Just wondering how others waterproof their matches...when you can find strike-anywhere kitchen matches, which is getting harder and harder every day. IMO all strike-on-box or -book matches are worthless. Yes, you can buy them at Amazon and the outdoor box stores, both kitchen and already-waterproofed matches, but I've got too much financial astuteness to buy them. And there's no romance with butane.For years I've been using two coats of the cheapest clear nail polish I can get. 1st coat covers head & 1/4" of the stick, 2d coat recovers head and 3/4 to 1" of the stick. Not only does a pretty goo waterproofing job, the laquer is very flamable, making a nice little hot flame.

I dipped them in melted paraffin. Then I bought a small round waterproof container with a striking surface on the bottom and didn't need to waterproof them anymore.

Hi,I like your lacquer idea.I have taken a different route. As I also whitewater boat, I carry two lighters and two separate packs of matches, well wrapped up. The matches are only used in an emergency and, as long as they stayed wrapped up, they seem "water proof" (numerous swims have confirmed this) enough. Regarding lighters. The style you get in camping and RV stores with the long necks suck when just slightly damp from dew where cigarette lighters (with a flint/steel) work fine....other than your fingers get singed when lighting stoves that is.Steve

When I was a Boy Scout. We used to make our own. Farmer matches (strike anywhere)and dip in melted paraffin.Used to wrap about 6 in a bundle. Use as fire starters.

I also dip mine in a very thin layer of wax (I use an old candle) and store them in an old tea can with a strip of emery board glued to the inside of the top. Been doing this for more years than I care to count!!

Waterproof Matches | Good Sam Community

2milesup
Explorer II
Feb 14, 2014
Martyn wrote:
pitch wrote:
I'm a butane guy.

Me too. I have way more important things to do than put nail polish on matches!!!! :S

I did too, until DW asked where the nail polish bottle under my truck's seat came from...

:E
WoodGlue
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
Plus you should always be redundant with any kind of fire starter. Never depend on only 1 kind! Always have at least have 2 ways to make a fire!

Here is my vote for a secondary:

BlastMatch

WoodGlue
westend
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
beemerphile1 wrote:

No wax or nail polish needed.

Variety of Flint strikers and magnesium fire starters at this outfit.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014

No wax or nail polish needed.
tatest
Explorer II
Feb 11, 2014
We waxed kitchen matches in Boy Scouts (don't know if you can still buy quality kitchen matches anywhere in the U.S.) and eventually got a waterproof match case.

But the match thing went away when I got my first Zippo. It will light in the rain, will light in the wet.

Well fueled, a Zippo will light up just about anything. Burn almost long enough to cook on it. You can still buy a new plain old stainless steel Zippo for less than ten bucks (in checkout line at our local Wmart) though "official" lighter fluid is a little harder to find gasoline worked fine in Zippos for hundreds of thousands of GIs, as will Coleman fuel.
GaryWT
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
I would think a quick dip in candle wax would do the job but as others said, my time is too valuable to sit and paint or dip matches in nail polish. I use a clicker for the most part. Box matches with the scouts but when it is me, quick and easy is what we want.
WoodGlue
Explorer
Feb 10, 2014
OP wrote:
but I've got too much financial astuteness to buy them. And there's no romance with butane

So, what? You're saying people who buy waterproof matches are fiscally unsound? Jaysus!

There is also no romance in painting matches with nail polish!

Thanks for the best laugh of the day!

WoodGlue
robsouth
Explorer II
Feb 10, 2014
Martyn wrote:
pitch wrote:
I'm a butane guy.

Me too. I have way more important things to do than put nail polish on matches!!!! :S

Ain't that the truth.
Martyn
Nomad
Feb 10, 2014
pitch wrote:
I'm a butane guy.

Me too. I have way more important things to do than put nail polish on matches!!!! :S
Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Feb 10, 2014
You can't beat This deal. They're refillable and keep your hands out of the way.

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