Everybody know's those Coghlan's wind/waterproof match-boxes are........absolute rubbish! I've put the matches in a 35-mm photo-roll canister instead and taped the front-label of the box on the canister.




This is when you see when opening the canister. The striker surface is placed away from the matches, to prevent accidental ignition:
(The scratches on my deks are from my Wave btw. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />





The contents: -30 wind/waterproof matches, cotton balls (or tinder-quick, emergency tinder, etc.) to prevent ratteling and a striker surface made by stapling the two striking surfaces to the rear-side of the original box. A piece of tape is taped at the top to make it easy to remove from the canister.


I know this isn't very original, but I hope I've helped some people.

That's a good bit of lateral thinking. The matches are made for cyclone as well. They do their's in a spiffy little orange plastic container that's water resistant. If you can get one grab it. Use the coghlans for replacements. )

What is a "35-mm photo-roll?" I think that I have seen those in an antique shop somewhere. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

35 mm photo-container

I think he was just joking, Jim. :P

I seem to remember someone mentioning 35mm camera. Something about pictures for the book of your great survival epic?
35mm, Manual focus, Manual winder. Pity your all singing, all dancing digi-cam died in the crash/of the cold......

Film containers make great little holders for stuff, but they aren't exactly durable and waterproof. You might want to hang on to the coghlans match case until you've tested this.

No no, I mean the original boxes where the matches come in are rubbish, not the match-safe. (that isn't available in the Netherlands)

Another good option for match containers are Blood Test Strip containers for some types of blood sugar monitors. The long REI matches fit in one that I currently keep in my BOB.

I remember when 35mm film came in an aluminum film can. the lid was screwed on, like a jar lid.

JIM, if the the lid is flat, glue a lenth of striker board to the underside. Easier to use in an emergency. You can reinforce the remaining striker boards by gluing them to stiff card or plastic.

Me too.......... Dang, I'm old! <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Good advice, Leigh. I do the same if I use wax-coated kitchen matches in one of the orange water-resistant plastic match containers (the ones with the O-ring): I cut out a circle of striker surface to size and glue it to the inside of the lid. Works perfect. I clip the matches in half and fit twice as many inside. The only drawback is you have to make sure and get the wax off the match tip (just the very tip) real good before using it on the striker surface to keep that from wearing out too soon. I like to wax coat for the longer burn time, not so much for the waterproofing, but that does help.

Just in case you haven't heard of these commerical match cases, check out the K&M Matchcase at http://kmmatchcase.safeshopper.com/ .

I have both the long length version made to fit REI waterproof matches and the regular length version for regular kitchen matches. They are very VERY well made and easy-to-use. The lids don't screw into the body. Instead they smply push into the main body and then you twist the cap to tighten the cords and lock the cap down to the body. Simplicity at its best! Yes, they are a bit pricey, but you only need one (of each size <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)

If you do get one, I suggest that you get some silicone gasket grease to apply to the o-rings. This keeps the seal better, makes it easier to insert the cap, and makes the o-rings last longer. I get mine at my local pool store.

Hmmm....

Yoduh really likem matches then, huh? Wait a minute, you forgot yer mini-Bic trick or are you just not using foil this time?

I've never been impressed with using film cans as containers for anything including film. They pop open too easily.

Countycomm has actual screw-top match cases for $1.00 each. I bought a couple and they're very rugged and waterproof (gasketed). I see no point to using film cans. I could even see using one of the match cases to hold a bunch of vaseline/cotton balls. They are well enough sealed to not get vaseline all over the place, I think.

The cheap 96 cent orange O-ringed/gasketed screwtop match cases at Wal-mart have not failed me yet: no water inside on matches, no vaseline on outside from cottonballs. Just ensure the ring is not damaged with regular inspection.

By the way, I started another thread mentioning I had a cheap butane lighter fail under totally no-stress conditions. It had just been sitting in my backpack for a long time (years) since I rarely use the things. But I had occasion to use it and pressing the button wouldn't release any gas, so it wouldn't light. I inspected it carefully and there was nothing obviously wrong causing the problem. It had lots of fuel, no obvious clogs or corrosion, and the spark wheel worked fine. This was indoors in summer, not wet or freezing or any nonsense like that. As mentioned, I should have saved it for further diagnosis by some expert here, but I tossed it instead due to the annoyance of the moment (I was away on a trip at the time). Anyway, those lighters aren't all that reliable.