From cayoung01@earthlink.net Sun Aug 05 05:06:32 2001 To: Subject: [misc_survivalism_moderated] Fw: Why matches??? From: "Chris Young" Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 07:06:32 -0400 Cc: -------- Christopher A. Young P.O. Box 442 Macedon, NY 14502 Improve your spirituality at www.lds.org ----- Original Message ----- From: larryn@ozemail.com.au Newsgroups: misc.survivalism Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 10:34 AM Subject: Re: Why matches??? On 11 Jun 2000 22:35:24 -0400, Conway Yee , sharing an opinion worldwide on misc.survivalism, and inviting comments from others, caused the following words to appear on our monitors: >I have noticed that many advocate stocking matches (preferably several >stashes). I note however, each match box is smaller than a simple BIC >lighter. Thus if you stock a few BIC lighters, they will be more >compact and lighter than matches and last a lot longer. What are the >advantages of matches over a simple lighter? > >Conway Yee 1==> I don't know of any major ones myself. Firstly, unless use a good waterproof match like Australian "Greenlites", most matches are easily rendered useless by damp. Secondly, there are only 50 matches in a box, and can get hundreds of lights off a disposable Bic lighter. The number depends on how high the flame is turned up and how long you let it burn. With properly prepared tinder as you would use with flint and steel or magnifier, you would only need a flame for tenths of a second, and would get a lot more. Lighters always have "flint" left over, so even when run one out of gas, can salvage the flint from it. 2==> If try to think of disadvantages, can think of two if are just carrying the bare lighter with no protection. One is that if it gets wet, it won't spark well until dried. Another is that if have it loose in a pack it would be possible to put something on top of it or jam it in such a way that the thumb lever was held down and all gas would escape. 3==> I carry mine in aluminum tubes with plastic caps that Roche Berocca effervescent Vitamin "B" comes in. The plastic cap has a little container attached to it that contains silica gel to keep the original tablets dry. This can be renewed or replaced to keep the lighter dry. There is also a little spiral shaped springy bit of plastic extending down from the cap to hold the tablets in place. This serves nicely to keep the lighter from rattling in the metal tube. If put the lighter in upside down so the top of the lighter is against the base of the container there is no danger of the lever being accidently depressed. The lighter fits inside the tube as if the tube was custom made for it. I usually put a strip of Scotchlite reflective tape around mine. This makes them very easy to find in the pack with the aid of a flashlight, but more importantly it makes it a little more difficult to leave behind somewhere, and makes it easier to find if you do lose it. 4==> Some people also mark small bits of equipment like MiniMag flashlights, compasses, etc. with reflective tape. Once lost a bit of equipment on one side of a dry stream bed in desert country. To save myself a lot of walking, went to the other side and tried to spot the object with binoculars. Then got smart and dug out my signal mirror. By sweeping a beam of sunlight across the opposite hillside in a search pattern, the bit of Scotchlite tape reflected back brilliantly. The tape stood out like the traditional knackers on a dog. 5==> Another application for it is to flag a trail by covering the heads of thumbtacks or heads and sides of plastic handled pushpins with it. You would be surprised at how far can see a circle of reflective tape a quarter inch in diameter in car headlight beam, flashlight beam, or reflection from signal mirror. The adhesive used on reflective tape is very good. Put it on a metal surface that has been properly degreased with alcohol or acetone and it will never come off without being scraped off with a sharp blade. -larryn [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Small business owners... Tell us what you think! http://us.click.yahoo.com/vO1FAB/txzCAA/ySSFAA/DROolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: misc_survivalism_moderated-unsubscribe@egroups.com Group webpage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/misc_survivalism_moderated Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From cayoung01@earthlink.net Tue Aug 07 05:45:55 2001 To: Subject: Re: [misc_survivalism_moderated] Fw: Why matches??? From: "Chris Young" Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 07:45:55 -0400 -------- That is certain to get some respect from the people around you. I was on a winter picnic earlier this year, and tried to light a fire with flint, steel, and cotton balls with vaseline. It didn't work, but mainly because I was at a public park, and had to use the grille provided. If I could have got into the woods and built a wind break, it would have been better. Christopher A. Young P.O. Box 442 Macedon, NY 14502 Improve your spirituality at www.lds.org ----- Original Message ----- From: Possum Hunter To: misc_survivalism_moderated@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 11:29 PM Subject: Re: [misc_survivalism_moderated] Fw: Why matches??? I do not take matches with me. I normally just carry my flint and steel along with some char cloth. I also will carry by hearth board and fire drill just in case :-) Real men make real fires the old fashioned way! Possum Improve your spirituality at http://www.mennonite.megapage.de/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: misc_survivalism_moderated-unsubscribe@egroups.com Group webpage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/misc_survivalism_moderated Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Small business owners... Tell us what you think! http://us.click.yahoo.com/vO1FAB/txzCAA/ySSFAA/DROolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: misc_survivalism_moderated-unsubscribe@egroups.com Group webpage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/misc_survivalism_moderated Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/