RoombaCats

I like this cache as well. Kids are stupid, but not that stupid to think every electrical box is a geocache.

I was wrong. You are not figuring it out

It sounds like you are figuring out why partial ground concealment is acceptable in California, or at least the desert. It's dry and there are no trees to nail a birdhouse to. The only indigenous trees we have are joshua trees. They are endangered and protected. Attaching a birdhouse to one of these would freak people out. We are not even allowed to collect the dead trees as firewood so using even a dead tree to hide a cache would freak people out. I appreciate your point of view but it's not all forested areas and abandoned dressers out there

Okay we'll change 70% of the gadget caches in California if it will make you happy. You will be in charge of turning them into truly clever caches so they don't need to be buried.

Just thought of a way to enhance the FTF Nightmare aggravation. Continue with the game of chance and lockout time. Create 10 nearby new caches in a remote area where people would be unlikely to go, a common key for 10 of the cache containers in found in the FTF Nightmare container. That would up the stakes for the the FTF obsessed lunatics we have in our group. Even if this were a challenge cache, I am sure this violates letter and spirit of the law rules for geocaching, but it is fun to think about.

Someone could try to extract the log through the back. However, I think most finders will be more intrigued with the challenge of getting it through the two metal balls. With the magnet, positioning the holes in the metal balls is fairly easy and fun. I was surprised as to the level of control the magnet provides. If the player can position the hole and roll the metal ball over the log container using the magnet, the log container will usually come out easily from the other two other holes in the ball. I added the second ball to keep it from being too easy. I like the idea of using the code rather than a log to open a separate container. My original thought was to use a small combo lock on the back with the code on the log to allow log replacement. With your comment, I realize that I can put the log in the back under the screw cap, lock it and put the combination code in the small log container. I need something with a consistent diameter to ensure it works every time. I have ten other small log containers (spent $3 at the gum machine) and I have made a second cache in case this one goes missing. This original design came together in about three hours. It was dumb luck that the stainless steel pencil can fit the tube, it make perfect end fittings. Making the second cache took about 30 minutes. I usually make a duplicate as a potential replacement or to share at events if I am far enough away from home. I also like to display them in my hobby room. I appreciate everyone's comments, suggestions and great ideas Of course, anyone is welcome to take this cache idea and hopefully come up with something better. Let me know if you do.

One of the most unique of my geocaches to date is a cache I am calling "Balls of steel". It's a gadget cache where the goal is to move the 1" diameter log container sphere past the two steel balls to the hole in the clear tube to access the log. The 2" diameter steel balls are from a Wrought Iron fence supply store, the 2.5" diameter clear lexan tube, from a plastic company, and the stainless steel end fittings are from a pencil jar. THere is a knob on one end to help extract it from the hollow log I will be using for concealment. I used a hole saw to drill three 1" diameter holes in each steel ball just barely larger than the spherical cache container (found in a gumball machine (see picture 2)). There is a horseshoe magnet (not shown) to help manipulate the steel balls to help the log container through the holes. A hole in the opposite side of the clear tube allows the log container to exit (see right side of picture 1). The whole thing is about 14 inches long. It's easier than it looks, taking about two minutes to get the log out. Returning the spherical log container is easy, the end cap (left side) screws off and there is a 1" diameter hole in the back end just big enough to allows the log container to be inserted back into the tube but not removed. I used string trimmer line nubs around the hole on the interior side that only flex inward). Let me know what you think and any ways to make it better. I am hoping to get this out in two weeks. My wife has my next weekend planned for tiling the living room.

Finally, someone is taking the Leprechaun threat seriously!!!! Can hardly wait to find out more!!!!

Oh please post how this one works or list the cache GC name. I'm dying to know more about this one!!!!!

Another Cache Idea, I occasionally find pictures on Pintrest.com that make good geocaches. One is a cache I am currently placing named Candy Cache. As far as I know, this is an original idea. On pintrest, there is a picture of several candy bar cross sections. The pintrest caption asked "Can you name each of these candy bars?" I made this into a multi-cache. The box is a wooden box made to look like an 8" x 8" box of candy. Inside will be the pintrest picture with numbers under each candy bar. The coordinates of stage 2 looks like N34 28.[almond joy, snickers, butterfinger] W 118 56. [Rolo, Twix, Milky Way]. The final destination is a candy shop (Rocket Fizz) in my town. When published, (hopefully this weekend) the cache will be GC74026 if you want to see the site. A list of the candy bars are in the description (in no particular order) plus a spoiler picture with the candy bar names is available at a nearby coordinate if they want it. I hope this sparks ideas or inspires others to try this type of cache idea. Unfortunately, multi caches don't get the love they deserve so we'll see how this goes.

You are an evil genius!!!! I love it!!!

Oh, I so like the "Stay away from my Geocache". BRILLIANT! I started but did not finish a similar cache where the container was located below three types of motion sensors at the end of a hallway. The sensors were PIR, Ultrasonic and Microwave. If someone moves slow enough, they can get to the cache without it locking, Oh, and if only all three sensors were triggered, would the cache lock. The lock used a 12V linear slide door lock mechanism.

I have been wanting to build something similar, but rather "FTF nightmare". We have obsessive FTF people in our group. These people LITERALLY have top 10 rankings for the U.S. or even the world regarding FTF count. The closest I have come to a FTF with these guys around is signing a new replacement log. I would love to have a FTF gadget cache, but it would be a game of chance. If the win outcome fails, it is locked out for a duration with the countdown time uploaded to the net. Oddly enough, these guys would love this, the are hyper-competitive. Nobody "flame me" because they think this is a bad idea, I'm saying this is a bad idea for normal people, but these guys would relish the idea that they had beaten someone else to a FTF in this case because they are obsessive FTF lunatics (but lovable)! The Cache would be archived after the FTF. I am hoping someone would perhaps take this idea and spark something better. Any takers?

I have a geocache named Houdini that I cannot put into the wild without getting muggled. Perhaps someone can use my idea on a birdhouse cache. The back of the box is on a post but the box door has a locked deadbolt keeping it closed (picture shows the keys, but these are removed). The goal is to open the lock in the front door without a key. The trick is that there is a stationary bracket inside the box mounted to the post. The bracket was made from a small caster without the wheel. This C-shaped bracket fits around the deadbolt knob inside of the box. Pulling a bolt from the back of the cache post (the bolt is in two halves creating the illusion that a carriage bolt is securely holding the box on). Removing the bolt will allow the box to rotate counterclockwise on the post. With the internal bracket stationary (attached to the post), the bracket will rotate the deadbolt knob on the inside and allow the door to open as the box rotation reaches 100 degrees. Basically, we are rotating the deadbolt, and the knob is staying put. The first Houdini box I placed got smashed to bits almost immediately by muggles. It was too visible. I still have the second Houdini cache. I now use it as a "show and tell" vanity cache at mega events or timed contests at various local geocaching events. LIke I said, this would make a good birdhouse cache. The pivot point is a PVC 2" threaded end cap to keep the box and the threaded cap holds the bracket. I can take a picture if someone wants to see it.

Okay, instead of a pulling a latch to open the cache, pulling a fake finger on that cache would have been hilarious!!!!!!

Very clever cache! I recall landing at Phoenix Airport, doing an online search and finding many of you caches. Wish I could have had more time to check them out. I see you live in the desert too, my condolences. What method do you use to conceal this cache container or is it in a remote location?

I am producing 8 gadget caches that are rather simple (solve within 2-3 minutes) for a RoombaCats Run. This will be similar to the game "Clue". Like the clue players (plum, Col Mustard,scarlet, white, etc) there are 9 types of unsavory Geocachers (The Stats Addict, Challenge Cacher, Numbers Junkie, Cache and Dasher (dream cache, no getting out of the car), The reluctant Participant, FTF Hound, Puzzler (makes "impossible to solve" puzzles), The Narcissistic Re-hider, Travel bug loser (Loses travel bugs)), instead of weapons, it's TOTTs, and location are the 8 gadget caches. Each of the 8 caches will have a Cacher type, TOTT and, of course the cache name ( Cache code word inside the cache). Its a process of eliminate to find the remaining Cacher, TOTT and cache name to determine how to get into the last cache. The roombacats run is about 80% done. I will place everything this fall when the weather is more accommodating for everyone. It will be 100-112 till the end of august

1) I always disclose the way my caches are placed and provide detailed pictures of the cache in place at the location. 2) My take is that buried implies a shovel or digging is needed to extract the container. 3) I know that some reviewers (East coast) do considered this type of cache to be buried and would not approve it. It is a grey area obviously. In my area (Southern California), as long as there is access to the cache above ground, and there are no finder complaints, there is not an issue. Most caches here, if bigger than a small container, are concealed, at least partially, below ground level. The clever ones, made to look like the surrounding environment.

These were all approved by the reviewer so I can assume they are not considered buried. In the desert, there is not much option if it's bigger than a micro. There is rarely anywhere to hide a larger cache.

That is a great criteria for an urban cache for "favorite-worthy" caches. Love it. Have not yet found one that yet fits.

I recently moved from a city about 150 miles away. I still have high favorite-point caches there with no one to check on them other than people are still finding them. I'd hate to archive them since so many people still enjoy them. I only have non-cacher friends to look in on them but too infrequently. I wish I had someone who could check on far away caches and I would be happy to do likewise in my area and provide maintenance within limits. I wish there was a global site where people could volunteer at the request of a cache owner. As well, I have lost many travel bugs, started a surrogate bug and a year later the original bug appears. I wish I could send someone to a cache to verify the bug has been dropped off as it said it was.

1) I found one of the best caches at night. It was on the Central Coast of California and the location was in the middle of nowhere, I mean the location was nothing but sand, no trees, shrubs, rocks or grass for 20 feet all sides. The Ground Zero was in the center of this "Void". The hint was, it's in the air. After searching for some time I figured it out by reading subtle clues in the log history, it was an ISP router wifi name that I found on my smart phone. The name of the router was the coordinates to the next cache location. Genius!!!!! 2) The best night cache I found has got to be The Butterflies of Solvang GC2D1FE . Solvang is a Bavarian-style town on the Central Coast of California with several reflective butterfly stickers place in locations that led a walkthrough of this beautiful and magical town.

So all of your gadget caches are listed as Mystery caches? I clicked on several of your mystery caches and did not see any gadget caches. The caches I saw are as most people think of mystery caches, online puzzles that need to be solved before they can find the container with no cache at the listed coordinates. Your mystery caches look really good, and clever, but calling a gadget cache a mystery cache will keep most people away from it even if they like Gadget Caches. Not saying it is right or wrong, its just the unfortunate reality. Anyway, I use to think the same way, my original idea is not to be shared en-mass. Nevertheless, sharing caches openly inspires others to think in new ways and experiment with new and better ideas. See what works and try something better. Look at NW Tim. He not only shares his ideas but tells everyone how to build them and asks others to copy and improve upon his ideas. His caches are a staple of their West Virginia county's economy drawing in thousands of geocaching tourists in spite of telling everyone how to solve them. How can keeping it to yourself be such a good thing if only a few people get to try it compared to the online community. Come on now, I'm sure you were inspired to create gadget and puzzle caches because a cache you found online sparked an new idea. I applaud your caches, very impressive and many, glad people like you are out there.

I understand your point and I have heard that as well in rare occasions. Regardless, to get people to visit the gadget cache, calling it a Mystery Cache is the Poison Challis. Most people avoid mystery caches since the first thought in most minds is an encryption puzzle, internet trivia search or hunting for hidden text on a cache page. (I personally like these type and am getting better at the tricks to solve them.) This is why I recommended including the words Gadget Cache in the Title to let everyone know what they are in for. I personally have never had any negative feedback on a cacher being disappointed in a gadget cache. As well, if they continue to go after a gadget cache with the name Gadget Cache in the title, well.... Favorite points would be a solid clue that its probably not a pill bottle under a bush.. Don't flame me because I said easy find and replace caches don't get favorite points. See the Mystery cache paradox from my point of view. I'm not trying to create havoc, just recommending that if people want to get visits to their Gadget Cache, right or wrong, calling it a mystery cache will keep Gadget-Cache-ophiles away.