How to strike safety matches? (without the box)

[Metal Mickey]

Hi
this is more just for interest than any real need right now, but I was wondering what can be used to strike a safety match if you wanted to put a few in a small kit of some sort?

The obvious answer would be to cut the side off of a box and carry that with them.

But I have just tried a couple of pieces of abrasive paper (wanted to call it "sand paper" but it is more modern than that). One was a fine grade very light silvery grey colour and the other was a piece of 80 grit dark green type.

Both just sanded away the match head without a hint of attempting to strike.

Is there anything else that can be used? Or is it a case of trying push water up a hill and just don't bother going there 

cheers 

[captain spaulding]

http://survivial-training.wonderhowto.com/how-to/light-match-without-matchbook-cover-264918/

[Metal Mickey]

http://survivial-training.wonderhowto.com/how-to/light-match-without-matchbook-cover-264918/

Thanks for that 

It makes me wonder now whether there would be any mileage in trying again with the finest grade paper and trying a different technique.

[captain spaulding]

http://survivial-training.wonderhowto.com/how-to/light-match-without-matchbook-cover-264918/

Thanks for that 

It makes me wonder now whether there would be any mileage in trying again with the finest grade paper and trying a different technique.

The finer paper might work with a bit of practice and technique. Sooooo..... did you try the bottom of a coffee cup yet. 

[Metal Mickey]

http://survivial-training.wonderhowto.com/how-to/light-match-without-matchbook-cover-264918/

Thanks for that 

It makes me wonder now whether there would be any mileage in trying again with the finest grade paper and trying a different technique.

The finer paper might work with a bit of practice and technique. Sooooo..... did you try the bottom of a coffee cup yet. 

No not yet. I suppose I should just out of interest. 

[captain spaulding]

http://survivial-training.wonderhowto.com/how-to/light-match-without-matchbook-cover-264918/

Thanks for that 

It makes me wonder now whether there would be any mileage in trying again with the finest grade paper and trying a different technique.

The finer paper might work with a bit of practice and technique. Sooooo..... did you try the bottom of a coffee cup yet. 

No not yet. I suppose I should just out of interest. 

Let me know what happens.    If you can't do it I will give it a try as well.

[Metal Mickey]

Ok just tried it with a couple of matches from a box of Bryant & May (a well known brand in UK).
These are the wooden style matches rather than the "paper" style from a book shown in the video.

I couldn't get it to light or even spark, but there was a slight smell which reminded me of a childs cap gun, to indicate there was something happening on a small scale.
In the end I just wore away the heads.

[captain spaulding]

Ok just tried it with a couple of matches from a box of Bryant & May (a well known brand in UK).
These are the wooden style matches rather than the "paper" style from a book shown in the video.

I couldn't get it to light or even spark, but there was a slight smell which reminded me of a childs cap gun, to indicate there was something happening on a small scale.
In the end I just wore away the heads.

I will give it a go and see what happens. I have some "paper" style matches from the video.

[mtngoat]

The reason safety matches only strike on the box is because it needs the chemical reaction from the phosphate from the striker. Thats why abrassive paper doesnt work, no chemical reaction. The strike anywhere matches had a phosphate tip that ignited which then lit the match.

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[nate j]

The reason safety matches only strike on the box is because it needs the chemical reaction from the phosphate from the striker. Thats why abrasive paper doesnt work, no chemical reaction.

Yep, that is the answer, and also the reason why they are called safety matches, i.e. they only light on the box, not on anything else.

The obvious answer would be to cut the side off of a box and carry that with them.

That is one option, and I've heard of people cutting a small piece of the box and gluing it inside  whatever container is being used for the kit.  The better option is strike anywhere matches, IMO, if you can find them.  TBH, though, I prefer a firesteel and a bit of tinder in my kits over matches anyway.

[captain spaulding]

Hi
this is more just for interest than any real need right now, but I was wondering what can be used to strike a safety match if you wanted to put a few in a small kit of some sort?


Is there anything else that can be used?

I believe the OP knows about strike anywhere matches he was just interested to see if there were any possible ways to light a safety match in a manner it was not meant to be lit.

[captain spaulding]

So I gave striking the "safety match" on the bottom of a coffee cup and it worked almost as good as the striker provided. 

I roughed up the match head on the bottom of the coffee cup. Than placed the match head in between my thumb and the coffee cup. Gave it the first strike and it sparked but did not light. Second strike was the same thing. Third strike and it lit right up. 

[Metal Mickey]

Hi
this is more just for interest than any real need right now, but I was wondering what can be used to strike a safety match if you wanted to put a few in a small kit of some sort?


Is there anything else that can be used?

I believe the OP knows about strike anywhere matches he was just interested to see if there were any possible ways to light a safety match in a manner it was not meant to be lit.

  Yep, that's pretty much it Cap'n.

However, all replies appreciated  and it is interesting to hear about the chemical reaction being required for ignition... even when it turns out it isn't 

[Metal Mickey]

So I gave striking the "safety match" on the bottom of a coffee cup and it worked almost as good as the striker provided. 

I roughed up the match head on the bottom of the coffee cup. Than placed the match head in between my thumb and the coffee cup. Gave it the first strike and it sparked but did not light. Second strike was the same thing. Third strike and it lit right up. 

Thanks for that. I am guessing that the flexibility of the paper match and possibly coupled with the wider, flatter style of head probably helps with the coffee mug technique 

[captain spaulding]

So I gave striking the "safety match" on the bottom of a coffee cup and it worked almost as good as the striker provided. 

I roughed up the match head on the bottom of the coffee cup. Than placed the match head in between my thumb and the coffee cup. Gave it the first strike and it sparked but did not light. Second strike was the same thing. Third strike and it lit right up. 

Thanks for that. I am guessing that the flexibility of the paper match and possibly coupled with the wider, flatter style of head probably helps with the coffee mug technique 

Yes I would think it could be an advantage. Thanks for starting the thread. Got me interested and now I know another use for the bottom of a coffee cup. Just in case you didn't know you could use the same area on the bottom of the coffee cup to sharpen a blade in a pinch.

[Metal Mickey]

Yes I would think it could be an advantage. Thanks for starting the thread. Got me interested and now I know another use for the bottom of a coffee cup. Just in case you didn't know you could use the same area on the bottom of the coffee cup to sharpen a blade in a pinch.

Thanks for running with the thread.
I think I knew about sharpening a blade - but have never tried it 

[nate j]

So I gave striking the "safety match" on the bottom of a coffee cup and it worked almost as good as the striker provided. 

I roughed up the match head on the bottom of the coffee cup. Than placed the match head in between my thumb and the coffee cup. Gave it the first strike and it sparked but did not light. Second strike was the same thing. Third strike and it lit right up. 

Thanks for that. I am guessing that the flexibility of the paper match and possibly coupled with the wider, flatter style of head probably helps with the coffee mug technique 

If you used the paper matches like you get in the little paper matchbooks, I believe those are really the strike anywhere variety, not the safety variety.

Regardless of the type of match used, the chemical reaction is the same.  The difference is the location of the phosphorous.  See
http://depts.washington.edu/chem/facilserv/lecturedemo/MatchHeadReaction-UWDept.ofChemistry.html

Of course, if you can get the match head of a safety match hot enough (e.g. touch it to a candle flame), it will light without the phosphorous.  I think you likely would wear away the match head before you would achieve the required temperature by friction, though.

[firiki]

Yeah, safety matches will sometimes ignite if heated enough through friction. For this to happen, one should put a finger tip on the match's head and pull/thrust, after having somewhat prepared the head by slighty rubbing it against whatever striker one will be using. The inconviniences of this, I have found significant so I stopped trying to improve my technique -I love matches: sometimes the match will ignite without prior noticification resulting in me getting burned. Also, sometimes the match's head will ignite, snap off and fly away while firing up and that's a big no-no. Generally, I found I'm just wasting my matches trying to strike them on things.

As for strike everywhere matches. They are really cool and handy but also dangerous. They could go off by themselves, potentially.

Now this thread got me wantin' some survival matches that last for a minute in 9 Beaufort winds. 

[Metal Mickey]

Regardless of the type of match used, the chemical reaction is the same.  The difference is the location of the phosphorous.  See
http://depts.washington.edu/chem/facilserv/lecturedemo/MatchHeadReaction-UWDept.ofChemistry.html

Of course, if you can get the match head of a safety match hot enough (e.g. touch it to a candle flame), it will light without the phosphorous.  I think you likely would wear away the match head before you would achieve the required temperature by friction, though.

Interesting summary in that link.