Waterproof Crushproof Tic-Tac Matchbox

As a Boy Scout and staffer at Camp Wanocksett in New Hampshire, I have learned a lot of tips and tricks over the years for ways to make do with what you have for equipment to get you what you need. One of my dilemmas that I once had occurred when I need a small matchbox to carry my matches that wouldn't bend or break any matches in my pack. The solution came from a half full Tic-Tac box, and a mostly empty 250 count matchbox. With a little bit of crafty skill, I brought everything together to make a waterproof tic-tac matchbox for all to enjoy, especially when you don't need 250 matches, and you want is some good matches with good matchheads.

I have submitted this into the Coleman Camping Challenge Contest, so if you like what you see, vote for my 'ible in the contest.

WARNING: This project involves using super glue, which shouldn't be used by big buffoons, whatever a buffoon is. Honestly, you can use rubber cement instead, so it doesn't really matter.

Step 1 Materials

To make this awesome matchbox, you will need:

• 1 Large Tic-Tac container
• 1 Empty box of matches, preferably a 250 count match box, or a waterproof match box
• A Small bottle of Super-Glue, Rubber Cement, or other glue that works on plastic
• A Pair of Scissors 
• Approximately 30 Matches, any kind of your choice, but I prefer the "Kitchen Matches" because of their large match head, and long burning time. 

Optional: Goo Gone, to help remove the Tic Tac sticker

Comments

[CaptAmazing]

I think this is a great idea. Also, for the record, I have experienced "lighter failure" in the great outdoors, and it was frustrating. The flint stopped working and I was SOL.
I would suggest using "Lifeboat Matches" for a survival situation. They come with a varnished tip that makes them waterproof and when struck they burn like the surface of the sun. They are a little more expensive, and take up a little more room in the Tic-Tac box, but I think it's a good trade-off.

[isaacwilk]

Great idea, but to make the striker waterproof wouldn't it be easier if you just glued it to some hard thin cardboard and kept it inside the box? Then it would still be reasonably easy to use

[lucek]

give me flint and steel every time.

[tjesse]

If you lightly glue the outside with waterproof glue and cover it with fine grit powder that might work. But, It might just be easier to just put the striker in the box.

[pandadude]

No, you cant do that unless you use strike anywhere matches. The " fne grit powder" on a modern matchbox is what is called White Phosphorus, and when combined with red phosphorus on the tips of matches and heat, it ignites a match.

That is why is suggested using a waterproof match striker from a waterproof matchbox if you really wanted it to be completely waterproof.

[tjesse]

I only buy strike anywhere matches, but I guess I should have said that. To be honest, I think matches are pointless in an emergency kit. A bic lighter is waterproof, more compact, and can light hundreds of fires. And if I wanted to go waterproof and crush proof I would not use a candy container.

[duggerpato]

a bic lighter doesn't work in the snow. For freezing temperatures it can fail you. That's about the only time I wouldn't have one. I learned this from experience, and never would have believed it otherwise. It was cold, we had to use matches. 3 different lighters wouldn't do a thing.

[tjesse]

I spent an hour looking online for any expert to claim that bic lighters don't work in snow. Nothing... But there are some problems with wet lighters requiring some babying. I still put a few matches in my emergency kits, but I still think they are pointless. I did find, in my search, that this is a heated debate in the survival world. I think people don't like bic lighters because they're not sexy. If I had a choice between a candy box with 300 matches in it or a bic, I will pick the bic. With that said, I like this idea because its smart, and people still light grills with matches.

[h.bergeron]

Your search criteria for experts must not have included any lifelong smokers. It's not the snow but the cold that can impair the effectiveness of lighters. Anyone who's left their lighter in the car overnight in an area with a respectable winter can tell you that the lighter does not quite work right until you heat it up a bit with your hands or a little bit of external heat of some sort.

[duggerpato]

Yeah, like I said before, we were camping in extreme cold (klondike derby, boy scouts) and during a challenge we were supposed to start a campfire. Nobody had matches in our group, and within about 2 minutes after everyone broke out the lighters, they all quit working one by one. Craziest thing.

But as we settled back on the 4th, it's best to just keep both handy. Or just the bic if it isn't cold.

[tjesse]

You are right, if you can't work a lighter then don't put it in your kit. Matches are the winner every time, until it rains, you fall in water, or you sweat. I found a rusty lighter at the beach, it must have been there for months. It still worked. As for the cold, warm the lighter under your arm for a min.

[duggerpato]

I rarely go out camping anymore, but I'm with you on this one. I'd rather use a lighter, but I take matches too anyways. Of course then I'm always reminded of how I used to ask if anyone had a match and my dad would always say "yeah, your face and my butt" lol. 20 years of hearing that answer, I get a lighter, but it's still a cheap laugh for me. ;)

[tjesse]

I forgot about that joke. Lol! Now people ask "Do you have a light"? It's a shame.

[kevinrose]

I'm a little confused as to what your point to commenting is. Are you here to discuss this instructable and maybe give some helpful information, or simply be a wet blanket and tell everyone lighters are better?

Clearly this is your prerogative and you don't seem to have much of an interest in a waterproof matchbox anyways. So why are you posting? It seems awfully rude.

[duggerpato]

Well, I guess it accomplished having you comment for the first time since joining in 2009. Necromancing tends to be a bit rude too, you know, but I won't say anything about that, and answer your question.

I was having a small conversation with tjesse, and if you look above, I was actually bashing having a lighter, but admit that I would rather use the said lighter over matches. The instructable is just fine, and as I recall, I gave it 4.5 stars out of 5 (one of only 5 ratings). Bye now :)

[kevinrose]

I'm not sure if I clicked on the wrong reply button but I was replying to tjesse and not you.

[tjesse]

In that case, whatever duggerpato said. You are proof that it is easy to get a bit side tracked on these comments. Sure, if you read the comments all at once then it seems like I'm on Bic's pay roll, but it was just a comment on the fact that people seem to find ways to protect a fragile thing like matches when lighters are better suited for lighting fires. It was a bit off topic, I admit, but hardly rude. You on the other hand are not adding anything to the conversation (good or bad). I'm glad, however, that you pooped your instructable cherry, too bad you brought nothing to the table as far as an opinion on the matter.

[kevinrose]

I apologize if I felt it necessary to defend this young man's instructable from someone who had nothing but bad things to say about it. Not only that but you felt it necessary to drone on about how much better lighters are than matches for several comments when one would have sufficed.

As for this instructable, I followed it and completed it yesterday. Turned out wonderfully and is just what I need when a lighter fails.

[tjesse]

Apology accepted.

[pandadude]

I also like having matches in times when you are traveling and you can't technically have liquid fuels with you (airports etc.). They probably wouldn't notice, but I'd rather be safe then sorry.

[richardsalt]

Great instructable. I agree that if we could come up with a convenient way to keep the striker plate waterproof (different material?), then this would be perfect. Well done you.

[pandadude]

Yeah, I know. My point was that if you use a striker from a waterproof matchbox then you are good, and you don't even have to use waterproof matches. But I didn't have any waterproof match boxes on me at the time, so if you wanna try it, you'll have to use your creativity a little bit.

[RedneckEngineer]

I like this but if the striker gets wet its no longer water proof. Maybe if you kept it inside till you needed it. Sure it wouldn't be as user friendly, but we are only talking about stiking a match. Good build either way.