Spring is in full swing, which means the outdoor season will begin very soon. Hiking, fishing trips and picnics. When organizing such an event, you should be prepared for anything. In nature, you will most likely need to start a fire, however, simple matches may not be enough in such a situation. After all, if they suddenly get wet, all they can do is freeze and shout: “Chief, everything is lost!”
Making sealed matches resistant to dampness and moisture is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. In order to protect the fire-making tool, you will need nothing at all, namely: epoxy resin(two-component), Tsapon varnish and matches directly (the most common ones). When all the materials are ready, you can start working. Fortunately, matches with protection are made quite quickly.
We take out a match and take the epoxy adhesive. Of the latter, we only need resin. A hardener for making moisture-resistant matches is absolutely useless. You can take any similar product on the market. There is no fundamental difference in our case. So, squeeze out a small drop of resin onto the head of the match.
Now, using your index finger (or any other finger that is convenient), rub the resin over the head. Remember that the protective layer should not be too thick. Otherwise, the resin will ruin the matches by interfering with the contact between the flint and sulfur. Having made several matches, we dry them for a short time.
When this is done, we take our prototypes and take them to the kitchen or bath to check if the protection is working. In rare cases, there are types of glue that do not provide protection against water. If the matches “work” after swimming, we do as much as is needed for the hike.
Protecting the matches themselves is not enough. It is also necessary to protect the chirkash on the box from getting wet and soggy. Here the preparation technology is even simpler. We take our box and immerse it in Tsapok varnish for an hour. When the paper is saturated, remove it and dry it. This set of measures will always allow you to start a fire using matches, even in a situation where the box has been in water.
(Edited 05/09/2018)
Matches are the easiest and accessible remedy receive fire.
No matter how many lighters or other means of making fire you have, still always take as many matches as possible - nothing compares to them.
The cheapest choice to use would be regular household matches. The optimal choice (especially in nature) would be hunting matches.
The main disadvantage of matches is that they are afraid of dampness. Therefore, do not place boxes of matches on the ground, as this will make them damp rather quickly.
Regular matches should be stored in an airtight container, packaged in such a way that they do not rattle, rub, or ignite. To do this, just put a piece of cotton wool in this container.
To make matches last longer, they can be split lengthwise into two or more halves.
To light a split match without breaking it, press the sulfur head against the spark strip with your finger. Be prepared for that finger to burn.
But this is an extreme case, it is better not to use it: one whole match is better than two or more with a high probability of not being able to light a fire.
To light a damp match, strike it diagonally rather than along the spark strip.
You can often come across the advice “If your hair is dry and not very oily, then rub a damp match on it. Static electricity will dry out the match.”
But this does not always help, especially not at home. Our matches may not even light up on the box, what can we say about wet matches?.. And if the matches are wet, then the box is wet. How then to light it?
Now why can you light it like that? I didn't find an exact answer. But I think it’s not because of static electricity, but because the head sweats more often, and during sweating fatty deposits are released. Naturally, the hair becomes oily, and when you start rubbing a match on your hair, the sulfur is saturated with natural fat and, accordingly, ignites much easier and faster.
Every time you light a match, you can also light a candle. You can light a lot of things with it, while saving matches. Even a small candle will last a long time if used carefully.
Some types of matches may have colored heads.But, for the most part, it doesn’t matter what color the match head is - they burn any kind.
The picture below shows EXAMPLES of some of these matches.
Let's look at what kind of matches there are.
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Household (ordinary) matches
Ordinary matches that we are all accustomed to since childhood.Matches, which are produced in Russia and the post-Soviet space, are short (about 42 mm) wooden sticks about 2 mm thick with a head made of incendiary mixture. These matches are intended for household use, therefore, are not adapted to unfavorable conditions, in particular weather. And it can be difficult to use them in nature. However, such matches have been used for starting a fire for decades, and continue to be used in various conditions due to their low price. This is the cheapest type of matches.
Storm matches
Burning in the wind, in dampness and in the rain. Such matches do not have a head, and their “body” coating is much thicker than that of hunting matches. Their incendiary mass contains a lot of berthollet salt, so the ignition ability (sensitivity) of such matches is very high. They burn for at least 10 seconds in any weather conditions, even in stormy weather at 12 points. Adding some salts to the incendiary mass makes it possible to obtain colored fire: red, pink, blue, green, violet. Also, some of these matches have a limited shelf life, after which they lose some of their declared characteristics. |
| Storm matches "UCO Stormproof Matches" |
Externally similar to hunting or storm matches.
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| Wind matches 1990 |
Termite matches
The heads develop a higher temperature during combustion and produce more heat during combustion. Designed for igniting thermite-muffle bombs, thermite cartridges or kindling fires.The standard length of termite matches is 60 cm.
They are especially dangerous because they can ignite from friction with each other.
It is advisable to use them only after first taking them with pliers or securing them to a wire so as not to get burned.
Signal matches
Matches that produce colored (red, blue, green, yellow) flames when burned. The height of the flame can reach half a meter.Photographic matches
Providing an instant bright flash used in photography.Now, as far as I know, such matches are not used or produced. Matches up to 30 cm long. Designed for lighting fireplaces.
Designed to light up gas burners, plates
Decorative (gift, collectible) matches
Limited edition boxes with various designs (similar to postage stamps), the matches themselves often have a colored head (pink, green).Some of these matches can be purchased as a set consisting of several boxes. For example, a set of boxes from the history of the Russian state consists of 18 boxes.
Box-sized sets of labels were also produced separately.
Household matches
These are household matches that have, as they now say, “economical packaging.”Cigar matches
Special matches designed for lighting cigars and pipes. Cigar matches do not contain sulfur in the ignition head, which negatively affects the taste of cigars. They are thicker than regular matches, as well as a length of up to 10 cm.
This match burns for a long time, but is not protected from weather conditions. Can be used to light fires in calm weather. This is not much for extreme conditions. best option than household matches.
I will give examples of some unusual matches
Iron matches
Made according to the principle of sparklers: a flammable mixture on a wire. The length of the combustible layer is 13 cm. Burning time is 1 min. They ignite through one, the flammable layer crumbles when bent, they are afraid of moisture and wind. The flame is very hot, but the burning time is not enough to ignite. Suitable for home use.
Triangular matches made of pressed wood dust impregnated with paraffin. Package - carton. Burning time – 6 minutes.
They burn confidently, with high temperature flame. Once wet, they refuse to burn
During the combustion process they emit temperatures of more than 1000 degrees Celsius! The melting point of aluminum, for example, is about 660 degrees Celsius! Accordingly, if you throw a burning match into a cola can, it should, in theory, burn it through.
Many people enjoy hiking, traveling, and canoeing on whitewater rivers. Therefore, if you are going on another hike, or just relaxing with friends, do not forget to take matches for the fire with you. After all, without fire it will be very difficult to really eat. Often vacationers on hikes are caught in bad weather and rain. And it’s not always possible to have time to hide all things in a dry place, especially matches, which quickly get wet and take a very long time to dry. In order not to be left on a hike without a fire and once again to surprise your friends with your ingenuity, we offer you a simple design of a waterproof case, in which you can keep matches dry on a hike.
Previously, a similar design was added to the site, be sure to check it out.
To make a waterproof match case we need the following:
- 2 necks from a plastic bottle with corks;
- a box of matches;
- drill machine;
- glue gun;
- blade.
So, let's get to work. First of all, using a burr machine, we need to cut off plastic bottles necks, exactly under the rim near the screwed lid. If you don't have a burr, you can use a knife and a lighter to make the cut as smooth as possible. When the necessary cuts are made, it is necessary to trim the cut area and make it smoother.
As a result, we get two identical, even and neat workpieces. You need to try them on so that they fit as closely as possible to each other at the places of the cuts. If necessary, if there are any unevenness, straighten again.
Workpieces connected to each other must match the size matchbox so that a match could easily fit there.
With the help glue gun Carefully coat the edges of both pieces. Do not skimp on glue, try to coat each one as thoroughly as possible.
After the glue is applied, we connect the workpieces together at the places of the cuts, pressing them tightly against each other. Leave under pressure until the glue dries completely.
When the glue has dried, using a blade, very carefully cut off the excess glue protruding at the place where the workpieces are joined.
The waterproof case for matches is ready.
WATERPROOF MATCHES. On any hike, each participant should have matches in a moisture-proof package. True, sometimes the packaging fails, and the matches still become damp. To prevent this from happening, O. Kuznetsov from Engels advises pre-dipping each match in molten paraffin, and sealing the match grater on the box with adhesive tape. The matches prepared in this way are placed in a sealed plastic bag. Before use, to prevent the grater from deteriorating, the paraphrase is scraped off the match head with a sharp knife.
BATH ON THE DAY. And when traveling, you can wash yourself in a bathhouse if you take care of it in advance. After the hike, collect large stones on the river bank and make a hill out of them up to 1 m high. Light a large fire around the stones for 3...4 hours. By the way, its heat can also be used for cooking. In the meantime, while the stones are heating up, make the frame of your future barrel from dry and not very thick trunks. Clean the hot stones from coals and ash, install a frame over them and cover it with an awning made of polyethylene film or tarpaulin. The bathhouse is ready.
PARAFFIN LANTERN. The unique lamp proposed by N. Smirnov from Chisinau resembles a lantern “ bat" Paraffin serves as fuel for it. The flashlight is economical, odorless, reliable and fire-safe. In addition to its direct purpose, it can be used for heating sleeping bag before going to bed, and if necessary, heat a jar of canned food or boil a mug of water on it. The lantern consists of several parts. For tank 1, take a coffee can and cut it into two parts: 10 and 30 mm high. Two curved pieces of copper wire with a diameter of 3 mm are soldered to the bottom of the tall workpiece from the inside. A clip 2 made of tin is put on them. Verification - the same kind of clip for regulating the height of the flame. The inner cage should be filled with pieces of thin copper wire of equal length - they form a wick. Having finished work, top part The cans are inserted into the bottom, and the joint is soldered. The top of the reservoir-Euar is covered with a lid 3, which protects the molten paraffin from spilling. A glass stand 5 is placed on the lid. It can be made of iron. Cut a disc with a diameter 10mm larger than the diameter of the bottom of the glass. Slice into someone in a radial direction! teeth 5 mm each and bend them alternately up and down. The upper teeth will hold the glass, and air will flow through the holes in the lower ones to the wick. Glass 6 for a lantern is best made from a thin glass, the bottom of which has been cut off using an emery machine.
The lantern cover 7 consists of two parts: a base and a cap. The base is made in the same way as the glass stand, only the teeth here are of a pyramidal shape and all are curved down. From the center, along radial lines, slits are made on the lid, forming eight triangles. They bend upward and hold the cone-shaped cap at their ends. Two tin loops are soldered to the sides of the tank, into which wire staples are inserted. The upper ends of the brackets are compressed by the curly bracket 4 and hold the glass cover. A hook for hanging the lantern is attached to the bracket. Before the trip, the tank is filled with molten paraffin - it should thoroughly saturate the wick. If the lantern smokes heavily, lift the adjusting clip and adjust the flame height.
