How to Light a Match With Your Nail

Striking a match on a thumbnail can make anybody look tougher.

The secret to lighting a match with a thumbnail, like the hero or villain in your favorite gangster or Western movie, is almost entirely in the match itself. Matches require sulphur and phosphate to work properly. Common, or safety, matches, only have sulphur on the head. The red strip on the side of a box contains phosphate, so striking the two together causes the match to light. You can recognize the old fashioned, strike anywhere matches by their red and white tip, which contains both. These matches are typically sold where camping supplies are available.

Things You'll Need

• Strike anywhere matches

Instructions

Method One, Two Hands

1. Grasp the match firmly between the thumb and forefinger of your dominant hand, about halfway down.

2. Hold the thumb of your opposite hand out, firmly, with the joint tight so the nail will not move.

3. Strike the match across your thumb, pressing it in enough to cause friction. Pull the match away as it starts to light to prevent burning. You will probably require more than one attempt on the first try.

Method Two, One Hand

1. Clamp the match in your dominant hand, with your index finger on top and in front of the match, the middle finger below and behind the match and the ring finger at the bottom in front, so that the head of the match protrudes slightly.

2. Place your thumb at the base of the match head and flick up, pressing into it to cause friction. Let the thumb travel up and back, as the flame can burn exposed skin.

3. Blow the match out, or remove it carefully from between your fingers with the other hand, fairly quickly. A single match will not cause permanent damage, as you can extinguish it fairly easily, but it can cause painful burns.

References

• Matchsticks: Strike anywhere matches

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish