How to Make Waterproof Matches
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Making waterproof matches is an easy do it yourself project to help ensure you can build a fire when you need one.
Firemaking Materials are Fundamental Survival Gear
As you know, the ability to build a fire is one of the most important survival skills you can master. And fundamental to building a fire are the ignition sources you carry as part of your survival gear.
Because making fire is so important to survival I recommend your survival kit contains at least three ways of starting a fire. For example matches, lighter, and a firesteel or magnesium firestarter. Should one or two of these fail, the third could very well save your life or at least make the time you spend outdoors more livable.
Waterproofing Your Matches is Important
Matches are one of the most surefire and convenient ways to start a fire. However the problem with matches is they are susceptible to moisture from water or even the humidity in the air. If your matches become damp or wet they will not kindle and could put your survival at risk.
The solution to the wet matches problem is to include a vial of waterproof matches in the survival gear you use. While you could purchase waterproof matches from your favorite survival supply store, waterproof matches cost a premium when compared to ordinary non-waterproof matches, may not always be available, and could be of suspect quality.
During a cold rainstorm is not the time to discover your supposedly waterproof matches will not kindle. In my opinion you are far better off knowing how to make waterproof matches for yourself. In that way you can personally control the quality and quantity of this very important article of survival gear.
What are the Best Matches to Make Waterproof?
Although you could try to make paper matches waterproof they will be less durable and reliable than wooden matches. If you are serious about surviving you are better off purchasing at least several boxes strong wooden matches and reserve the paper ones for use at home.
I prefer wooden strike anywhere matches, since then I do not need to rely upon a special striker surface to light the matches with. In survival situations the fewer working parts that can fail the better. This is backed up by many years of real-world wilderness survival experience.
You can often find wooden strike anywhere matches at your local hardware store or wood burning stove dealer.
Making Matches Waterproof
The process for making waterproof matches is simple and straightforward; set up a double boiler for the melting of wax on your stove or even over a campfire. The usual precautions when dealing with hot surfaces and materials apply. If you would like to see how to set up a double boiler for the melting of wax read the Survival Topic on How to Make Firesticks.
Once the wax has melted dump in your matches and stir, making sure that the wax has completely coated the matches. In the picture I am using the pliers on a multi-tool to remove the waterproofed matches one by one and set them aside to cool so that they are not touching one another.
And there you have it; waterproof matches. The thin layer of wax all around the match ensures the match will catch fire even if it has been immersed in water. As an added bonus the wax will help the match burn longer and hotter.
Store your home made waterproof matches in a waterproof match case and you have gone far toward ensuring you can start a fire when you need to even if your matches get wet.
Minnesota
Painting the tips of a kitchen match with nailpolish is another method of waterproofing.
Survival Topics - yes, this is another proven method to make matches waterproof. However my feeling is this is not as environmentally friendly as waxing matches.
BFE Iowa
Be sure to test your matches before relying on them. I "waterproofed" some matches recently, only to find out, they really weren't water proof. The head of the match just disintegrated after sitting in water overnight. I am re-coating and trying again. More than one coat of wax may be needed to truly waterproof.
Survival Topics - Good point and always necessary; test any gear you make before relying upon it in the field. While there is nothing that is truely 100% "water proof", there are steps you can take to make sure your gear is water resistant.
Age of your matches can also be a factor, as well as the quality of wax you are dipping them in. As always, store your matches in a water tight container and test them before heading out into the field.
The system for making waterproof matches using wax outlined is only good for a short while since matches have a shelf life.
Survival Topics - you are correct, and that is why I recommend always having firesteel on hand, since firesteels have no shelf life, are able to light thousands of fires, and are easy to use.
Huntington beach
That's a great idea. Also trick birthday candles are excelent to bring, too. They are hard to blow out in the wind.
Grants Pass
I think this is the best idea for making waterproof matches I have heard in a while
tweed, ontario
this year i plan on starting to hunt but the problem is i can't find water proof matches anywhere so this will make a great addition to my hunting equipment. Good luck to all hunters this seaso.
Los Angeles, USA, Planet Earth
New York, USA
Years ago for a scout project my parents and I tried this. We found that after wax dipping, that the matches didn't light any more. So, it's important to actually test a few of the matches and make sure the process works. Would be rought to get out into the woods and find out your matches all didn't work.
Survival Topics: Rule #1 - always test survival gear before you have to use it!
Upstate, NY
Some time back I'd heard of a method for making fire-starters that combined your "waterproof matches" and "home-made fire-sticks" ideas. The plan was to:
- Cut cardboard "across the grain" into strips the same length as your strike anywhere match-sticks.
- Tuck the match-sticks into the cardboard, using the corrugations as sleeves. (When I did it I left one sleeve open on either side of each match-stick.
- Dip it all in melted wax and - when dry cut apart into individual fire-starters.
I made some of these and found that each "fire-starter strip" would burn for about 3 minutes and that the wax would melt onto other tinder as an accelerant. They worked great.
But I stored some of them away in my emergency kit and when I went to use them about six months later, they failed badly. The strike-anywhere match heads wouldn't strike anywhere and just kind of smeared to pieces when I tried using them.
Survival Topics: One disadvantage to matches is that they have a shelf life and degrade over time. If you choose to carry matches in a survival kit then be sure to check them on a regular basis or rotate them out with fresh matches.
I advocate always having on hand three methods of starting a fire. Should one or even to fail for whatever reason, the third method will back you up
I highly recommend firesteel as an integral part of your survival gear. Lightweight, easy to use, and capable of starting thousands of fires from one single rod, a firesteel will work even when wet and will not degrade over the course of many years.
You can buy firesteels at the Survival Topics survival supply depot.
Minnesota
You can also put vaseline on the red part and the wooden stick. Then use a blow-dryer to dry the vaseline.
Arkansas
To make your matches waterproof you can also use clear finger nail polish. Just dip and let dry I have done this for years it works try it.
TN
I have been a Scouter for 38 years, a avid outdoorsman for 56 years and I never gotten homemade waterproof matches to lite! It appears that the hot paraffin/wax soaks into the match head and prevents the friction/chemical reaction to work. I have tried different brands of "strike anywhere" matches. Beeswax, paraffin, hard wax, soft wax, bear fat, beef suet, etc. and nothing works. High temperature to low temperature wax.
I bought several plastic match safes, and pack two or three in my pocket, back pack, and emergency kit. I also carry a ferroserium stick, and a propane/butane lighter in my pocket. Gas lighters won't work in extremely cold weather, but will work when wet. I also carry my homemade tinder in a antique tinder box. Plus more in the waterproof match cases.
Never been cold for long, never went hungry for not cooking my food. Never built a survival fire either, but I do know how.
utah
I covered some matches in wax and put them in a zip-lock bag, then I put them outside for about a week to see if they still worked. And they do!
Western New York
After attending an outdoors class for my BSA Asst. Scoutmaster training, I was amazed at the number of ways to start fires. I used some out of date medical ointment, not creme, to soak some cotton balls. The petroleum base will burn on a cotton ball for about 3 minutes. I keep them in a pharmacy pill container as they have waterproof seals. I keep matches and a striker in another such container. A few of my scouts love dryer lint as their fire starter material. One that made my boys laugh and cringe at the same time, Fritos! Be well and be safe. Jim
granite city IL
You can also waterproof your matches by dipping there heads in clear nail polish. the nail polish wont gunk up your striker. nail polish is lighter and less bulky. works great too!
USA
Hope this helps some of the failed attempts. Try removing the wax from the match head before striking. Even a very thin coating on the head can prevent it from striking.
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New York
Great idea! I'm going to try it. I can't wait!