Austinoir
The luckiest guy in Shawshank
Hey BOTL,
As a newbie I exclusively smoke outside, mostly at the end of the day and at night. Sadly, after misplacing my good four burner torch I revisited the lighting my sticks by match method. Difficult here in Houston because even in pristine weather, but the breeze can be strong enough to snuff out a wood match quickly. Hell, let alone the gymnastic coordination required to hold your hand steady to quickly and smoothly light the foot. But, while in Wally world to make a return of a failed tupidor candidate. I quickly went through the camping section to look for method of drawing fire for those in the rugged elements-who knows I thought. Well nada, zip, nothing. There was even Zippo lighter fluid, but no lighter to put it in, and then I spotted them, UCO stormproof matches. What? Well for $2.98 for a pack of 25 I thought what the hell.
So tonight with a stong breeze I decided to test one. To my surprise when I open the pack and examined one it was a longer than the average match (2 1/2'') and with one major revision. While the tip was normal enough, from the bottom of the match tip there was a extra coating of sulphur (a little over half the match was covered with it). It looked like a micro-miniature corn dog on a matchstick. Novel, add more of the burn element to a longer section of the stick and there you have it, but once struck-LOOK OUT! I struck the match against the side of the box and it immediately broke at the end of the extended Sulphur strip-NO BUENO, Senor! But, I had an idea that once now the size of a regular match maybe I could still try to strike it and let go before the flame reached my fingers. Ok, not the brightest of ideas, but what great discovery wasn't froth with some risk, nay a little peril. I've held enough matches to know when to let go of them without getting burned. So, I bet on me and my average reflexes. I grabbed it like a regular match shouted "Fire in the hole!" and struck away. The thing lit up like a roman candle, which startled me and didn't bode well I thought. The flame was like that of 3-4 matches and keep getting bigger, it was more like holding a sparkler, but when I realized it was a slow burning fuse, I quickly lit my cigar and had enough time to get 5-6 puffs in-well done. I then looked and saw there was no issue with burning my fingers, so while not Edison and the electric light, it was a success. Eureka!
So, again I won't be getting a call from the Nobel committee, but I think the remaining 24 matches will be better. Remember, to not strike he match too hard because of the structural issue of the lower part of the matchstick breaking (better at a 15 degree angle slightly parallel of the side of the box-remember a gentle touch is required).
So while not a full recommend, I will say these UCO Stormproof matches are a nice alternative to those low flame bic lighters and expensive torches on a windy and non-windy day. Did I mention they were waterproof as well.
As a newbie I exclusively smoke outside, mostly at the end of the day and at night. Sadly, after misplacing my good four burner torch I revisited the lighting my sticks by match method. Difficult here in Houston because even in pristine weather, but the breeze can be strong enough to snuff out a wood match quickly. Hell, let alone the gymnastic coordination required to hold your hand steady to quickly and smoothly light the foot. But, while in Wally world to make a return of a failed tupidor candidate. I quickly went through the camping section to look for method of drawing fire for those in the rugged elements-who knows I thought. Well nada, zip, nothing. There was even Zippo lighter fluid, but no lighter to put it in, and then I spotted them, UCO stormproof matches. What? Well for $2.98 for a pack of 25 I thought what the hell.
So tonight with a stong breeze I decided to test one. To my surprise when I open the pack and examined one it was a longer than the average match (2 1/2'') and with one major revision. While the tip was normal enough, from the bottom of the match tip there was a extra coating of sulphur (a little over half the match was covered with it). It looked like a micro-miniature corn dog on a matchstick. Novel, add more of the burn element to a longer section of the stick and there you have it, but once struck-LOOK OUT! I struck the match against the side of the box and it immediately broke at the end of the extended Sulphur strip-NO BUENO, Senor! But, I had an idea that once now the size of a regular match maybe I could still try to strike it and let go before the flame reached my fingers. Ok, not the brightest of ideas, but what great discovery wasn't froth with some risk, nay a little peril. I've held enough matches to know when to let go of them without getting burned. So, I bet on me and my average reflexes. I grabbed it like a regular match shouted "Fire in the hole!" and struck away. The thing lit up like a roman candle, which startled me and didn't bode well I thought. The flame was like that of 3-4 matches and keep getting bigger, it was more like holding a sparkler, but when I realized it was a slow burning fuse, I quickly lit my cigar and had enough time to get 5-6 puffs in-well done. I then looked and saw there was no issue with burning my fingers, so while not Edison and the electric light, it was a success. Eureka!
So, again I won't be getting a call from the Nobel committee, but I think the remaining 24 matches will be better. Remember, to not strike he match too hard because of the structural issue of the lower part of the matchstick breaking (better at a 15 degree angle slightly parallel of the side of the box-remember a gentle touch is required).
So while not a full recommend, I will say these UCO Stormproof matches are a nice alternative to those low flame bic lighters and expensive torches on a windy and non-windy day. Did I mention they were waterproof as well.
