Stickymatch

[qwezxc12]

Thought I would post a quick tutorial on how I make my sticky match; not an exotic or new procedure - not anything earth shattering to anyone I'm sure, but I didn't see anything like this posted yet...

 

I use these for leaders to starmines and mortars. I've never had a dud fuse yet...can't say that for the devices they're supposed to light, but the fuses always pass fire reliably. The tape I use is coated and provides excellent resistance to stray sparks and accidental ignition of the stickymatch leader.

 

You'll need:

 

Masking tape (I use high-tack 1")

Scissors

Short lengths of Visco

Granulated meal BP (pulverone or pressed)

 

http://i10.tinypic.com/2wc07j6.jpg

 

I use fast 75:15:10 BP meal + 4% dextrin, dampened and granulated through a -16 mesh screen. The BP is dried and loaded into a condiment squeeze bottle with the tip cut to allow a slow dispersal of BP granuals when the bottle is tapped lightly.

 

Lay out a piece of masking tape, sticky-side up, of sufficient length for your device and attach a piece of Visco. You can also prepare this stickymatch in a continuous lengths, cut it as needed, and insert the Visco into the end.

 

http://i13.tinypic.com/2hhpx05.jpg

 

Lighty tap the squeeze bottle and lay a line of BP down the middle of the tape. Don't skimp and leave dry patches where the tape can pinch closed and block the flame front down the tape "tube". Plain meal BP won't work as it won't provide the airspaces between the grains and will act more like a crappy spollette.

 

http://i16.tinypic.com/4009vdh.jpg

http://i18.tinypic.com/2dsizjq.jpg

 

Carefully pinch the tape together every inch or so along the length of the stickymatch - this will keep the tape folded in the middle and minimize the chance of jiggling the tape and sending BP granuals everywhere.

 

http://i13.tinypic.com/33z4eue.jpg

 

Run your finger and thumb down the length, sealing the tape shut.

 

http://i13.tinypic.com/2mqt2r8.jpg

 

That's it...you can make a pile of these very quickly:

 

http://i13.tinypic.com/2wmkoqf.jpg

 

When lit, the stickymatch takes fire with a sharp crack and near instantaneus ignition along its length. Video of this actual match lit:

 

Stickymatch video

 

I'm always interested in hearing other peoples methods as well...enjoy!

[aquaman]

Nice pics. This is the way I make my sticky match but I usually make about 10ft at a time, inch by inch. Good tutorial for the beginner, just make sure you have somewhat good BP.

[Von Bass`]

Nice pictures there My method is almost exactly the same as yours, 'cept I use masking tape and mill dust instead of corned BP.

[qwezxc12]

Nice pictures there My method is almost exactly the same as yours, 'cept I use masking tape and mill dust instead of corned BP.

How do you use mill dust and still preserve the airspace that allows the flame front to propagate down the "tube" of the stickytmatch?

 

Do you use two pieces of tape in the fashion of "Pyroguide's paper tape quick match"?

[oriansbelt]

I tried meal powder in sticky match yesterday and it burned slowly for 9", exploded in the next 4" and was fast for the rest. This is pretty bad so I think I'll try the pyroguide method once I get back home.

[pudidotdk]

I make a pipe of masking tape by rolling it around a bamboo skewer. I fill the pipe up with non-ball milled pulverone with an improvized funnel that is small enough.

 

Used it here:

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6e84COIonD0

[itwasntme]

I make a pipe of masking tape by rolling it around a bamboo skewer. I fill the pipe up with non-ball milled pulverone with an improvized funnel that is small enough.

 

Used it here:

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6e84COIonD0

How do you do that? By rolling it un-sticky side on the skewer?

[pudidotdk]

Just like when you roll a tube there's a non-sticky spot so the tube doesn't stick to the dowel. So i use papertape to cover about 1/3 of the area on the adhesive side of the other piece of paper tape. Kinda hard to explain but I hope it's understandable.

[mormanman]

That looks more like QM not sticky match. My version of sticky match is two pieces of tape one smaller than the other in width. Put the bp on the big side of the tape and lay the smaller peice on top. I read somewhere that its called sticky match b/c you can stick it on things.

[FrankRizzo]

That looks more like QM not sticky match. My version of sticky match is two pieces of tape one smaller than the other in width. Put the bp on the big side of the tape and lay the smaller peice on top. I read somewhere that its called sticky match b/c you can stick it on things.

Exactly. Match made with a tube surrounding it is properly called "quickmatch" no matter if you use foil, paper, tape, soda straws, etc. to achieve the tube.

 

EDIT: I'm agreeing with you mormanman. Anything other than 3" wide pressure-activated sealing tape with a contained strip of black powder down it's center and free adhesive on it's edges cannot be properly called *stickymatch*.

[mormanman]

I know but it says sticky match and QM and SM are very similar but SM I think is made to but stuck to something hince the name Sticky Match.

[frogy]

This is definitely quickmatch....

 

Stickymatch is normally made with 3" Wide clear "packaging" tape with a 2" wide peice of scotch tape that holds the powder...

 

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/2023/stickymatchkn4.png

[mormanman]

So does that mean I'm right? Wow that sounds cocky.

[frogy]

Yes your right... But most people should know Stickymatch is Sticky

 

StickyMatch is normally made w\ black powder grains vs. Quickmatch that is made with Blackmatch strands...

 

So really you could call this either... but it's more of a Quickmatch because it isn't made with clear tape and it isn't sticky...

[crazyboy25]

well to make this into true sticky match all you have to do is fold the tape over unevenly so there is some exposed adhesive. i have tested this quick match and it works well only problem is it burns a little slow so my tape catches on fire and the adhesive burns like napalm and it smolders...

[Funnlecake]

Crazyboy if you use that thin, brown packaging tape, that looks like this http://inkandstuff2.co.uk/images/kf27010_sc98.jpg, it burns away pretty much instantly. I'm not sure if thats the right stuff in the image but the tape is thin, flexible, with a brown adhesive that will come off like a security tape.

[XinE895]

I used to use a brown packing tape for a slow sticky match, I'm not a fan. I used it on racks and it leaves a crusty burnt plastic crap all over the rack. Great speed and I've only had a few shells out of about 100 that didn't light but the racks looked almost burnt to a crisp after.

 

Not to mention picking off the burnt plastic crap, for that reason I use a paper based tape. Commercial sticky match is made with something like clear packing tape and there are usually two speeds. Which I'm guessing is just using a different grade of BP.

 

Fast - burns 80-100 ft per second

Slow - burns 1-2 ft per second

 

Pic of Commerical Match

 

When I make sticky match I have a 2" tape and a 1" tape, I lay down a line of 2F BP on the 2" and cover it with the 1" tape. That way you have 1/2" on each side that you can join together. Then to join it to pieces I just cut a small hole in the center, insert the fuse from the item, and stick the tape to the tube or whatever to keep the fuse in the tape.

 

Some Info and a Place to Order Sticky Match

 

EDIT: Sorry didn't realize this was a hella old thread.