Matches are commonly and widely used for starting a fire as they are easy and safe to use. They create heat when rubbed against the rough striking surface of their box, allowing you to start a fire anywhere needed, and at any time. That said, if you have been wondering how to light a match without the box, I recommend you to keep reading this article.
How to Light a Match Without the Box
To ignite the matches without the box, you need to hit them with enough friction to generate heat and trigger the chemical reaction. Hence, you can light a match by striking it against other matches or a rock, concrete, sandpaper, ceramic, window, and other materials. Whether you will light the matches also depends on the type of matches that you use.
Lighting a Match Without the Box
Matches don’t have to be lit using the igniter on their box. That said, if you are outdoors and don’t have the box with you, here are several ways that you can implement to be able to do so successfully.
Lighting a match against another one
To ignite a match without a box, you can take four matches and hold them together. Then, take the match that you would like to ignite and swipe it against the red tips of the other ones by making a circular motion.
Additionally, you can hold the matches in your hand and strike the other match from them in the same way as you use the igniter that is placed in the box. Moreover, you can also come across special matches that you can ignite with a specific motion of your thumb.
Striking the match on a rock
If you are surviving in the wilderness or camping or hiking outdoors, you can also try striking the match on a rock. However, for this purpose, you will need a flat and a dry rock with a rough surface.
Then, to light it up, it is advised to hold the match between your middle finger and your thumb, press the match’s head on the rock, and swipe it quickly. You will also need to hold the match properly so it doesn’t easily break.
Striking the match on other building materials
When without a match striker, you can also try igniting the match using other rough materials. Aside from stone, you can use concrete, ceramic, and brick. What also might work is using a small patch of sandpaper and striking the match in the same way as when you are using the igniter on the box.
On top of that, you can also try striking the match on a window. However, this method requires a lot of pressure, so it is necessary to press the head of the match against the window and draw it quickly in one motion.
Read more: How to Start a Bonfire With Wet Wood
Lighting a match from other light sources
Another simple way of lighting a match is holding its head near another flame source, such as a candle or hot coals. If you have one in your hand, you can also use a lighter. The lighters come in several different shapes, but you need to be careful using them to avoid burning yourself in case the matches fall from your hand accidentally.
Types of Matches
Whether you will be able to light the match without the box also depends on the type of matches that you are using. For instance, safety matches are intended for starting controlled fires in enclosed spaces and can only be ignited using the striker on the box or using a candle and a lighter.In contrast, the so-called strike-anywhere matches, as their name suggests, can be struck on
any type of surface as long as there is friction. Aside from traditional matches, you can also find wax matches, as well as flint, zippo, and D-matches.
Tips About Lighting a Match
Now that we have discussed how to light a match without the box, let’s talk about some important tips to consider before doing so.
Read the following tips:
- Make sure that the matches are clean before using them; if they are not, you can use a cotton swab or some alcohol
- Strike the matches very carefully and away from other people to prevent burning yourself or the others around you
- When lighting a match, stay away from high-risk areas, including kitchens and bathrooms, to prevent a fire hazard
- If you are striking the match on a rough surface, you should use more force but, at the same time, move slowly to avoid breaking the match
- To keep the flame burning, hold the match at a slight downward angle
- If your matches get soaked, there are still a few options you can use them; in this situation, you can use a magnifying glass or a flashlight or try drying the matches
- When striking the match against any type of surface, it is important to be aware that, in some cases, the match can cause an abrasion
Matches Ignition
The way matches can produce flame is caused by a chemical reaction that is known as combustion. The tip of the matches contains potassium chlorate and substances that don’t ignite accidentally, which is the case with many chemicals.
You can make the red phosphorus and the oxidizing agent ignite when you are using safety matches with a red tip by striking them with enough friction to cause a chemical reaction. Hence, when striking the match against the surface, heat is then generated because of friction.
Also read: How to Keep a Fire Going in the Rain
Conclusion
This article is about how to light a match without the box in a convenient and easy way. Whether you are out surviving in an emergency situation or on an outdoor adventure, knowing how to ignite the matches when you don’t have their box can be very useful. However, whichever method you go for, it is necessary to be very careful when striking the match to avoid burning others or yourself.