Make your own waterproof matches

[Solitude]

When i was a wee nipper, i used to waterproof my matches in case of a survival emergency.

I used to get a candle going and simply drip wax on the match head and about 1cm down the match stick make sure its covered all round at the black or red bit of your match.

Remember - dont get the match to near the candles flame.

Alternatively and thinking about it i probably blew out the candle and then dipped the matches on by one in the pool of wax around the wick.

After the wax has hardened they are waterproof and you will have to strike the wax away before ignition.

You can have that one on me!!

 

[British Red]

Not bad - the wax tends to clog the striker strip though. Better to use shellac or clear nail varnish.

Also if you don't coat the whole match the wood will wick moisture up to the head eventually

Have that one in return

Red

 

[Solitude]

Not bad - the wax tends to clog the striker strip though. Better to use shellac or clear nail varnish.

Also if you don't coat the whole match the wood will wick moisture up to the head eventually

Have that one in return

Red

Why thank you!

But interested to know do you have nail varnish in any other colour!!!??

 

[British Red]

Tonnes - deep purple is BBs favourite - but she lets me have whatever I like! Logocally theres no reason it has to be clear, in fact, now that you mention it, it would be easier to know if I missed a spot by using coloured stuff!

Red

 

[Eric_Methven]

I used to use clear nail varnish to waterproof matches as well. I used the clear stuff because I also used it to seal the ends of whippings on knotwork and to dress trout flies as well. As I don't actually wear the stuff on my nails, clear was the obvious choice.

Eric

 

[Glen]

Also if you don't coat the whole match the wood will wick moisture up to the head eventually

Have that one in return

For storage you can get the strike anwhere ones and shove them, head to tail, down a Ribena straw ( or similar narrow ) and seal the ends with wax. Give dry matches and a little wax to help firestarting.

 

[Solitude]

I also like to use rouge red lipstick instead of lip balm as it seems to work for me, also never go out to the woods with out eyelash extensions and high heels:

Eyelash extensions keep the midges out of my face and the high heels enable me to confuse trackers!!