Regular matches are fine for lighting candles and the like, but they’re a bit small and fiddly to use. After seeing some giant prop matches used in a stage play, [Handy Bear] decided to see if they could build some functional extra-large matches at home.
The build starts with a square wooden dowel, cut into lengths to serve as the main body of the matches. Regular tiny matches were then harvested for their flammable matchheads, made of potassium chlorate. Sourcing the material this way is far simpler than attempting a chemical synthesis from raw materials. Once roughly ground, the material was glued on to the end of the wooden rod to finish the match. [Handy Bear] then whipped up a giant matchbox to suit, using the ignition strips from multiple smaller matchboxes in the process.
Impressively, the monster matches work, and work well. They readily ignite when struck, and are able to keep a strong flame burning for some time. However they’re not quite potent enough to fully ignite the wood, so they don’t burn down like the real thing. We could see these being a great way to light a campfire with less hassle than regular matches, even if they are a bulky solution to the problem.
Maybe use something like balsa wood ? Less mass to heat up sop it should catch fire more easily
Yup, I was going to also say balsa or fat pine cut to size.
‘… stick of balsa wood with a square section…’¹
i checked his channel description, the link to his french main channel and his instructable link.
¹: https://www.instructables.com/Giant-Matches-That-Work/
Drill several holes into the end before covering the match head. Greater surface area to mass, plus increased air flow.
yep my thought, drill a hole in the middle, then saw a little bit at the end like swedish candles on the part that gets covered by the match head…
normal matches are soaked in paraffin i think, a kind of wax, which makes normal marches more like a traditional torch. would have helped here too!
Any stable hydrocarbon will do. For example Czechowice match factory used recycled railroad ties for their matches.
I would just use road flares.
+1
Just make them like real matches: the wood should be impregnated with paraffin. Doesn’t anyone watch How It’s Made, anymore? smh
I think all of those channels all only play “16 and Pregnant” and “Ancient Aliens” nowadays…
It looked like big enough of a flame to catch. He was holding it head-up. I bet if he held one head angled down it would catch.
Using crumbled match heads instead of mixing “from scratch” was a very good idea. Ordinarily the mix of potassium chlorate and sulfur is disastrously friction- and impact-sensitive. In industry, additional ingredients and a carefully designed mixing procedure reduce the hazard.
Fun fact [from The Close-Cover-Before-Striking School of Ministry and Chemical Technology ;-) ] —- sulfur in matches is there both to make ignition easier, and (believe it or not) as a ‘perfume’ to cover the more-unpleasant odor of burning hide glue.
Regarding the history, composition, safety, formulation, toxicity, ignitability etc. of safety matches, strike-anywhere matches, novelty matches etc: For more information than you ever wanted to know, start on page 64 of “Military and Civilian Pyrotechnics”, Herbert Ellern.
Or consult the aforementioned school. :-D
https://ia801504.us.archive.org/34/items/diy-and-self-defense/Smithing/Pyrotechnics/Fireworks_Ellernh_M_Cp.pdf
I hope the next step is an oversized matchbook. Of course the “Draw Me and Get an Art Scholarship” advert will have to be included.
No – No – No. The advert needs to be “Make Big Money – Become a Keypunch Operator”
Looks like a prop from a Cheech and Chong movie.
fun fact: most of the stage props are non flammable. Even special Musical or theater dust is soaked with something that makes it non flammable. Even the security standards are really hight. Past then when i worked there, we was jocking ‘it is because the big money of the city is sitting in the first row’.
I couldn’t match them with a proper size blue jeans match pocket.
I thought it was a watch pocket.
The legend goes that it was for small things that you don’t wanna lose (gold pepites was the main example, but also matches could be very important if you wanna light a cigarette or a stick of dynamite – same thing 200 years ago if you wanna have fun).
Cut the sticks out of fire starter logs.
I would try speaking very softly, ASMR style as you light the match. As Teddy Roosevelt used to instruct, ‘Speak Softly and carry a big stick’.