Seeking Weatherproof Container Advice

[spicytuna]

Hi,

 

New member here.

 

Although I'm fairly new to geocaching, I'm an avid climber out here in the Canadian Rockies and I've recently volunteered to help maintain the hundreds of summit registers located throughout my area.

 

I'm also interested in fabricating some weatherproof containers to replace some of the aging/damaged ones and figured the geocaching world would be the expert at this.

 

The container I'm looking for has to be able to withstand up to 9 months of harsh winter conditions and be completely waterproof. It also has to be strong enough to withstand the crushing force of a collapsing cairn and be packrat proof.

 

The current containers we use are made of PVC pipes with a sealed end and twist off end. These seem to be pretty weatherproof - after all, they were designed to confine water in the first place.

 

I've seen containers made of cast iron pipes as well as ammo boxes but the latter would probably be a little too obstrusive while a cast iron pipe could be a little heavy to carry.

 

Any ideas ? Should I stick to the proven PVC pipes ? Anyone have access to a cheap supply of titanium tubes ?

 

Ken.

[+PDOP's]

Ammo boxes are the container of choice for standing up to physical abuse as well as weather. PrinceesAuto or army surplus places will have them.

[+CapnJackSparrow]

The container I'm looking for has to be able to withstand up to 9 months of harsh winter conditions and be completely waterproof. It also has to be strong enough to withstand the crushing force of a collapsing cairn and be packrat proof.

 

Something you may want to look into that conforms to all of your specs. and are very light weight are Bear Canisters. The only problem is they may be a lot more expensive than you are interestd in.

 

CapnJackSparrow

[magellan315]

I'd go with ammo cans over PVC. Depending on the design of the PVC container people may not be able to line up the threads if you have to screw the top on/off, or the top may freeze in place. There have been threads about ammon cans that have dealt with all sorts of extreme weather for extended periods of time. just cover them up with a rock cairn and they will stay put.

[+briansnat]

I think ammo boxes are the way to go. I have some caches that have been out several years in them, through winter and summer, and they are still holding up. At under 4 bucks each they are not expensive either.

 

A good camo job on the ammo box should make it less obtrusive. They can also be chained to a tree or something so they don't walk off.

 

You can get them at Cabelas for 6 for $20. See here

 

Here are some examples of camo jobs on ammo boxes that can make them less obtrusive:

 

 

Edited August 25, 2005 by briansnat

[+StarBrand]

There is just no beating a good ammo can!! One of my hides sits at about 10,800 foot elevation is has been under the snow for up to 10 months per year. Area is also subject to 80mph winds at times. Always dry and ready for the next finder - been there for 3 years and counting....

 

This cache.

[+WhatsRNutts]

There is just no beating a good ammo can!! One of my hides sits at about 10,800 foot elevation is has been under the snow for up to 10 months per year. Area is also subject to 80mph winds at times. Always dry and ready for the next finder - been there for 3 years and counting....

 

This cache.

I have never seen someone sleding in the snow with shorts and a t shirt on before...

[ertyu]

Lock and Lock do quite well also. I've had one go through a river flood, it was under ~10feet of water for a month and came out completely dry. I leave a piece of concrete on top to keep it from floating away.

[+nfa]

Ammo-cans are the way to go for a durable and inexpensive container that will remain watertight through harsh winters. They can be painted to blend in with their surroundings, and will stand up to falling rocks and being dropped or manhandled by visitors to a much greater degree than other containers.

 

nfa-jamie

[+altosaxplayer]

I would go with an ammo box. They stand up great out in the elements.

[+TeamTurtles]

I get rejected electrical boxes from where I work. I know, I know but there are some boxes that are completly water tight. Sizes range from 6X4X3 to 12X10X5. Several of my caches have these boxes. And the paint is industrail grade..