I still see the match holders in catalogs . We had one when I was a kid .
Strike anywhere matches?
- Thread starter johngalt
- Start date
Grayfox
US Veteran
In many places strike anywhere matches are illegal. Usually it'll be a local city or county regulation enforced by the Fire Marshall. Goes back to the old "kids playing with matches" thing. I know you can't buy them in my county.
Years ago when I was a Scout Leader, if we were on a trip somewhere and needed to stop at a store for anything, I'd check to see if they had strike anywhere matches. If they did I'd buy about four boxes.
Years ago when I was a Scout Leader, if we were on a trip somewhere and needed to stop at a store for anything, I'd check to see if they had strike anywhere matches. If they did I'd buy about four boxes.
Only in large left leaning cities!!`1
M wife found some also at Ace. Red box Diamonds. She bought a 3 pack. Put 2 through the vacuum sealer. Other one is on my desk as I am typing. BUT these are not like what we had years ago. Still better than those green tipped things I also remember the small strike anywhere's. Pipe smokers used 'em... I did too. A smoker that lived outdoors for much of the year
I have my grandma's painted tin match dispenser.. in the garage nearest the grill for just such an emergency... lol
Try Campmor.
Jeff423
US Veteran
I remember using them when I was a kid in the 50's - 60's to burn trash in the "ash pit" that was located at the back of our lot on the alley. I really haven't needed one since but might try to find some as a means to light my emergency light: single mantle Coleman lantern.
I've got plenty of butane fire starters but they aren't as positive a light as a match.
I've got plenty of butane fire starters but they aren't as positive a light as a match.
When I was about twelve I found out the hard way that it was not a good idea to carry matches and roofing nails in the same pocket. Still got a scar about the size of a quarter on my left thigh.
When young and stupid, we kids would make match bombs............
all you needed was matches a small pebble and a rubber band.......
just make sure mom & dad are not around !!
all you needed was matches a small pebble and a rubber band.......
just make sure mom & dad are not around !!
smoothshooter
Member
I see them around where I live from time to time in the grocery store without looking for them.
I already have a good stash at home.
I already have a good stash at home.
These are available on Amazon.
I used to light them with my thumbnail until a lit piece broke off and got stuck under there-ouch..
Yep .
I can tell you one reason the old fashioned "real" strike anywhere matches are difficult to find nowadays. Some years ago when I was working late nights in a grocery store we unloaded a truckload of palletized groceries. One pallet began smoking and eventually burst into flames. The culprit was a case of matches. Somehow one had struck due to the vibrations of moving the pallet and set the others alight. The fire slowly spread to the rest of the cases on the pallet. Cardboard burns pretty well - cans not so well. It was a mess. One of the truck drivers told me that an entire trailer had burned for the same reason not long before that incident.
The strike anywhere matches were soon removed from the shelves at that particular (large nation-wide) chain.
On another note, does anyone remember the old junior high school trick question - have you ever seen a match burn twice?
The strike anywhere matches were soon removed from the shelves at that particular (large nation-wide) chain.
On another note, does anyone remember the old junior high school trick question - have you ever seen a match burn twice?
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Red phosphorus is readily available. It is the real strike anywhere compound. Mix it with Elmer's glue to form a thick paste. Dip the very tip of those green matches in it and dry at 150f for a couple hours. If you really want to start from scratch you can get potassium chlorinate, make a paste with it and Elmer's and dip sticks then dry at 150f for a couple hours. Then add the red phosphorus tips. DO NOT MIX RED PHOSPHORUS and Chlorinate in same container.
When I used to walk, hunt or canoe off the beaten path I carried what I call JIM'S SURE FIRE. Take one of those plastic snoose cans, fill it with some coarse wood shavings and wax, melt the wax and pour it on the wood shaving to make a disk. Remove disk, and cut about 3/4" out of the center so you have 2 half circles that fit in the container and leave a center slot. I actually made a mold to do that part. Take enough wood strike anywhere matches to fill the center slot. Use side cutters to trim to length. Dip heads in molten wax. Cool and fill slot, putting 1/2 heads in each direction so more fit. Take a piece of sturdy course sand paper and cut it into a circle that fits in the lid, Sick it in lid sand part up. Close it up and use some read or yellow plastic electric tape to go around it about 3 times and fold over about the last 1/2-3/4" inch to make a little easy to grab tab.
Years ago my brother and I dumped a canoe over in the winter trapping beaver. Around zero, soaking wet, had a fire going using what wood was laying around handy in nothing flat with one of those "kits". May well be to blame for us still being around.
When I used to walk, hunt or canoe off the beaten path I carried what I call JIM'S SURE FIRE. Take one of those plastic snoose cans, fill it with some coarse wood shavings and wax, melt the wax and pour it on the wood shaving to make a disk. Remove disk, and cut about 3/4" out of the center so you have 2 half circles that fit in the container and leave a center slot. I actually made a mold to do that part. Take enough wood strike anywhere matches to fill the center slot. Use side cutters to trim to length. Dip heads in molten wax. Cool and fill slot, putting 1/2 heads in each direction so more fit. Take a piece of sturdy course sand paper and cut it into a circle that fits in the lid, Sick it in lid sand part up. Close it up and use some read or yellow plastic electric tape to go around it about 3 times and fold over about the last 1/2-3/4" inch to make a little easy to grab tab.
Years ago my brother and I dumped a canoe over in the winter trapping beaver. Around zero, soaking wet, had a fire going using what wood was laying around handy in nothing flat with one of those "kits". May well be to blame for us still being around.
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smoothshooter
Member
I have strike anywhere matches on hand, but think the small and medium butane lighters to be far more practical.
They are cheap, good for hundreds of fires each, and if they get wet you can dry them out to work just fine. They also take up less space than matches.
I have always liked using matches, but they are often problematic.
They are cheap, good for hundreds of fires each, and if they get wet you can dry them out to work just fine. They also take up less space than matches.
I have always liked using matches, but they are often problematic.
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They are also good spark tossers even when empty. But, if they get wet they can take time to dry out especially if it is cold and wet around you. They can even fail to work if your fingers are wet. The time you need fire the most. You can pretty much fire WAXED strike anywhere matches even if they do get dunked. The friction between the red phosphorus and something creates a bit of white phosphorus which spontaneously ignites and away it goes. The wax protects the red phosphorus and then provides a bit of additional fuel.
My truck, my buggy and my cars all have several cans of fuel for pan warmers. The type with the screw on lid. Open and light and you have some heat for about 6 hours or dump it on about anything flammable and light it up. If I ever don't make it back to camp by dark, my buddies will be looking for a BIG fire.
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In many places strike anywhere matches are illegal. Usually it'll be a local city or county regulation enforced by the Fire Marshall. Goes back to the old "kids playing with matches" thing. I know you can't buy them in my county.
Years ago when I was a Scout Leader, if we were on a trip somewhere and needed to stop at a store for anything, I'd check to see if they had strike anywhere matches. If they did I'd buy about four boxes.
Good Grief how far we have fallen in this country that strike anywhere matches are illegal...
DWalt
Member
Not specifically strike-anywhere matches, but wood stem matches can be used to make mini-rockets. They will work about half the time. Has anyone else done that?
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CAJUNLAWYER
Member
You mean with a wooden thread spool and a rubber band??? Wonderful little tracer rounds. One would in one motion sweep the match along the concrete sidewalk and at the top of the arc release the rubber band and away she would go leaving a nice smoke trail
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