Light a match one-handed from a matchbook

Who needs to bother tearing a match out of the book and lighting it with two hands when all you need is one. This instructable will show you how to light the match using just one hand, taking just about the same amount of time.

Step 1 Preparation

All you need is a matchbook and a capable hand.

Comments

[eulaliaaaa!]

 Of course, you run the risk of lighting ALL of the matches at once and severely burning your hand.

[ATTILAtheHUNgry]

Maybe, but not if you're doing it right. It's how my dad lit all his cigarettes (back before we convinced him to quit, finally).

[punkrockscienceguy]

Ahh this is also a line from Taxi Driver with DeNiro cool instructable!

[SkateboardingForLife]

Just what I was thinking

[flyingmerlin]

Aww, nuts! I wanted to try this, but it turns out my match is to short to bend it all the way to the striking surface. Now I'll have to wait till I find a new matchbook. But I really love the idea of doing this one day.

[UltraMagnus]

now, the question is where can you actually get a matchbook these days?

[Yeah Yeah 5166]

wal greens, 1.00 gets you more than you'll ever need!!!!

[Havok S14]

Where ever you can buy cigarettes. Just ask for matches and they hand some to you for free. Yay free fire to play with.

[Bright Shadow]

restaurants, hotels, your friendly neighborhood drugstore...

[sockeye101]

Canadian military IMP's (individual meals, prepared)contain a book of matches in every meal

[Ouroborous]

How is that matchbook prepared? Hard-boiled? Roasted? Grilled? Or maybe sauted with a little garlic and some onions? But seriously, what use is are the matches with the meal. I don't mean to sound insulting, I'm genuinely curious.

[sockeye101]

there actally used to light the stoves the meals are cooked on. everything is in foil packages, pre-cooked. it just has to be boiled.

[Ouroborous]

Ah, of course. I heard "pre-cooked" and it didn't even occur to me that you'd need to heat them. I assume it'd be the same in most Military branches in many countries.

[sockeye101]

in cadets the odd times that we do get them and not mre's we heat them, but i have eaten them cold before.

[iBurn]

Well...good thing we're all canadian militants, huh?

[sockeye101]

trust me, once you have tasted american MRE's, you will feel sorry for the US troops. i know i am

[lunchboxslayer27]

lulz

[nolte919]

Walmart sells them by the box. I'm just guessing here because it's been a long time but I'd say the box contained 50 books and only cost a few bucks. We keep a book near every candle in the house.

[zoltzerino]

I'm so sorry for you mate, you see in my house we have this thing called electricity which makes things like lights work, and air fresheners - no need for old fashioned candles. :-D ZZZZ

[mg0930mg]

Well you see. I feel so bad for you as you can't think of this thing called power failures. Personally, I make my own candles and burn them because the glade plug-ins smell, and are using up electricity. Think that over. Maybe your tiny brain can take it all in.

[Sora_1_2]

Well Im gonna feel so bad for you when Japanese knock out the power grid with EMP blast from a nuke fired miles above the USA and we have no power or back up power, ever. You'll have to go out during the day to buy some. Whose paranoid? Not me!

[zoltzerino]

mack off solar panel on my roof... ZZZZ

[Havok S14]

What happens when the fire gods decide to block your sun huh?

[the_mad_man]

he's screwed then, isn't he?

[UltraMagnus]

unfortunately, no walmart in the UK

[Ouroborous]

I think you ment "fortunately," not "unfortunately."

[grundisimo]

are you SERIOUS that sucks

[Bright Shadow]

tesco?

[DELETED_gabethegeek]

(removed by author or community request)

[ignition]

yea, you're better off for having no walmart. check at restaurants though, there are many that will have a bowl of match books advertising the restaurant.

[zoltzerino]

Or bowls of mints, miiiiintsss... aagagaga *drooles* when i was and ickle kiddy, i stuffed my pockets full of mints from a chinese resturaunt. ZZZZ

[the_mad_man]

good on ya!

[tehchu]

don't forget to put it out or you'll have your very own fireworks!

[wupme]

You gotta be carefull on that step, those matchheads can leave really nasty burns if you cant manage to get your finger away from it ;)

[zoltzerino]

When I went airsofting up in Scotland with my mates, someone burnt his hand on the fuse to a Thermobaric (FlashBang) grenade. Damn nasty burn he had. ZZZZ

[cwebsterlusk]

oh so true

[mg0930mg]

I guess I'm fast. Haven't had any problems with it. :.Shrugs:.

[mcpguru]

What's a matchbook? ;-)

[zoltzerino]

It like a MACBOOK but doesnt give off satisfy screams when the stuck up apple logo melts.. mmuhahaha. ZZZZ

[iBurn]

OOH RAH!