Ray Mears - How to make a matchbox from birch bark, Bushcraft Survival

www.raymears.com
Ray Mears shows us how to make a matchbox, using sheets of birch bark.
This clip was taken from the DVD extras of Ray Mears Bushcraft Survival Series 2.

[@alaskankare]

wish we could see some newer ones from Ray. He is such an awesome teacher!

[@jaroslavcech225]

Exactly! Feeling gutted he's not putting out any new videos (or is he?) I absolutely love him!

[@ReasonAboveEverything]

@@jaroslavcech225 No, he never makes videos for youtube. Its propably not something his company does. They don't interact with their fanbase.

[@susanp.collins7834]

Oh...such LOVELY CALM MUSIC! The insane jangling that accompanies most videos is enough to break anybody's head!

[@gco40gray82]

Rays a beast. You can tell by looking at his rough hands he's been doing stuff like this for awhile.

[@nevillepass]

talking of birch bark,as you do, i found an old rotting birch tree waste high,i pushed it over, hit the outside with a stick, the rotting wood fell out, and i was left with a birch bark tube which you can easily make a bucket or container out of ! ahaaa enjoy! i must get out more! thanks ray great channel!

[@antaress8128]

That popping sound when he removes the cap is so satisfying.

[@ruffneck9856]

Ray's skill with wood and carving is so awesome, just love to see him doing his thing.

[@sebastianlin7220]

Me to I love it

[@LondonTreeSurgeons-Camden]

Great video, added to our Birch trees playlist, thanks.

[@Nancytoday]

I love what you've taught me! Thanks so much! I'm inspired now!

[@trangia12]

Doesn't anyone enjoy simple crafts anymore? This is a great project for teen boy scouts. Time to encourage more skills and crafts instead of all of the negative posts.

[@Leo-tt7ly]

So relaxing watching this.

[@Woodsman_wildcamper]

Great video, beautiful little project piece. Thanks for sharing. Take care, friend.

[@ronhargis2018]

its about the skill sets you accumulate when you do those "crafts", particulary, your knife skills, thinking skills, an putting together a kit from just your surroundings.

[@erniedobscha3554]

ron hargis if

[@cyborbot547]

You one of the best Ray many thanks.

[@5chr4pn3ll]

Pretty sure making this matchbox is bushcraft, and that is what the video is about. A debate about whether or not matches is "ok" for bushcrafters is also pretty moot to anyone that has tried to make fire using only bushcraft. Besides Ray Mears is one of the worlds experts when it comes to fire making, since that is what he has focused on throughout his career.

[@danielmorris1975]

Awesome, like yourself. Thank you for great childhood and adulthood legend. Wish I had your job but most of all your knowledge.

[@MrEnzo8604]

Great video Ray. Keep them coming, I love the little knick knacks you know how to make.

[@joku900]

I made one few years ago. Carried it for something like half a year and been using it since somewhat regurally. It works great and has really nice patina on it. Fun litte project. You can glue sriking surface on the plug if you want to.

[@DFX2KX]

You know, there are all sorts of uses for something like that. not to mention it looks cool

[@skiie]

ray is really formal about the way he carries the way he does things.

[@keshatton2334]

He really is a talent. I love his calm manner. If i were marooned anywhere in the world i would want Ray with me.

[@Kastaghier1]

Always an inspiration. Thanks a lot for all you've done in these years for Bushcraft and adventure enthusiast. Take Care. :)

[@waveman0]

could be used to store any number of small items, a fishing kit, a needle kit etc, not just matches. Very cool little box. Pity not many birch tree's grow in Australia and not sure if we have a similar or tree that I could substitute for the birch bark.

[@acoupleofgsanrandaneaniandann]

Maybe you could use cork?

[@waveman0]

@@acoupleofgsanrandaneaniandann good idea mate

[@HiggsFenderU2]

This man is brilliant

[@SuperCunt]

if someone rocked up to camp with their own handmade matchbox i'd be thoroughly impressed. Anything you make yourself you will have more respect for it and the materials it took to make. Yes he uses store bought glue, but in other videos he's shown us how to make glue in the field. He also mentions that glue it not needed, he's just giving an outline of what we can achieve with our surroundings. I hate it when people complain about people who aren't using bone axes and making a fire with just flint and their pubes. 99% of people go hiking and camping with equipment that was store bought or synthetic, bags, knives etc. If you're so anal about being completely 'wild' then next time, just go to the forest with your wits and nothing else and see how far you'll get.

[@andrewwilson2071]

SuperCunt5000 well said matey haha haha 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Josh-fh5ox]

Survial and returning to the stone age are not remotely similar and people forget.

[@gert4577]

You seriously think this is REALISTIC in any way?

[@nefrret27]

Quite simple to make and practical ..thats what I need!

[@MeMe-py6bg]

Why isn't ray putting out content on here? ?? What a missed opportunity. .. I absolutely adore the man

[@laphant1]

glueing music is very good...so good that i took two pieces of park ,touched them together ...played the gluing music...then could not get the pieces apart again...good glue music..lol...cheers...cool vid..thanks for vid...smart guy..

[@euanfredrick3340]

that was great well done ray

[@mowvu5380]

as beautiful as it is functional. perfectly sums up Ray Mears.

[@skaramicke]

If I were RayMearsBushcraft, I'd cut a circle off of the side of the match box and glue it on the inside of the lid. Then it's just a matter of remembering to put the safety matches with the action end downwards, and make sure to make the birch matchbox thin enough that the matches can't flip inside. Even if I was using strike-anywhere matches, I'd glue a piece of coarse sand paper on the flip side of the lid.

[@LindaTCornwall]

But why, pink matches will strike on anything slightly rough.

[@AmNotHere911]

+Mikael Grön Sandpaper on the flip side of the lid: Very good idea

[@tjsmith112]

Ray is a naturalist not a survivalist, he's making a matchbox out of bark because its beautiful and he can.

[@thegingerpowerranger]

Back at home you have access to PVC glue, string and a tescos where they also sell water proof matches.

[@X_explorer]

Cool vid! I love observing earth, explore and meditate...

[@fred7705]

There is a wonderful book that teaches that...its one of our early bushcraft fathers in french canada called Paul Provancher. Is book is called: Vivre en foret (I live in the woods) 1953

[@masonsayler9658]

If in the wilderness you can always use pine sap for an adhesive.

[@hoggarththewisesmeagol8362]

Mason Sayler wouldn't be as durable as good old waterproof pva

[@ConnorLowWhistle]

pva waterproof ? lol pva is water soluble

[@nighthawk759]

@@ConnorLowWhistle waterproof pva has been available for years... it will have an additive in it that allows it to become waterproof after setting up, you wont find it in say school enviroments ect because its a bitch to clean off after it drys and ruins clothes.

[@551taylor]

You can also chew up bluebell bulbs for natural glue, but be careful not to swallow any. If you oil the bark afterwards the rain can’t get to the glue anyway!

[@fatboySRK]

I love the spa background music. So relaxed....

[@TheHazyGhost]

Figured out how to deal with the rain problem. Glue the striker to the bottom side of the removable cap. Be sure to place the match-heads facing the sealed end of the "matchbox".

[@martin128]

5:10 I love that pop

[@TheAkashicTraveller]

Just remember to stuff some match striker in it as well. You could stick a round one to the inside of the bung for example.

[@copenhagen8099]

Nice, I think I'd add glueing a strike pad to the underside of the lid, just need to remember to ensure the matches are stored head down always 😂

[@hempseed57]

thats some trippy gluing music. Far out man.

[@AdventureSworn]

I'm sure you could use some sort of pine/spruce pitch adhesive instead when in the woods? Might be worth a shot.

[@playdrums]

Guys, if you don't happen to have glue in the woods you can make your own. Eat a diet of just fish and berries for a couple of days until your poop is almost a diahrreah-like consistency. Then take a little bit of ash and mix it in with your poop until it forms sort of a paste. There you have it - all natural glue!

[@bobfraiser9784]

Mears ur a "Bad Ass" I have learned a lot from your videos. Thanks

[@tealwateroutdoor]

that little pocket knife is made by grohmann knives as my dad carries one, good knife! gonna get one soon too, hard to get a look at the other one he's using. nice little vid but yah, the gluing music is hilarious lol

[@VisayasMindanaoLuzon]

If you don't have glue, use the wet rice as a glue make sure the rice is sticky, or you can use some tree blood, the tree blood should be white and really sticky like jackfruit trees.

[@joshnagenmurugiah4531]

Ray has the hands of a god.

[@TheHazyGhost]

Just a suggestion... You could make this even better by glueing the striker from the original matchbox to either the side of the new matchbox or the bottom cap of the new matchbox.

[@robdurant7944]

This is great, I recently became the owner of a fallen birch tree that I was fortunate enough to have. I’ve been carving kuksas and spoons with the wood but I have been at a loss of what to do with all the bark. Luckily I was smart enough to save it. Can anyone tell me how long the bark stays malleable, should I store it in a particular way?

[@Sheepdog1314]

birch bark contains a type of oil, and stays good for a long time. I would put it in a cool place with no bugs. The birch tree rots before the bark does. If you have large pieces you can make containers, small pieces you can make what Ray Mears does in this video. I use small leftover pieces (lots of them) to make birch tar to attach my knapped arrowheads. Birch bark lights up even in wet weather because of the oil content - you can always start a fire with a strip of birch, or use shavings for tinder if you use flint and steel, or a ferro rod. And you can cut the inner bark into strips and weave a backpack - you have to peel the bark apart. If it gets dry, just soak it.

[@volcanic1818]

can u do a tutorial on how to harvest birch bark properly. Im extremely new to this stuff =)

[@djjb71]

thats a point:) ...but its a bit like making vids about offroad-racing and then showing how to clean the steeringwheel to make it more shiny:)

[@MrDazza64]

Cheers dude, I shall check them out! Regards, Daz.

[@alzathoth]

ray is simply AMAZING. he would be the best boy scout leader(except BP, of course). wish he used somekind of "natural" glue made from sap or something....

[@ElectricityTaster]

Is birch bark sort of like crispy leather? It's amazing how many uses it has.

[@IRONBLOODxMECHANIQUE]

i wish we had birch trees where i live this looks like a fun project

[@giulianotoniolo]

@HollowForm222 It´s sure a great video man, like you said! Thanks for the link to this video and thanks for your great work Ray!!!

[@andregross7420]

They are strike anywhere matches. You don't need a striker, just use any rough surface.

[@andrewwilson2071]

Quality stuff.. great vids matey ...&I’ve got try one of these .. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@number890315435100]

Thnx, I didn't look at it like that. Maybe I'll actually make one this summer.

[@davidomahony6559]

The skills used in making the matchbox could also be used in other ways, so for anyo0ne saying that this is pointless, I say you are wrong. Plus fire and ensuring that one has matches is one of the most important aspects of bushcraft, so it could be life or death, hypothetically, in some survival situation, created by going to the woods and trying to simulate a survival situation. #self-fulfilling prophesy.

[@MoparMan16]

I have one too. They are just great knives.

[@dangerdave616]

Jungle style Smarties tube, lovely.

[@ElTagno]

Notice the sneaky cut at 2:02 because Ray couldn't get the tab in.

[@LiezerZero]

That's what she noticed.

[@mikedude509]

haha everyone going nuts about a striker, pick a stone up strike with that or glue one onto the underside of the lid, u could even make a little survival kit the same way and have a button compass glued to the lid, just an idea.

[@andnowi]

Stunning, but could I make the glue as well?

[@lytken]

Love his shows

[@lukabert88]

next time i go to the shop and buy a hand full of matches ill definitely make one of these

[@crinoid1919]

as a chef I can say with complete confidence.... those knives are FUCKING sharp :D

[@steffomia]

I hope the Time comes back soon where Handicraft counts all. This time with all the Machines and Computers is so sad, so poor...I hate that. Shit off that comfort, it makes us all sick and weird.

[@evidex]

Why the hell was I not already subscribed to this? o.O

[@demonhighwayman9403]

It's like blue peter with added nature !

[@bradwjensen]

What's the song and artist near the middle of the video? It sounds like something from Jon Hopkins' album 'Opalescent.'

[@susanp.collins7834]

Ray, do I imagine, if its watertight, we could use it to store spices and dried herbs?

[@roamingbritain7318]

I use a 35mm Film container and strike anywhere matches (Swan Vesta) having said that I would like to make one of these just for the fun of it. I now need a beech Tree..!

[@bradleystrand81]

Actually you need a BIRCH tree.

[@roamingbritain7318]

Oooops

[@joeymotu]

Very nice! I am far too lazy; I would have just put a little oil on the original matchbox and spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the 'glue music'

[@MalcolmPowder]

I wish I had a pound for every time I found myself in the birch woods with all my cutting tools but with a need for an impromptu matchbox. Only kidding, love you Ray.

[@flamedrag18]

@xMrjamjam linseed oil, it's what you use to preserve wood.

[@karl7017]

And how are you going to light those matches without the friction strip on the birchbark matchbox?

[@jabames]

its best to get them in Spring, it comes off easier etc..

[@WildManFrizzell]

This is amazing! This will help to put my fatwood match sticks in that I foraged.... it’ll be like carrying around a mini bomb 😂✌🏼

[@Bauks420]

err....-45f most time it hangs out around 0f never had a problem with them ....Much more tinder becomes useful early on in fire making with the use of a flame instead of sparks ..not to mention trying to collect shaving is always a hassle ...

[@LondonTreeSurgeons]

matchbox or any other container, it shows what can be done with birch bark.

[@ChristopherInglish]

Perhaps, if the tube truly is air tight. However a bunch of light anywhere matches going off at the same time create an amazingly large amount of fire very quickly... almost explosively so. The expansion of super heated air might just blow the stopper out of the tube thus allowing more oxygen in... given the flammable oils in the birch bark this could lend itself to quite a "surprise". Don't think match heads are explosive? Do a search for the Mythbusters youtube video.

[@UnrealDifficulty]

He said it could be made without it, but if you can get glue he recommended using it

[@akai5226]

Try to put birch bark into boiled water - it will roll into tube very tightly, no glue is required

[@bengunns9500]

Come on Ray make some more videos please.

[@rodney73991]

i like it. i make buch of them use store seeds for garden. watermelons, punkines, corn, beans, peppers, tomatoes. through in basket. sense water proof less chance sporting when down want to. save useful tree seeds like berch, maple white pine seeds, maybe even weed tree my yard. not good much but seed great for fill pillow or sack make mattresses. they big long seed pods split open spill long soft seeds big green heart shape leaves.

[@flamedrag18]

people, all the glue can be replaced with thin, melted pine pitch glue, more natural.

[@djjb71]

i really like your videos and learned from it, but i see no use for a matchbox in a survival situation so that i have to make one from birch bark?!?!? can someone plz explain?:)

[@pepijn1231]

What a Craftsman

[@Jerbod2]

Great stuff!

[@xMrjamjam]

@flamedrag18 what would you use on metal to preserve it from rust?

[@Patriotalliance]

Arts and crafts just like when I was in cub scouts !

[@MrCrispywonton]

beautiful

[@ChristopherInglish]

Birchbark... very flammable... with strike anywhere matches in it... known for sometimes igniting off each other when dropped or jostled. Could be fun.

[@MrDazza64]

Nice little pocket knife Raymundo is using there! Any idea what it is anyone...looks a bit like a Case knife maybe?...but I'm not that 'up' on the models of this brand tho!? Nice work tho. Regards, Daz.

[@Bauks420]

I have to respectfully disagree..I lived In Northern Minnesota my whole life where winter until very recently usually gets down to 45f at it's most extreme BIC has never failed me. As a casual smoker I know a BIC will last months of usage as dozens of flicks a day Which is enough to survive with.Rods require tinder of some kind to work adding weight to the pack that tinder has to stay dry or you may die from hypothermia for much the same reason.A BICs Flame will power thru wet like sparks can't

[@kumbackquatsta]

so the pull ring is also made from birch bark?

[@KastigoKSJ]

I was surprised to see the wood glue; normally you use all natural materials. I suppose I was expecting you to use birch pitch (aka birch bark tar). That would make a good video - making birch pitch - if you are looking for suggestions.

[@flamedrag18]

@xMrjamjam I'd put a light layer of wax or if you have it available, maybe some clear polyurethane.