The fire-steels and spark-lite work fine but I also like to have some waterproof strike-anywhere matches on hand, and have a question about them. I have, as recommended in several places, waterproofed them by dipping them in melted wax. I have also "sleeved" them in corrugated cardboard, then dipped them, to make fairly effective self-lighting fire-starters. Either way works great but only if I use them within a couple of months. It is another story, though, if I store them away for a year or so. I tried using some I had stashed away in an emergency kit not too long ago and when I tried to strike them, the match-heads just kind of smeared apart. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a better way to waterproof these matches so that they are good for the long term?

Thanks.