I've been thinking about solutions to the $5PSK question, particularly dealing with youth groups that may not have a lot of woodscraft experience...in my Scouting days my fire building fear was the transition from lit match to ignition of small kindling...we didn't use tinder in the form of cotton/lint as such, but resinated pine stumps provided "lighter pine" which I guess is now called fat wood.. and sandwiched a small amount of lighter pine with the strike anywhere match to provide a sustained flame

If you cut a section of corrugated cardboard about 1/4 inch shorter than a strike anywhere match (the match will fit into the channels of the cardboard) and thouroughly saturate it in melted paraffin which provides both fuel and waterproofing, quickly cool, and cut into 4 channel strips...insert two waterproofed matches into the center channels to the depth of the base of the match head, hold by the protruding match stems.. the ignition temp of two match heads improves the probability of success in stressful situations....the channels provede additional surface area

Interesting idea, so almost like using the match stick as a wick (in conjunction with the cardboard) and it becomes a mini candle?

Boghog1...the match strike almost instantly lights the paraffin coated cardboard, and is still in the near vertical position for efficiant flame propagation... the added surface area of the corrugated structure adds some protection against wind... I tried to fill some of the channels with paraffin and jammed a birthday candle between the matches, but the side by side match location seemed to be the most reliable

that seems like a good idea. I like the parifin in the cardboard so that it won't get damp or moist thus ensuring that it will stay lit longer.

thanks for the idea.

That does sound like an excellent idea. I'll have to get some parafin wax and try it out.

I use the trick birthday candles that you can't blow out.

I like it!

When I was still wedded to the altoids tin, I used to use corrugated cardboard as a holder for matches, then put them in a small, duct tape enhanced zipper bag. So I find myself asking... why didn't I think of that?

I like to alternate strike anywhere and Lifeboat matches in the corrugated cardboard for a 2 stage booster effect. I then cut away a strike anywhere and Lifeboat match then peel back the wax covered cardboard to strike the match.







The flame lasts around 1-2 minutes. Even if tricky conditions it should be possible to get a fire going especially if using sections of a butyl inner cycle tube as well.

I think for a youth group that a strike on box waterproof (lifeboat)match would be preferable over a strike anywhere match.. the Diamond brand kitchen matches I've been using don't seem to have the amount of tip material for use on a very rough surface, and is easily abraded off... the matches are several years old though....a small section of wet/dry silicon carbide sanding paper in fine grit would work with the strike anywhere matches

Nice ideas for "match tuning" here . I once did something similar. As a second stage fuel and extension I used fine sticks of fatwood which more or less surrounded the match. It worked well.