Waterproof matches are essential for outdoor enthusiasts as regular matches can lose their ability to light due to moisture. They can be purchased or made at home by coating regular matches with wax or nail polish. Homemade waterproof matches should be stored in an airtight container and tested before use.
Matches are small, strong sticks coated with material that is ignited by friction. They are one of the most convenient and reliable methods of starting a fire and are included in most survival kits used by hikers, hunters, campers and outdoor enthusiasts. Regular matches are often sensitive to moisture and humidity and may lose their ability to light. To keep moisture or humidity from ruining their matches, many people use waterproof matches, which are basically regular matches with wax-coated heads or ignition tips. This type of water resistant match can be purchased or made at home from regular matches.
Survival supply stores and hardware stores usually carry waterproof matches, but they are often much more expensive than regular matches. Regular matches are typically made of paper or wood, but most waterproof matches have wooden sticks. They are often sold in waterproof containers. Most basic survival kits include waterproof matches along with other fire-starting tools such as waterproof lighters and firesteel.
Sometimes water resistant matches aren’t available or the potential customer doesn’t want to pay the premium price for them. Under these circumstances, there are several ways to make waterproof matches. One way is to simply dip regular matches into melted paraffin wax and let them dry. Another way is to coat the entire match with nail polish. Both methods require you to coat the entire surface of the match, not just the tips.
Paraffin wax or nail polish protects the match from moisture to ensure it will ignite, even if dropped in water. Also, matches dipped in wax tend to burn for longer periods and at higher temperatures. Homemade waterproof matches should be stored in an airtight waterproof container, such as an empty 35mm film case or pharmacy pill container. Many people glue a small piece of sandpaper to the inside of the film canister lid to create a surface to strike the match on.
All waterproof matches should be tested before the prospective user heads out into the wilderness. They may be defective or they may just need another coat of wax. Additionally, all matches have a shelf life, which means they degrade over time. Most homemade waterproof matches are only good for a short time, and new batches should be made a few days before an outdoor expedition. Many survival experts recommend carrying at least three tools to start fires in the desert, just in case one of them fails for any reason.
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