I Made My OWN DIY MATCHES!

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Do not repeat the experiments shown in this video!
Hi everyone! In this video not only do I want to tell you about how matches are made but also to make my own matches. After that I will check how they will differ from shop-bought ones. Let us start off with a little bit of history. First predecessors of modern matches were invented in Ancient China. Those early matches were used only to simplify the process of starting a fire and It was just ordinary sulfur spread onto thin sticks. In Europe matches began to appear in 19-th century and in its early form they were very dangerous because they could light up upon friction against any surface which was quite dangerous as they could even light up in a box of matches having rubbed against each other. First safe matches appeared in 1855 and they were invented by a Swedish chemist, Johan Lundstrem. Since then they have practically remained unchanged. These Swedish matches are the very ones I am going to make in this video. Matches making starts with the simplest step which is preparing the wooden sticks which are also called strips. Such sticks are most frequently made from aspen but since I don’t have it I am going to use ordinary birch toothpicks and also barbecue skewers for bigger matches. The first step of making matches is soaking sticks in fire retardant that is in chemical that prevents wood smouldering. The thing is when wood burns down the leftover charcoals that continues to smoulder turning into light ash that can cause lots of inconveniences when it get onto clothes or valuable items. To prevent unwanted outcomes when using matches they get soaked in 2% ammonium dihydrogen phosphate that is in phosphoric acid and ammonium salt acid. After soaking and drying sticks we can see that the charred heads don’t smoulder which is a lot more convenient. I have quite ancient matches which are more than 100 years old. They were made in Revel which was the name of the modern day Tallinn during monarchy era until 1917. They still burn well but because of not being soaked in fire retardant, the burn down match heads fall off very quickly and keep burning which can cause ignition or even fire. That is the reason why soaking in fire redantant is such a necessary measure to take. Nevertheless sticks have to be soaked in combustible liquid that will simplify ignition of wood and consume most energy. Most frequently paraffin is used for those purposes. I melted down a paraffin candle and dipped chopped sticks. They looks like a deep-fryer and wooden chips which are fried in it. It is noteworthy that when such matches burn they give off a pleasant smell because wood contains sugars that give off a pleasant smell when burned.

[@jamesjacocks6221]

A practical video for those who lack matches. Seriously, a wonderful presentation. I like those "strike on anything" matches because they are much bigger and will light fires more readily when preparing the bar-b-que or a campfire. Those matches are very hard to self-ignite because it takes a considerable pressure against a rough surface to cause ignition (a force on a small area of the match head). They are at least as safe as cars and alcohol (separately or together)! Live dangerously, dare fate, be courageous.

[@philip2210]

my mans from estonia if you were wonder i wish i had such a neet accent btw it makes your vids really special and entertaining keep it up

[@nomanshakoor978]

on commercial scale, matchsticks are not soaked entirely into paraffin wax, just one fifth portion having matchhead is dipped, to save cost. and not all brands soak matchsticks in ammonium phosphate solution. its optional for consumer safety

[@montanawildcat5198]

Nice Matches. I like that you didn't add colorant from FeO2 or others. It looks honest and powerful with the real chemicals showing up plainly. Good job.

[@Markle2k]

Strike-anywhere is a feature, not a bug. If you are camping out in the woods and need to start a fire, it's nice when they work in the damp. Coating them with a thin layer of paraffin protects them from spontaneous ignition and waterproofs them.

[@ishnifusmeadle]

Those strike anywhere matches here in the US are rare in certain areas of the country due to different restrictions. In my area they arent really banned and a few places sell them,but they are still very uncommon and expensive in comparison to other style matches. Im fairly certain theyve changed the composition from what they used to be. They now are alot harder to get to light on other surfaces nowadays. in most cases ur better off using the strike on box style instead cus of how more reliable they seem to light. The others always seem to just snap the phosphorus off. That said i still like them. Very handy for experiments, emergency kits, and various everyday carry kits. Fun video.

[@BrianThorstad]

If I had this content while in high school...I might have been a chemistry major...great stuff. Be a patrean like me and support this great content!

[@pricklydingus8604]

It is important to know that "strike anywhere" matches sold by large brands, like Diamond only have the strike anywhere material on the very tip of the matchs head, therefore still being as safe as typical safety matches.

[@SilvaDreams]

And most of the time they are useless because that tip will break off separate from the rest of the striker

[@CornishCreamtea07]

I wish I know this when I was trying to ignite a Swan Vesta with my fingernail.

[@richardsledgecock2110]

If you have strike anywhere matches .be sure to put them where a mouse wont gnaw on them.because they will ignite!!!!!

[@Zhumala]

It is so satisfying looking at matches burning.

[@kikol.5002]

Hi guys, I love your videos. Keep up the good work. Wish you all the best

[@kleetus92]

Well since you did this, you know you now have to make the strike anywhere matches! Great video!

[@MrSrtdan]

Love your history behind the matches. Always great vids.

[@rasmus1600]

Nowadays they use fine glass powder to increase friction between the head and matchbox. But nice video, mabye it should be tried one day :D

[@michaelmellon45]

Another great, educational video.

[@erikcartman750]

Hey guy. Don't forget János Irinyi's name. He made the first safe match. Kundström only replaced the white phosphorus with red phosphorus...

[@Return_To_Sender]

I've never see anyone strike a match like that. Seems more effective

[@slavetislamic1957]

@@NerdyNEET AYOOO

[@impatientpatient8270]

that's how people who actually use matches do it because the match doesn't break that way. i used to do it the bad way when i was a kid but after breaking countless matches you sorta just stop on your own. matches are fun

[@gresmaster2279]

how could you not see this,are matches uncommon where you live, here everyone lights them this way

[@gigglysamentz2021]

Your videos got better ! Such an attention to detail, nice job.

[@artyzinn7725]

Very good video, correct, short, exact and precise. You really don't know how we take matches for granted until you try to start a fire without technology including flints, mg sticks or lenses.

[@michaelmellon45]

By the way, what does Thoisoi mean?

[@EstherTakumi]

Thorium Oxygen Iodine Sulfur He just using chemistry symbol for his name

[@potatooverload4487]

its a dude not a girl

[@michaelmellon45]

Just curious. I had a very good friend from Russia.

[@michaelmellon45]

He passed away about a year ago.

[@pointlessopinion611]

I looked him up on Wikipedia in the past and the channels name was Thoisoi on his original non-English channel too. So it has to have some significance.

[@euripedesjunior5798]

Amazing!!From Brazil!!

[@NotProFishing]

Love your videos keep up the awesome content.

[@crimsonhalo13]

One difference I've seen on commercial matches is they don't soak the entire stick in paraffin, usually it's only 1/5 of the length of less. I like the full-length version better though.

[@s.d.s.7007]

Always clear and concise. Good demonstration, and appropriate warning to viewers, as always, too. Thumbs up!

[@techkr9806]

I really love your channel

[@cyrilio]

Cool video! Could you do a video about how reagents work for detecting compounds? I’m specifically interested in knowing more about Marquis.

[@apodis4900]

The strike anywhere matches are more dangerous maybe, but I've never experienced any accidents caused by them. You can even strike them on smooth glass. They can be useful if the matchbox gets wet, because you can strike them on most rough, dry surfaces. Smokers like them because you can give them to a friend and they can use them later without the box.

[@antoineroquentin2297]

4:07 mmmmh curry

[@malizaar4114]

Good vid Comrade. Keep 'em comin' man.

[@salahswilh7002]

Very satisfying

[@EyeOvdaTiger]

Great video! Thank you for feeding my curious mind 😊

[@MoustacheAlexander]

Brilliant work. Thanks.

[@gyomor5663]

It is worth to mention that János Irinyi has also invented safety matches in Hungary in 1836. The oxidant in hís matches was lead(IV) oxide.

[@KhdijaHome]

You are amazing!

[@picramide]

Brilliant! My prior diy match efforts have been vastly inferior. You really put on a clinic.

[@theneroliveira]

Very nice video with an experiment!

[@erictaylor5462]

Your videos are always very good.

[@dleddy14]

Cool!! Love your videos.

[@vendright]

Very interesting video, thanks so much for sharing

[@dave6733]

Awesome video!! You should do a Strike Anywhere Match brand also.

[@jansirkia3809]

What a great little experiment! Very entertaining, thanks!

[@Владимир-н8я1г]

Thiz vidio iz amazing 👍👍👍

[@krzysztofsoja5301]

Great video. Thanks.

[@uNcl55]

very nice matches! nice calm burn. how about adding little bit of Sb2S3?

[@cobalt7530]

3:44 I didn't know that matches contained hexavalent chromium. Also, why is your potassium dichromate white? Shouldn't it be orange?

[@cobalt7530]

Aluminium Soup its just simple chemistry I learned through doing experiments. Eventually, after doing enough chemistry, you'll know the color of each oxidation state of at least the first row of transition metals.

[@aviko9560]

Wha!?

[@louistournas120]

+Crimson Chemistry: Yes, K2Cr2O7 is orange, so I guess he screwed up. Since the end product ends up as orange, I guess he really did add K2Cr2O7 off camera. Factory made matches don't contain K2Cr2O7. That is a strong oxidizer. Potassium chlorate (KClO3) is also a good oxidizer and that is what they add in factory made matches. From wikipedia: The striking surface on modern matchboxes is typically composed of 25% powdered glass or other abrasive material, 50% red phosphorus, 5% neutralizer, 4% carbon black, and 16% binder; and the match head is typically composed of 45-55% potassium chlorate, with a little sulfur and starch, a neutralizer (ZnO or CaCO 3), 20-40% of siliceous filler, diatomite, and glue.

[@cobalt7530]

I think the yellow color is from sulfur and not from the dichromate

[@nguyentunglamk70a3hh3]

K2CR2O7 is the toxic chemical, it cause to cancer ._.

[@fischX]

We did this in groundschool, was pretty cool back then.

[@JayRemy_]

What a simple DIY but really hard resources to attain

[@jbeck6387]

Fun video, thanks!

[@cristea_mihaela]

Nice video as always! Do you think you can do one in which to explain the chemical processes taking place in batteries?

[@selormyawagavor4137]

Can you please do a video on changing the color of any safety match Tip?

[@americantinker2433]

love Russian youtubers, always have something practical

[@simplepyro7897]

@@NerdyNEET no that situation when you Eat too much then sleep

[@autumnVoid1138]

Damn those are some good matches

[@markusbello509]

Imagine if schools just had projects like this instead of tests

[@cainotheconcernedcitizen5196]

This is a great skill to have...

[@amirmakari99]

When you want to rip the bong in quarantine but don’t have a lighter

[@donaldjohnson406]

Good success!

[@MOHAMMAD_JALAL_UDDIN_RUMI]

Wow . Amazing

[@peckelhaze6934]

A fascinating video.

[@armanhossain2491]

Very cool

[@doubleooh7337]

you should try making brimstone matches

[@jennifersarbhai4653]

Sir u are amazing

[@Ktulu789]

TIL matches have sand in them! Let me tell you a secret: you can strike those matches on glass (they will leave a mark on the glass, so don't use your window).

[@Guerrila_man]

Labais vecīt uzreiz sapratu ka esi savējais kad ieraudziju Rimi sērkociņus😂😂 labs video👍

[@Shadowoftheoldones]

Potassium chloride is not your oxidant in those matches. It's very similar to table salt. It's your potassium dichromate that is making those pop.

[@emielv7677]

I would like to see more of those video's

[@locouk]

I was using Swan Vesta matches today, I forgot my lighter. I didn't know strike anywhere matches weren't sold in Europe.

[@DeepMotivtionTelugu]

Green Silver n

[@ignilc]

Good job

[@karlbergen6826]

Strike anywhere matches are dangerous. You can tell them from safety matches because they have two colors in their tips usually dark blue and light blue or red and white.

[@Chris_Garman]

I found out the hard way that just holding the match head motionless against the striker strip will cause it to ignite.

[@randomspecificity5334]

KZbin video link or it doesn't. ;)

[@archangel20031]

That red colored match was soaked in a type of fire retardant that colors wood red as an indicator of the process. Because they are so old and the formula they used was not likely very strong is the reason they smolder.

[@bilbo_gamers6417]

Is there any alternative to phosphorus (for the striker strip)?

[@GStar1]

*This guys is best. 150 likes and 0 dislikes* One of the likes is mine.

[@greendsnow]

what the...! I didn't know it was this technical. I'm shocked.

[@Spiralem]

How about trying to make windproof matches?

[@Honestreview-om5hx]

How did you source the red phosphorus?

[@aigcfabio]

Sei il mio mito!

[@abdallaelhagef1805]

I want to ask a question ,where in nature could i get material which it put on the match box to ignite the match stick thanks

[@santosh2505]

Superb

[@tenjetu]

Could you make survival matches, that ignite even when wet?

[@CXonthefly]

Can you make soft soldering tubes like were used in World War II and one Elemental maker video on them but but it would be cool to know how to make them they would be awesome for automotive work

[@buddikagunawardena2200]

Классное видео. Этот процесс длительный...

[@manankalra3377]

Can you tell me which glue you used to mix with red phosphorus for striking strip

[@ashokpanda7814]

Hey friend. I suggest you to make video on francium.

[@erictaylor5462]

1:30 Now that is surprising. I would never have thought that something designed to start a fire would be treated with fire retardant.

[@harold1795]

You live in Estonia? Nice!

[@arkapravadas5344]

please make a video on technatium

[@llo100]

No phosphorus in the matches? I´m surprised

[@erikburman530]

llo100 potassium chlorate and red phosphorus don’t play nicely together. It’s a good idea not to mix them.

[@texasdeeslinglead2401]

Look at what he used for the side panel on the box 😉

[@erikburman530]

But they weren’t directly mixed together. I’ve been there, done that. Fortunately I healed up pretty well. Could have been worse.

[@CorporalClegg1000]

I've seen people use the dangerous Armstrong's mixture as the basis for a homemade 'lucifer' match that you can strike on your jeans leg etc., but I would like to see someone do a video where (in a lab, just for educatonal/science purposes of course) where they make the actual Victorian recipe for the poisonous white phosphorus matches that caused the dreaded "phossy jaw" and light them, but I 've never seen an educational video where someone even attempts that. Could one of you chemists put up a video of working victorian recipe matches, Please?

[@mork6668]

Yep, in Portugal we call matches "fósforos" wich is pronounced the same way!!

[@thesmallestatom]

Strike anywhere matches are the best. 😁

[@Markle2k]

Especially when you are trying to start a fire and it is wet. Depending on the cardboard staying dry is a fool's errand in nearly 100% humidity.

[@texasblaze1016]

Wow, who knew matches were built from fire code wood?

[@scottwest5704]

Id like to order some of these

[@danielquick7541]

Very interesting, could you make a strike anywhere version? Or would that be to unsafe due to combustibility?

[@TheFireGoose]

Yeah, to do so you would just add a small amount of red phosphorus into the match head mix.

[@smigoltime]

zu are ze best chemistrian komrade, i am zery much zin zove zith zour zchannel

[@nguyentunglamk70a3hh3]

You said dont try this at home, so can I try this at school ?

[@timthejewler]

Superb video. Very informative and entertaining. Love the accent! 😉 Have you monitized your account? Are you signed up with patreon? Anyway, thank you for your videos and your professionalism.

[@HalftoneCHANNEL]

Bravo!!

[@nhexanol]

Thoisoi brand match!

[@frenlyneybur7544]

If anyone could answer this question, it would be much appreciated: Would the chemical reaction be affected if you added a coloured dye to the mixture? Would the reaction also be affected if you sanded down the tip of the match?

[@samellowery]

They normally use water soluble dye for the match heads for color what do you mean san down the tip the wood or chemical compound

[@frenlyneybur7544]

@@samellowery sand it down so the tip looks more "presentable" like the commercial matches The commercial matches look symmetrical and they all look identical The ones made in the video have variable-sized tips (which is understandable) but it doesn't look... Professional

[@frenlyneybur7544]

@@samellowery Thankyou for replying :)

[@samellowery]

@@frenlyneybur7544 if you watch how matches are made in factory they are dipped and dry upside down that would be your best bet for getting them to look better. 👍🏻

[@frenlyneybur7544]

@@samellowery ahhhh very cool! Thankyou so much :)

[@Nick-zp3ub]

What would happen if you added the red phosphorous to the sulphur/potassium/sand mixture? Would you have viable "strike anywhere" matches?

[@alinemuhongerwa7974]

Video:how to make homemade matches Starting video:do not try this at home hhhhh

[@drdca8263]

If someone who didn't know what they were doing tried to follow these steps, but things went wrong, what would the most likely way for things to go wrong, and how badly would they be likely to go?

[@r.awilliams9815]

If potassium chlorate and red phosphorous somehow come into contact, it could and most likely would explode with the slightest friction. I would advise against attempting this project for the folks inexperienced with chemicals like potassium chlorate and red phosphorous, they're dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. As an aside, obtaining red phosphorous in the US is very difficult, as it's a precursor to making meth.

[@Shariksharkdog]

just noticed, when you add the potassium dichromate, it appears to be a white powder. isnt it usually bright orange?