{"id":98067,"date":"2018-10-23T13:18:21","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T18:18:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=98067"},"modified":"2021-06-01T19:00:25","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T00:00:25","slug":"3-ways-to-make-diy-waterproof-matches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/skills\/survival\/3-ways-to-make-diy-waterproof-matches\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways to Make DIY Waterproof Matches"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-98076 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2.jpg\" alt=\"Matchsticks scattered out from a plastic bottle.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Any backpacker or backcountry explorer knows that having the right tools to start a fire is an absolute necessity when you\u2019re out in the wild. If you opt for matches, it\u2019s critical that you have a way to protect them. While it\u2019s not hard to find waterproof matches at your favorite outdoor store, they can be expensive. And, if you\u2019re packing your gear the night before a trip and discover that you\u2019re out, there might not be time to make a run to the store.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing how to waterproof standard matches is a useful skill for the well-prepared and economic outdoorsman. There are three common methods for protecting your matches against water: turpentine, nail polish, and candle wax. When matches are soaked in turpentine and then left to dry, the resin impregnates the wood and makes it impervious to water. Nail polish and candle wax protect matches in the same way, by sealing the match head in a waterproof coating. Choosing which waterproofing method to use is a matter of personal preference and what items you have on hand. Below, we\u2019ll outline all three options. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>No matter which method you go with it\u2019s best to start with strike-anywhere matches. They can be lit against any rough surface, whereas strike-on-box matches require the phosphorous strip found on the matchbox to ignite. Here\u2019s how to get started.<\/p>\n<h3>Supplies<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-98068 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6793.jpg\" alt=\" Matches, masking tape, turpentine, small metal, nail polish, candles and small container for storage displayed.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6793.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6793-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6793-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6793-400x266.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Strike-anywhere matches<\/li>\n<li>Newspaper<\/li>\n<li>Masking tape<\/li>\n<li>Turpentine<\/li>\n<li>Small metal or glass container<\/li>\n<li>Nail polish<\/li>\n<li>Candle(s)<\/li>\n<li>Small container for storage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">3 Methods for Making DIY Waterproof Matches<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3>1. Turpentine Method<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-98074 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6803.jpg\" alt=\"Matches poured in turpentine and a phone is placed with it.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6803.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6803-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6803-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6803-400x266.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Before working with turpentine, protect your work surface with newspaper and make sure you\u2019re working in a well-ventilated area. Turpentine is a toxic, flammable paint thinner. The fumes aren\u2019t great to breathe, and it can easily ruin wood or painted surfaces.<\/p>\n<p>Start by filling a small glass or metal container with turpentine. Don\u2019t use plastic \u2014&nbsp;turpentine is strong enough to eat through it. With your container full, take a handful of matches and toss them in. Set a timer for five minutes and let the matches soak up the turpentine.<\/p>\n<p>After five minutes, take the matches out and set them on paper to dry. To speed up the drying process, you can use a hairdryer. Once they\u2019re fully dry, they\u2019re ready to store and use.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Nail Polish Method<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-98070 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6796.jpg\" alt=\"Closeup view of matchstick dipped in nail polish.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6796.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6796-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6796-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6796-400x266.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The nail polish method is very easy, except for the challenge of choosing a color (what goes best with forest pine?). Any nail polish will work, though it\u2019s best to avoid ones that have glitter. The glitter can cause matches to burn unevenly and spark.<\/p>\n<p>Prepare your work area by laying down a piece of paper at the edge of a table. Dip your matches into the nail polish one at a time, letting the excess polish drip off before you lay them down to dry.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-98072 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6798.jpg\" alt=\"Five matchsticks dipped in nailpolish being displayed. \" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6798.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6798-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6798-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6798-400x266.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Lay the base of the match on the table so that the painted side is balanced over the edge, allowing it to dry evenly. You may find it easier to use a piece of tape, sticky side up, to hold the base of the match down while the painted side dries. If you\u2019re in a hurry, you can also use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When using nail polish matches, scrape off a bit of the polish to reveal the head and then use as you normally would.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Candle Wax Method<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-98075 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6806.jpg\" alt=\"Matchstick getting dipped in candle wax.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6806.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6806-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6806-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6806-400x266.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Grab an old candle or a few tea lights, light them, and then wait for a bit for a pool of wax to build up. Dip the head of your matches into the wax one at a time, rotating to get even coverage. Once you pull them out of the wax, let them dry for 20 seconds or so before setting them down.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>To use, scrape a bit of the wax off the head and use as normal.<\/p>\n<h3>Storage<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-98076 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2.jpg\" alt=\"Matches scattered out from a bottle.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>To store your waterproof matches, use a rigid, small container like an old film canister or empty spice bottle. Every extra layer of protection ensures that you don\u2019t get left out on the trail without a dry match. If you aren\u2019t able to use strike-anywhere matches, make sure to include a phosphorous strip from a matchbox in your container.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Any backpacker or backcountry explorer knows that having the right tools to start a fire is an absolute necessity when you\u2019re out in the wild. If you opt for matches, it\u2019s critical that you have a way to protect them. While it\u2019s not hard to find waterproof matches at your favorite outdoor store, they can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":98076,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,42259,277],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-98067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-skills","category-survival"],"featured_image_urls":{"large":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2-538x280.jpg","reactor-320":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2-320x213.jpg","aesop-tiny-cover":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2-400x267.jpg","aesop-character":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2-200x200.jpg","aesop-collection":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2-300x300.jpg","aesop-grid-image":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6810-2-400x267.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98067","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98067"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98067\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":129165,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98067\/revisions\/129165"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98067"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=98067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}