I was looking around REI and found these Nalgene containers. The tall skinny ones are the perfect size for the 18 or so REI matches, a striker and a 1/2 dry cotton ball on top and on bottom to prevent rattling. A bit of electrical tape to seal!!

Post deleted by ToddW

Thanks for the info. Great matches, btw.

REI matches are longer than regular strike anywhere matches and won't fit in traditional match safes.

Does anybody else use Rolaids? They market a three pack that comes with a nice little plastic flip top vial that holds an entire roll of Rolaids, or a bunch of kitchen matches. And, it does not leak. At least, not after 30 minutes in my sink.

Funny you should suggest that! I used one of the same containers for storing Tums in my briefcase!

I haven't noticed the Rolaids in the small tubes. I would assume next to the checkout in drug/grocery store??

Thanks for educating me. Post Removed.

How do the REI matches compare to Lifeboat other than lasting longer due to length?

I got mine right here. Never even thought about it as a match safe. Thanks for the heads up.

The REI matches are not MUCH longer. I took a pair of scissors and trimmed the woodend end just a little to allow it to fit one of those cheap orange Coghlan's match safes. Works like a charm. I can fit about 10-12 in there.

Also, the REI matches are fattest at their heads, so there is a lot of extra space around the "handle end". And often times, a simple kitchen match would be enough. So I have the REI matches stored heads-up in the safe (which is slightly tapered), and I took some kitchen matches and trimmed them a little bit. Now, I have those stored head-down with the REI matches, and I can get about a dozen of those in there, occupying unused space.

So, now I have two striker strips, one dozen REI, and one dozen kitchen matches in one safe. Not too bad.

Oh, and I did check, and the safe is waterproof for 30 minutes completely submerged in a glass of water.

I agree, but with the way they flame, I want all the distance between the flame and my fingers!

Uh, you're not putting the striker strip in the SAME safe are you? That's doesn't seem like a great idea.

I like the containers themselves just fine. If I want to make a fire, however, I will deploy my trusty Windmill, mini-Bic, or firesteel.

-- Craig

Craig,

Tell me more about your windmill and overall lighter experience. I have been wanting a "high-end' lighter, but don't know much about them. I have a Zippo and really like it, but the fuel evaporation is an issue. I know they make fuel canisters for the Zippo, an I have been experimenting with a cheap $1 SS capsule that seems to work well that fills my Zippo about 1/3 full.
Lind to SS capsule for $1, scroll down to "pill holder"

I have been looking at the glow in the dark windmill from TAD gear.

When you take two strikers just let the striking surfaces face each other and maybe put a strip of tape on the long sides to form a hinge. The match heads just touch the carton back of the striker. That´s no problem at all.

I bought myself a ruby red EMS-branded Windmill when I got my new job. It hasn't failed me yet. No fuel evaporation, either. But then I don't go around climbing mountains at great altitudes. It always lights on the second try, but never the first. Operator error, I guess.

I used to carry an old Zippo I bought at a flea market. The fuel was always evaporating. It needed a charge about every other day. I had lots of fun with it, starting small fires in the woods back when you could get away with that sort of thing.

The Windmill lives in my kit. I keep a mini-Bic in my pocket. Why? To light candles on tables when my wife and me go out for romantic dinners.

I found out the hard way that the Windmill's lid does not allow the lighter to be inserted into the chimney of a table candle. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

-- Craig

I have a Windmill, too, in my FatBoy. My one and only complaint is that it gobbles fuel at a horendous rate. I EDC'd it for about a week, and had to fill it twice.

I concur that was the downside I realized after just playing wtih teh Windmill was that it ATE fuel like crazy but if you need to light something can nothing else works it seems to work <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Sure! Is there a problem with tha.... ARRRGGGHH.. Extinguish me!

Just kidding.

If you put the striker in the safe with the rough side facing the plastic wall of the safe, no problem. The matches are jammed in there tight enough so that the striker cannot rattle and turn around.

My REI storm matches came with a pair of extra strikers in a heavy plastic sleeve. I trimmed my matches and the cut the striker off the box and put it into my K&M matchcase. The extra striker was thick and took up quite a bit of room so I elected to use the box striker. The striker is away from the matches facing the matchcase wall and there is no movement inside the case.

My experience with nalgene bottles is that they seal very well. I may have to go look for some of those bottles.

Would cutting bicycle inner tube to size and placing in the top of the cap help to waterproof?

Nalgene bottles would probably not seal well with a rubber liner added to the cap. Their caps are watertight as designed.

Ah.. Thanks!
*runs to undo all the rubber gaskets*

I just use one of the cheap plastic matchsafes. Replaced the o-ring with a new one and cut a bit off of each match to make them fit.

Here is my K&M aluminum matchcase with 15 trimmed REI stormproof matches.




A standard size REI and Diamond Strike-Anywhere match is shown on the right side of the case.

I have the box striker in the case but it slid inside hiding from my photo...I also have a black piece of thin rubber that covers the matchheads.

These matches needed about 1cm trimmed to fit this metal case but it is guaranteed waterproof to 2000 psi by the maker and is easy to open to boot.

You just have to show off those K&M match cases don't you? You know it makes me jealous because they are impossible to find. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I want one so bad! <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

K&M cases are now easily available through me. I am assisting Keith Lunders with internet sales. Contact me at

rlschaffer@gmail.com

for details

That's great news ... email sent.

I spent a bit of time this weekend dipping some matches in shellac. I used to use wax (canning wax) but my last batch of Diamonds dipped in wax did not strike well at all for some reason..the heads just went soft. So I am going for shellac.



These are the new imported strike-anywheres...Penley's from Chile that SgtMike posted about a while ago. They are very similar to Diamond matches but I think they seemed a bit more consistantly made also. I dipped them and dried them overnight.

I took 3 and dropped them in a bucket of water for 3 minutes then struck them on a terracotta pot. Each fired up nicely. The shellac makes them a bit harder to ignite so an aggressive surface works better than a smoother one.

I filled up each of my cases and am ready to go.

Schwert,

Nice find on the Penley's. I love 'em and they work very well for me thus far. I added some skateboard tape to most of my safes and have some to spare if you'd like some...

M

I saw boxes of Penley's appear in the grocery a while back but since I had never heard of them I put them back on the shelf. At $0.74 a box they are certainly worth it, I am glad you spent the big bucks and tried them <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My neighbor is an avid skateboarder and I bummed some tape off of him a while back...of course it is still sitting on my desk, but eventually I may get around to putting a strip on a case or two. I neglected to try the roughened surface of the case plug but will do so soon. Most of the time I strike my matches on the exterior knurling but a piece of skateboard tape could be a real bonus.

Hmm, a seach for "Penley" on this forum only turns up this thread (yes, I clicked "all posts"). Is there somewhere you can mail-order these? None of my local camping or grocery stores I've checked has any full-sized strike-anywhere matches. The only ones I've found are the mini ones at REI.

Strike Anywhere matches cannot be mailed but they can be shipped via UPS. Some places charge a hasmat fee which can be as much as ~30 boxes of Penley's.

I have heard that this place

http://www.riverjunction.com/catalog/saloon/matches.html

ships without hasmat fees.

I am not sure I would run these Penley matches down in preference to Diamonds if you could get them locally. They are nice, and probably a bit more consistant but I can buy Diamonds for about a buck a box also. Now if you cannot get any strikeanywheres then this place may be worth the effort.

I love my K&M cases. They're the best.

Thanks, Randy.

Great idea, Mike. *smacks own forehead* I've got a roll of no-slip floor tape in the locker at work, I should have throught of that a long time ago.

I guess I did spend the big bucks. Mine were $.85 a box! <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

M

Sort of amazing to think of these boxes imported from Chile, 250 sticks/box and selling for such a price.

Sometimes it seems our lives are so easy. So many things are so easily available at good prices we tend to ignore them. An easily kindled fire has become more of an entertainment than a necessity.

where can I get some of those cases?

Check here:
Cases

Thanks Pete. Since ETS is not a selling forum etc I have kept my selling role somewhat difficult to find. I will provide a link to a British site where all information, prices etc is spelled out.

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11556

I want to respect Doug's site by not pushing these cases, but at the same time they are real nice. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Keith Lunders is a good friend and I am assisting him in moving these cases...I also make a couple of bucks off each case.

Looks like at least one, maybe two CR123A batteries would fit... can you say for sure?

One CR123A fits fine but rattles quite a bit. Two will not fit as they are just about as long as the case so will not allow the plug to be placed.

Cool. So, one CR123A with some room left over. Thanks!

I personally use the Brunton(compass makers) version of the one schwert is selling. its a great little case (button compass included). It to though requires minor trimming of the REI's. I do favor Schwert's version i that you can get them in high visibility colors.