matchcase: brass vs aluminum

hollowdweller said:
That makes sense.

But wouldn't doing the string reqire more fine manipulation than turning the lid?
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You don't undo the strings. You give the lid half a turn at most. That gives you enough slack on the strings that you can pull the lid straight out. In practice I twist and pull at the same time. No fine muscle control needed.

Works for me.
 
To go off topic for a moment;)

So when I first got my match safe I went out to get some matches for it.

So I went to the town closest to my house. Went in the grocery store.

Nothing but "strike on box"

Asked the manager who looked at me like she didn't even know what I was talking about.

Went to two more grocery stores, a cigarette store and a hardware store. No luck.

WTF?

I was telling my wife about this and she told me apparently that strike anywhere matches are somehow used in the production of CRYSTAL METH
according to a workshop she went to with the State Police.

So probably every place I went to, me with a long beard and ponytail they probably thought I was some amateur chemist.:thumbdn::rolleyes:

Finally I was on KF and Kursed Karma heard my plight and sent me several boxes but since that time I found one store in the whole Valley that sold them and they recently stopped:grumpy:

To make matters even WORSE I used to be able to buy "denatured alcohol" in any hardware store to power my White Box Stove. Now the stores won't carry it and I have to go in an auto parts store and buy the more expensive HEET during the summer and have the clerks look at me funny!:(

Meth has made my life harder and I don't even do it!:o:(
 
I carry mine (Long Brass) in my daypack with no problems. I just don't let things go too unsecured in my pack. I do use both the KM and the Orange cheapies, but the KM is what I will be always counting on.
 
hollowdweller said:
To go off topic for a moment;)

So when I first got my match safe I went out to get some matches for it.

So I went to the town closest to my house. Went in the grocery store.

Nothing but "strike on box"

Asked the manager who looked at me like she didn't even know what I was talking about.

Went to two more grocery stores, a cigarette store and a hardware store. No luck.

WTF?

I was telling my wife about this and she told me apparently that strike anywhere matches are somehow used in the production of CRYSTAL METH
according to a workshop she went to with the State Police.

So probably every place I went to, me with a long beard and ponytail they probably thought I was some amateur chemist.:thumbdn::rolleyes:

Finally I was on KF and Kursed Karma heard my plight and sent me several boxes but since that time I found one store in the whole Valley that sold them and they recently stopped:grumpy:

To make matters even WORSE I used to be able to buy "denatured alcohol" in any hardware store to power my White Box Stove. Now the stores won't carry it and I have to go in an auto parts store and buy the more expensive HEET during the summer and have the clerks look at me funny!:(

Meth has made my life harder and I don't even do it!:o:(
Click to expand...

That is pretty messed up. If you need some matches, I'm sure more than a few of us would be willing to hook you up. The denatured alky is another matter. I am fortunate to have about 6 paint and/or hardware stores within 20 miles. I hope you can find a more reliable source.
 
MMIAM,

I do too. They just don't carry it anymore but looks like I can order online.

I can somewhat understand in that there are less than 10 homes on my road and 2 of them have blown up due to their attempts at fabrication of crank.:rolleyes:
 
actiondiver said:
The plastic orange match containers are junk if you want to ford a stream or raft.
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Funny, I have carried one for 25 yrs never a leak or damage, spent a good part of that wet. Fail to see the need to dive with a matchcase..

Hardly junk.

Skam
 
I ran into the same problem buying Strike Anywhere matches. They're the longer matches in the big box instead of the regular length Strike on the Box matches. The longer ones won't fit in my match safe. Besides, the Strike Anywhere matches wouldn't strike on the little flint on the bottom of the match safe!!!

Solution: BIC butane lighter.
 
I carry the K&M long aluminum one- the compasses in them currently are Suunto- (he had problems w/ quality degrading on Brunton/Silva)

I carry six REI matches (and striker), a Sparklite and four tinder tabs- as mentioned above- close the lid and give it a slight twist- it won't be coming off

it's a quality little piece
 
I have the Silva aluminum matchcase. very nice.
HD, I have two stores near me that sell strike anywhere matches. They are hard to find. Problem is these are Diamond brand and they suck. I used to be able to get Ohio Blue Tips, best I ever used, but I think there went out of business.
Scott
 
That Suunto compass is made in Finland and it works here on the Iron Range in Minnesnowta, while I've had problems with some other small ones.

The reason that the Strike anywhere matches are no sold all over like they used to be is the Government regulations and the cost of shipping. The shipping costs are more than the cost of the matches. The strike nywhere matches are also not formulated as in the past. It's far more dificult to light 'em up, see shipping regs. They are in the same class as gunpowder. Diamond match company is located about 30 mins. from my house, so I just go over and buy a case when I need some. You CAN NOT send them in the mail, they have to be shipped by truck.

The reason for the aluminum cases being anodized is the "grabbyness". As an aside, that brass case can be a life saver for breaking glass or jaws in an emergency as well. Been in both situations and can testify to its effectiveness in both cases.

In my case (the one in my pocke as I type) I keep the storm matches from REI and their striker sheet in aluminum foil, which also is used to protect tinder in wet weather. a BSA ferorod striker with the plastic removed.
Dan
 
Great info Dan K. I really like those REI stormproof matches. But they are big. Of course, with these ones, if you set up your tinder/kindling right, on match really is all you need. How many can you pack in your case? One of things I like about those REI-boxed matches is that they provide you with extra striker pads in a form fitted plastic sheet.

I tried making firestraws packing individual strike anywhere matches in the straw. However, the matches did not survive being jostled about much while I was testing them out. I often encountered the critical ignition part of the head being sloughed off or crumbling making the match useless.

I sort of became disinterested in matches for a while, but I've gone back to packing them in my PSKs. Since my PSK is a waterproof package, I just wrap them in a bit of tin foil along with the striker protected away from the matches.

I see the utility of the windproof ones as adding a niche above and beyond mini-bic/ferro rod. If anybody hasn't tried lighting up one of the wind proof ones I encourage you to do so. You'd be surprised how hot and long burning they are!
 
kgd and All -

Does anyone know the "shelf life" of the Windproof/Stormproof matches? They really kicked butt when I used them, and I have 2 packs left that are at least 15 years old. I have them stashed for backup emergency use and just wondering if they still work...
 
Dan K said:
That Suunto compass is made in Finland and it works here on the Iron Range in Minnesnowta, while I've had problems with some other small ones.
Dan
Click to expand...

that's exactly what Ketih found- originally they (Silva/Brunton) were fine, but evidently they were changed and then not so fine

I very much liked the idea of firestraws :), so I made a couple- I was able to get a 1/2 soaked cotton ball in each straw. I re-arranged my safe so now it has 10 REI matches, striker and two fire straws. I moved the sparklite and tinders to a small 2x3" ziplock and they'll go in the small aloksak that I carry in my pocket.

matchsafewfirestraw.jpg
 
Matchsafes aside, in subzero weather, if you face a desperate situation, like being wet from river or beaver pond ice giving way.... use a road flare. It might not be very woodsy, but in those situations, you only have minutes, and then it wont matter if you have a fire or not.
Dan
 
I bought my K&M brass matchcase 20 years ago.

Original o-rings, original lanyard.

I have left it on the picnic table in the rain, sloshing around in the bottom of my kayak and everywhere inbetween.

It is the one piece of kit that has NEVER failed me and I do not go into the woods without it.

A knife and that matchcase is all I need for the 99% of all situations in the woods.

Carl-
 
I like brass from a purely subjective viewpoint, but I have both. The only contact between the lid and body are the 2 rubber o-rings, so I don't think I'd worry about anodized coatings or small surface imperfections.

I keep the strings threaded and somewhat loose, and tighten by twisting. I've never had a leak. Like Skammer, I've never had a leak from the cheap plastic ones either, so whatever works for you.
 
I have one of the big heavy brass ones with the built in compass, I'm not sure what brand it is, my question to you guys is, how many of you flip half your matches in the other direction to keep half your matches safe in case of accidental ignition?

The only pic I saw with matches, had them all in the same direction.
 
I have kept strike anywhere matches in mine exclusively. I even keep a striker on the side, but I have NEVER had an ignition.

But I guess it is POSSIBLE, just very, very unlikely.
 
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