Make Your Own DIY Waterproof Matches

Today we’re going to offer some tips on how to make DIY waterproof matches. This is really an essential survival tool to have on hand in an emergency. Not everyone thinks ahead to how important these things are to have in an emergency situation. So, we’d recommend making enough for yourself and gifting the rest to friends and family.

If you’ve already prepared your 72 hour emergency kit, you may find that you still have some space. This is probably the case, especially if your kit includes a multi-pocketed vest or good hiking backpack. There’s always plenty of pockets in there! If you don’t have waterproof matches, this is the time to add them to your kit. 

DIY Waterproof Matches: Why do we need fire anyway?

Let’s think back to the origins of our civilizations. Humans didn’t really get anywhere until they discovered how to harness fire. Now, imagine yourself stuck in the woods after some unforeseen disaster has sent you and your family running for the hills.

All you’ve got is your handy emergency kit. Do you really want to be stuck like Tom Hanks in Cast Away rubbing stones and twigs together? Certainly not. You need to have some kind of fire maker in your kit so that you can survive out there.

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Zippos look cool and are windproof, but they add a good amount of weight and are not entirely waterproof. That leaves matches. Regular safety or strike-anywhere matches are cheap, but don’t even think of packing those in your kit. All it takes is one unexpected rain shower and those matches are gone. Waterproof matches are by far and away your best option. 

You’ll need waterproof matches when it comes time to build a fire

If you still have some space and want to plan for general fire starting use, there’s more. These tin cans full of magnesium fire starter are an ideal companion to your waterproof matches. When it comes time to prepare a campfire, first clear out a large space in the dirt.

Magnesium burns unexpectedly fast and strong, so you don’t need to use too much. Make sure you have at least six feet of space cleared of leaves and brush before starting your fire. The last thing you need in an emergency situation is to start a forest fire.

If you have the tools, dig a shallow trench around the fire area to prevent it from getting out of hand. Then gather some twigs and other small sticks into the center, add some magnesium from your tin, and start the fire with your waterproof matches.

Do you still have enough room in your emergency kit to fit one more thing? If you live near the woods and might need to head there in an extreme emergency, consider adding this open flame cooking cup. You can dump anything in here and cook it over your open campfire flame! 

Buy online or DIY?

You can get waterproof safety matches online for pretty reasonable prices. However, they will always be more expensive than regular matches. So, if you have some time, such as during a quarantine pandemic, why not do it yourself? Keep scrolling down to see just how easy it is to make your own waterproof matches using standard matches.

These rules will apply to strike-anywhere matches. The only difference between those two variants is that strike-anywhere matches tend to have a phosphorus tip. Our method uses melted wax as a waterproofing mechanism. This is not going to have any negative effect or reaction with strike-anywhere tips. So, you can use these guidelines for any type of matches you might have! 

Today was a cold and rainy day in my neck of the woods, so I turned on my Scentsy burner and enjoyed my favorite scent – Honey Pear Cider. I had been planning this blog post about DIY Waterproof Matches for a while now.

Waterproof matches are super useful. Besides the emergency situations we mentioned above, make a quick and easy gift idea. Today, I found a use for the spent Scentsy wax. I don’t know why it never occurred to me before, but here it is! 

Diy Waterproof Matches Are Easy to Make

Some people recommend using turpentine, shellac, or clear nail polish to waterproof their matches. These methods do work pretty well. Using melted wax is also a popular way to waterproof matches. You can melt candle nubs in a double boiler or light a candle and use the melted wax that accumulates around the wick.

I think using my Scentsy burner has got to be the easiest way to do it! With the Scentsy burner, you have no exposed fire. Plus, there’s no waiting for the double boiler and then having to clean it out. This also means no burned fingers!

Furthermore, if you are a Scentsy user like I am, you always have this excess wax to get rid of. Rather than throw it out, you can repurpose it for match waterproofing. 

The steps for DIY Waterproof Matches:

• Put down wax paper to protect your area.
• Melt your Scentsy wax – enjoy it today, DIY it tomorrow!
• Take wooden matches and swirl them around in the wax, coating the head. Try to focus your wax collection just on the head. A simple twirl of the match top will do the trick.
• Set them aside to dry (I used a small bowl – the wax didn’t stick to it – or you could use wax paper).
• Put the dry matches into a jar with a tight lid. To use the matches in the future, just scrape off the wax from part of the match head before striking it.
• Cut out a circular piece of fine sandpaper the size of the inside of your lid and secure it inside if you are using “strike anywhere” matches. You could glue it or just cut it a bit bigger and wedge it in there.
• If you are using “strike on box” matches you need to include the striker in your kit. I just cut the boxes they came with in half, and put it in the kit. NOTE: strike on box matches will not work with sandpaper. 

Don’t forget to make some tinder while you’re DIY’ing your fire kit. Grab some dryer lint and add some wax to it. I dipped one side into the Scentsy wax and placed it on wax paper to dry. After that, I dipped the other side. Let them dry into a little blob and pack them into your emergency kit. Although mine are not very pretty, they work great.

Final thoughts on DIY waterproof matches

So, use this idea as a last minute emergency preparedness gift. Or, just put your spent Scentsy wax to good use. Make some DIY waterproof matches for your home survival kit. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Stay prepared, and keep you and your family safe from even the most unexpected disasters.

Emergencies strike when we least expect them. These days, most of us are stuck at home under quarantine. If you think back to Thanksgiving 2019, did any of us foresee that we’d be spending Easter social distancing at home? Probably not. But, now that you’ve got some free time, why not spend it preparing your kit?

Have you tried other methods for waterproofing matches yourself? Did our method work for you? Share your ideas and experiences in our comments section below!