and some Rat pack storm matches. They both worked on each others striking strip. The Storm matches were equal on both, the long matches lit well on their own box, and more explosively so on the Storm match strip. Made a right crack.

Untitled by Mark Hill, on Flickr

by Mark Hill, on Flickr
 
  • Like
Reactions: John59 and Toddy
I don't remember the make, but it was a blue and white box and the strip along the side was a sort of dotted grid. The other was a box of cook's matches with a brownish red strip and the wee ones just would not light on it.
 
:D
That's a blast from the past.
I only remember the colour and that it was a box of safety matches. Got soaked but the matches seemed fine, so I rescued them.
 
There is a chemical (red phosphorus I think) on the strip on the side of the box. It's a necessary part of the friction mix to create flame.

I knew a man who went up through a tight loft hatch, and in that squeeze the box of matches in his pocket actually went on fire. He was badly burnt. The trousers melted onto his skin. He worked with my Dad and he was spoken of as a salutory lesson.

Safety matches might be a pain at times, but there were reasons for their development.
Yeahbut, it's harder for kids to make bolt bangers with safety matches.
A fun past time when I was about 8 or so.
 
Not all of them.
Can you be more useful? There will be old stock knocking around but in the UK & EU they don't seem to have been made for several years. Getting hold of any may be difficult as not many companies will knowingly transport them either.
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE