Storage: Strike anywhere matches

idelphic

idelphic

Inactive
Finally found some. I've been looking off and on for SaM for sometime. Found some the other day,.. 3 boxs for less then $3.

But how would you store them? I had some in ziptop bags in my storage shed for about 5 years,.. pulled them out,.. duds.. all of them. Even the ones in the old military plastic cans with 'o' ring in the top. I was surprised.. Not a one worked.

I don't want to come back and have lost all of them to time and dampness..

I thought of vacuum sealing,.. but am concerned with friction... *poof*

tia!


Del
 
rhughe13

rhughe13

Heart of Dixie
I keep mine in a sealed ammo can with a few of those silica bags. I originally closed it last winter during a really dry, low humidity day. Every so often, I will need to retrieve some and they have worked fine. They all seem crisp and dry. I wouldn't think there would be enough sharp movement during the air draw from vaccum sealing to get a match started, but some where down the road, I'm sure it will happen to somebody. :lol:
 
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Grantbo

Membership Revoked
This is Grantbo
I've vacuum packed mine loose and in their boxes. I had no problems and didn't even consider them going 'off'. They've been sitting around for years and seem to be pretty happy. ;)
 
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Splicer205

Deceased
Idelphic, it's worked well for us to dip the match in melted wax or paraffin, dry, and store in a waterproof container. It also adds to the burning time, so it helps get a fire going.
 
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RC

Inactive
I haven't seen any of those for sale for a long time.

When I did have them, I generally stored them in a glass jar. My main concern was a mouse getting into them and igniting them by chewing on it. I never even though about moisture in the air making them damp, although I never had a problem.

In Boy Scouts, we did do the waterproofing trick of dipping them in parafin. Occasionally, the parafin got in the way and made them difficult to strike, but with a little effort they usually lit well.

In the car survival kit, I have some wooden safety matches in a waterproof container. I also tore the striker off a book of paper matches and put that in the container as well.
 
Cruiser

Cruiser

Membership Revoked
I stocked up on those for Y2K. Needless to say they didn't used for that. I was on blood pressure pills then so I used the pill bottles to save them in handy, pocket sized amounts. They kept great for over 6 years...:spns:
 
MaxTheKnife

MaxTheKnife

Membership Revoked
Don't be afraid to vacuum pack them. I've vacuum packed several thousand and never had the first fire. As far as the ones you mentioned that you stored... You might try laying down some newspaper and pouring the matches out on it and letting them lay for a few days. I bet that would bring them around.

I'm having a hard time finding a source for more strike anywhere matches myownself. I used to get them at our local grocery store but they don't stock them any more. Bummer city. I'd like to buy a whole case and vacuum pack them all. I'll be looking at that link ofuzzy1 supplied. So thanks for that fuzzy.
 
JohnGaltfla

JohnGaltfla

#NeverTrump
Grantbo said:
This is Grantbo
I've vacuum packed mine loose and in their boxes. I had no problems and didn't even consider them going 'off'. They've been sitting around for years and seem to be pretty happy. ;)
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Bingo. Vacuum packing or airtight ammo cans have worked best for me...
 
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Jeanne51

Inactive
I store matches in canning jars. I am afraid of a mouse igniting them. I agree, it is getting harder to find matches.
 
IceWave

IceWave

Veteran Member
Also, you might want to consider some magnesium fire starters which can be had at most camping supply stores fairly inexpensively. I've got several and I can just imagine how long it would take me to work through even one bar, let alone all of them. Cool thing is, since it's just a block of metal, it doesn't matter if it gets wet or not, it still works.

IceWave
 
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Pete/ME

Inactive
Old peanut butter jars and silica packs, here. Cost is nothing. Usually get the silica packs from other products we buy... kids toys that come with batteries, electronics, even beef jerky. If you don't have access to them for whatever reason, take some dry rice (about a tablespoon or so) and throw that in the bottom of the jar. Same principle as throwing some rice in the salt shaker... it attracts the moisture. We go through a regular jar of peanut butter about once a week. Since they're plastic, we don't have to worry about breakage. Since they're clear, we know what's in them. (If they're not, permanent marker works well.) Do be sure to clean and dry them, though.
 
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Pete/ME

Inactive
CherylOK said:
Question...are wood matches the same as "strike anywhere"? Or is there something special about them?
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I've only been able to find them as wood matches, BUT there are two types of wood matches:
  • Safety Matches. Generally, these have an all red head, and must be struck on the side of the box.
32_contentimg.jpg

  • Strike Anywhere Matches. These have a white tip on the head of the match. The tip can be ignited on any solid, somewhat rough surface... a stone, bottom of a boot, metal stovetop (think cast-iron) etc.
outf-matches.jpg
 
BH

BH

. . . .
I have some that I Vacuum Sealed (in the boxes) in about '98. Still just fine.

Locally, only our Harris Teeter stores have Strike Anywheres, everybody else has only the Strike On Box....
 
A

About Time

Inactive
Case of Bic lighters from Costco. I have some from 7 years ago all still work fine. I do not smoke but I do carry a lighter all the time. Have used them from sea level to 12k' no problems.
 
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gillmanNSF

Veteran Member
Pete/ME said:
Old peanut butter jars and silica packs, here. Cost is nothing. Usually get the silica packs from other products we buy... kids toys that come with batteries, electronics, even beef jerky.
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I would think that those silica packs have already been used up, but what do I know. I always throw them out.

When I did have them, I generally stored them in a glass jar. My main concern was a mouse getting into them and igniting them by chewing on it. I never even though about moisture in the air making them damp, although I never had a problem.
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A mouse, really? I don't have much experience with meeses, but I'd be more concerned about them chewing on electrical wires. Heard one (or something) last week scratching in a room behind a wardrobe. Set out a live trap with peanut butter the next day. Nothing. Guess it was coming from inside the wall. First time.....darned critter.


Food Saver vacuum thingy and strike anywhere matches......added on to my prep wish list....got it. List keeps growing by the minute!
 
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gillmanNSF

Veteran Member
The tobacco products are really cool. Makes me want to order some, even though I've never smoked. The bags are cheap enough to try vacuum sealing them and using them as barter, along with the papers. The cigars don't look half bad either.
 
cliff dweller

cliff dweller

Contributing Member
silica absorbant packs

The silica packs can be rejuvenated by putting them in the oven @ 160 deg for a few hours (depending on the size of pack).
 
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MtnView in WA

Inactive
I got my strike anywhere matches at Wallyworld. Although I did have to ask where they were hiding them. My particular store had them in the kitchen utensil aisle - on the bottom shelf in the corner. Turns out I had walked past them twice! I also have an IGA food store that had a few boxes. Thanks for the idea of vacuum sealing them - I'm going to do that tonight.
 
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Trailfox

Contributing Member
They are getting harder to find. A local store owner told me that those making drugs scrape the white tip off to use in some street drug , for that reason a lot of stores have stoped carrying them. Like Splicers Wife I dip them in candle wax lay out on wax paper and when cool put in tight containers. I also cut the striking parts from the box and fold them and put in top of the container.
The local store has been getting what they could for me, I got 10 boxes just the other day from them at .99 a box .
I also make fire starters from the melted candles. I get bags of old and broken candles at thrift stores at a real bargin. I have gotten about 60 - 70 lbs of them and have used all but about 15 lbs of it. I have made over 500 fire starters and coated about 50 boxes of matches.
 
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Trailfox

Contributing Member
About the lighters, I had some that I had stored for Y2K that I tried a few weeks ago that would blow up when I tried them. I burned my hand and arm with one of them. I destroyed all of them, it could have just been a bad batch but it made me relucktant to store them.
 
Ta-wo-di

Ta-wo-di

Veteran Member
Thought I would bump this. Got some strike anywhere matches today at the local Safeway at $1.19 a box. Thought that was not too bad a price. Since Trailfox mentioned fire starters, I have been making them for years with clothes dryer lint placed in egg cartons and then pour wax over it. Takes less wax, and seems to keep the fire going well.

Bill
 
rhughe13

rhughe13

Heart of Dixie
FYI strike anywhere matches are a banned items on airlines too. 4 regular books of matches are allowed carry-on only.
 
R

RC

Inactive
phloydius said:
Are there any major benefits from storing strike anywhere matches over lighters?
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A butane lighter will not work below a certain temperature. It's a very low temperature, but there is a lower limit. Also, it's not a good idea to store a butane lighter in a car where it could get too hot.

IMHO, any kind of matches, even paper, are suitable for just about anything, as long as they can be made waterproof.

I did find a very old book of paper matches a while back. The matches themselves were still good, but the striker was no good--I think it had gotten too humid at some point. But the matches still worked if I used another book to strike them.
 
phloydius

phloydius

Veteran Member
Thanks for the info about your lighters that burned you, although it seems some people don't have problems with them. I guess have some strike anywhere matches, and lighters both is my calling.

Question on "silica packs" that some of you recycle from other items. Are they not 'spent' or at least mostly 'spent' by the time you put them in your jars? I was always under the impression that they would absorb "x" amount of moisture and then that was it, they are useless after that. Is this accurate?
 
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Nuthatch

Membership Revoked
I like my refillable wind/waterproof lighter I picked up at WalMart for under $12. Anyone have any long term issues with these types of lighters? I find it handy and easy to use. I have also found it easy on fuel and easy to refill.

Now I just need to practice again with my firestarter, which I haven't used in years.
 
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