+Mr'D Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 I recently bought a batch of these from ebay: Specimen link They are apx same size as a 35mm canister and a quick test reveals they appear watertight. Has anyone else experienced the longevity of using these in the field? Oh yes, and I don't want to start a long discussion about the merits and/or drawbacks of micros! Jon Quote Link to comment
+Haggis Hunter Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Although I haven't used that particular type before, I have used lab type containers for caches in the past. Suffice to say they are all in the bin now!! Quote Link to comment
+Alibags Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 As the ad says they are okay for formaldehyde, I should imagine that they are leakproof! However, not all plastics are proof against the prolonged effects of tempertaure and UV when left outside for long periods of time. If you have bought some, fill one with dry tissue and chuck it in the garden and see what happens. It looks better than a 35mm cannister, anyway. Quote Link to comment
+HazelS Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 I believe that short term they are ok... but the effects of the cold make them split... Only what I've heard though! Quote Link to comment
+Mr'D Posted August 10, 2006 Author Share Posted August 10, 2006 I'd hope they perform better than 35mm canisters. I wouldn't have thought UV light would be a problem, but I suppose cold temperatures could be on hard plastic. I filled one with newspaper and weighted it down in the basin overnight, and there was no sign of leakage 12 hrs later. Drawback is that they need painting/wrapping in insulating tape - the white top would be a bit of a giveaway hidden in greenery I have 2 out now - let's see how they fare. Jon Quote Link to comment
+Alibags Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 suprisingly, lots of plastic doesn't light proloneged exposure to the great outdoors and I am led to believe that UV light contributes to this. some light (no pun intended) reading?... Quote Link to comment
+chizu Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 I'd hope they perform better than 35mm canisters. I wouldn't have thought UV light would be a problem, but I suppose cold temperatures could be on hard plastic. I filled one with newspaper and weighted it down in the basin overnight, and there was no sign of leakage 12 hrs later. Drawback is that they need painting/wrapping in insulating tape - the white top would be a bit of a giveaway hidden in greenery I have 2 out now - let's see how they fare. Jon As someone who works in a lab, I imagine these specimin bottles would be designed to be stored at -20 at least, possibly -80 degrees so I imagine they'll be ok in the field! Quote Link to comment
+Jango & Boba Fett Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 This multicache uses specimen type containers of a similar construction and despite being in the field for 18 months now I can confirm that they are still dry as a bone, even the one which floats in the crook of a tree. As to the small pots the local Suffolk Puzzle Cache specialist SuffolkChief uses them so you could contact him for his experience. IMHO a contributory factor to damp micros may be down to operator error when resealing the pot often exacerbated by an obsessive need to stuff a swap/signature item in there too. I recently came across a "small cache" which I spotted by the fuzzy turquoise arm of a bear sticking up through the pile of sticks, sure enough a previous visitor had written in there log that they had swapped out a *** and left a soft toy. Mind you I've yet to find a soft toy crammed into a 35mm film pot - maybe I should invest in some of those grow your own dinosaur sponges. Quote Link to comment
+currykev Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 I hope they weren't sold as USED! Quote Link to comment
+Learned Gerbil Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Having spent some time on Tuesday trying stuff all the bloody calling cards back into a regular cache, I was with Gerbil Queen today when she found a local micro - which was stuffed with specially made laminated micro calling cards! People! Why??????????? Quote Link to comment
+Jango & Boba Fett Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 I hope they weren't sold as USED! You're right currykev I should have warned the folks about the pitfalls involved in buying a used dinosaur. Quote Link to comment
+TMM-Sarah Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 I recently bought a batch of these from ebay: Specimen link They are apx same size as a 35mm canister and a quick test reveals they appear watertight. Has anyone else experienced the longevity of using these in the field? Oh yes, and I don't want to start a long discussion about the merits and/or drawbacks of micros! Jon Sorry, but why are you paying for contianers like this....... I went to my local ASDA and asked then if they could keep me back some film canisters, two weeks later and I have a whole carrier bag full, all for free... I know they may not be the best in the world, but they are free. Gareth Quote Link to comment
+Mr'D Posted August 10, 2006 Author Share Posted August 10, 2006 (edited) Sorry, but why are you paying for contianers like this....... I found a freindly chemist in Kingston last year and I relieved him of maybe 30 canisters - he seemed quite pleased I took them off his hands. My quest is to find something better: something that doesn't let in water. Jon Edited August 10, 2006 by Mr.Dewdrop Quote Link to comment
+Kitty Hawk Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Dysdera uses the longer thinner specimen tubes and they work fine. Having said that some of his caches don't get found that often... Quote Link to comment
+NickandAliandEliza Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 This is all well and good but what if you get logs like; Found the cache today. Nice location. Took nothing. Left a sample. Quote Link to comment
+Jango & Boba Fett Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 This is all well and good but what if you get logs like; Found the cache today. Nice location. Took nothing. Left a sample. Now your just taking the ...... Quote Link to comment
+purple_pineapple Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Just a word of caution. Some of the clear hard plastic containers we receive at work have notoriously bad lids, and leak like a sieve. (not pleasant when they are filled with what they are 'supposed' to be!) They may also crack in the cold, as our ones aren't freezer proof. I have a reasonable supply of the opaque 'softer' plastic ones, and these do seal well. Might get round to putting some out soon! Good luck! D Quote Link to comment
+Sue and Bernie Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 This multicache uses specimen type containers of a similar construction and despite being in the field for 18 months now I can confirm that they are still dry as a bone, even the one which floats in the crook of a tree. As to the small pots the local Suffolk Puzzle Cache specialist As we placed the subject multi, I can confirm that I did carry out the suggested "garden" test before using the brand-new specimen jars. I reason that if they were designed to keep liquid in... However, each micro is place in a location that protects the specimen from direct sunlight. The location that might suffer such exposure is protected within a larger opaque plastic container that also makes it easier to find (some cachers reported difficulty in spotting it). We too got our specimen jars gratis from a dispensary... Quote Link to comment
nobby.nobbs Posted August 11, 2006 Share Posted August 11, 2006 the chances are they will weather the temp changes but not necessarily the uv, so wrap them in some tape. help hide them as well. Quote Link to comment
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