good ideas for geocache containers?

[+Sky Dog]

I thought (and still do) that ammo boxes make the best geocaches.

However I am humbled by these amazing containers from MonsterCatAmbush and Mr Gadget #2:

Looks like an Atomic Bomb

Sneaky Birdhouse cache

Mr Gadget #2's evil caches

[+niraD]

Those are amazing! Thanks for sharing, and thanks to MonsterCatAmbush and Mr Gadget #2 for sharing their creations with ProGeocaching.

[+Szynka]

I've heard that film canister's leak. If you have the log in a plastic baggey will it leak?

[Clan Riffster]

I've heard that film canister's leak. If you have the log in a plastic baggey will it leak?

Szynka, thanx for asking. There is an age old axiom floating around these forums: "If you MUST use a baggie to keep your log dry, your container has already failed at a very basic level". Baggies offer a measure of secondary protection, in the event a quality container fails. But they won't make a crappy container into a good container. Baggies are usually very thin plastic. After a few opens and closes, it is not unusual to find them torn. The paper log getting removed from the baggie can also damage the baggie, not unlike a paper cut.

 

The motto? Use a good container, not a crappy one. Add a baggie just in case.

[+EdrickV]

I saw a lot of potential Geocache containers at a store in California a while ago called "The Waterproof Case Company." While there I actually mentioned Geocaching to the employee and he actually knew what I was talking about. The down side is while they've got all sorts of containers, (from multiple manufacturers) a lot of them are not cheap. (They do have a variety of Witz containers, including both camo and clear, as well as Pelican cases.) Haven't actually tried any of that stuff out though.

 

http://www.thewaterproofcasecompany.com/

[+OrienteerGirl]

The best cache containers that Ive used are makeup foundation screw lid jars. You know, the ones that have mousse foundation in.(trying not to say the brand here for advertising purposed). I paint them in slate grey paint and they look like a stone and blend in well.

They have room for a logbook and button badges and small travel coins.

 

Ask the women in your life if you are not a women for the empty pots. A very good way to recycle them

[+Sky Dog]

I put out this geocache buoy last weekend. It is designed to withstand the most extreme environments. Like, the open sea!

If it can withstand that it can withstand anything. It's basically an experiment to see what happens.

I'm planning to go check on it in a few weeks or months to evaluate its success (or failure ).

How to make a geocache buoy.

[+Team Pixos]

We had a very very wet summer this year. I found wet ammo cans, wet lock n licks, wet PVC, wet pb jars, pretty much lots of wet stuff, I hate the mold that goes with the wet.

 

Consistent dry container were the metal nano containers, never found a wet one.

[+WarNinjas]

Those are impressive! The cheep containers I have been trying out are some Snapware sold at costco. They seem to work so far and are cheep. Not sure about the long run but working good for now!

-WarNinjas

[+Sky Dog]

Could I suggest that it's a good investment to buy high quality containers.

 

Firstly, you shouldn't need to replace it.

Secondly, you won't need to replace soggy contents.

Thirdly, it will save you the cost of driving out there.

Lastly, your reputation suffers if people come across a poor quality cache.

[+Mandollyn]

We've used the Wal-Mart Match container... sprayed it brown & green.

 

I've also learned that all Cammo tape is NOT created equal! My newest cammo tape has been peeling off!!!

 

Going to Home Depot & Lowes to find containers to take to our Thanksgiving Hunting Extravaganza!

[+jwillis57]

I have found some of the metal bison tubes that are quite damp. Is this normal?

[+Totem Clan]

I have found some of the metal bison tubes that are quite damp. Is this normal?

Not if the o-ring is in place.

[+fin34]

I found for anyone in the London area you can buy micro alumium bison tubes with a water tight o ring at Lee Valley along with other cool containers.For bigger containers go to K-W surplus for paint ball containers Ive had one out winter and still dry.You can also buy small pill containers at shoppers drug mart for 2-3dollars.

[-WidgeT-]

Ultimately, (in my mind), a good container is one that protects its contents.

Whether those contents are a torn scrap of paper, or gobs of high end swag is irrelevant.

If the container is not suitable for protecting what's in it, it sucks.

 

The suggestions you see on here may be geographically based, as what may work in one area won't work in another.

For Florida:

 

Bad containers:

PVC pipe w/caps, plugs, etc

 

Regarding PVC.. If you know how to seal a PVC pipe (which is used for plumbing in most homes and buildings in the US) it will be water tight.. Alas, if you are that concerned with it (this goes for PVC and any other container) put a Desiccant Dehumidifier in it (you know those little bags of crystals you get with your beef jerky..?) for insurance purposes in my all weather garden things that i have made (all of which are motorized and require that there be an amazing seal)i get from Here. Decent prices.. They work amazing.. you can even get an indicator to TEST your pvc to make sure the seal is good enough and it will even tell you when to check/replace a silica bag...

Edited April 28, 2012 by -WidgeT-

[+Imabus]

i have quite a few of the clip closed cases that you get at the beech to keep your money/phone/wallet safe (see here)

 

they came with giveaway products like an extendable pen, a very small screw closed capsule keyring ... now i think of it it was pretty much a cache kit, but not branded as such ... does anyone have experance of hiding/finding these? do they hold up ok

 

btw i am in Scotland so its not uncommon for us to get high rainfall, snow, ice, sun and wind all in one day

[+badlands]

i have quite a few of the clip closed cases that you get at the beech to keep your money/phone/wallet safe (see here)

 

they came with giveaway products like an extendable pen, a very small screw closed capsule keyring ... now i think of it it was pretty much a cache kit, but not branded as such ... does anyone have experance of hiding/finding these? do they hold up ok

 

btw i am in Scotland so its not uncommon for us to get high rainfall, snow, ice, sun and wind all in one day

 

As long as they are sealed properly and the seal kept clean they do okay. As a geocache container, they do not hold up well as people are in a hurry and do not clean/seal them properly. We have found a lot of these in the Chicago area and most have taken on water.

[+niraD]

does anyone have experance of hiding/finding these? do they hold up ok

I hid a Witz beachsafe. It was camouflaged, and it did just fine for a few years. The only reason I replaced it was because the environment changed, and I needed completely different camouflage.

 

My experience is that the better (more expensive) beachsafes work well, but that the cheap ones leak and break easily.

 

Of course, YMMV, since coastal California and Scotland have different climates.

[mommeister]

I feel like capped off pvc pipe would work nicely

[+ATXTracker]

I feel like capped off pvc pipe would work nicely

 

in my experience capped pvc, even the kind with threads can let in water/moisture. However, you can buy stoppers with a gasket that expands as you tighten a wing-nut. These can be very effective if cachers close it properly.

[+blacksheep5891]

I feel like capped off pvc pipe would work nicely

 

in my experience capped pvc, even the kind with threads can let in water/moisture. However, you can buy stoppers with a gasket that expands as you tighten a wing-nut. These can be very effective if cachers close it properly.

 

I found one of these once and was surprised at the creativity. Yeah, expandable plugs like those used in boats, drains, and engines work very well as waterproofing is what they are intended for and they hold up and seal very well! (as long as cachers replace them properly)

[covert panda]

one thing I'm currently working on for a cache, is I made silicone mold of a rock and filled it with cement, but before it dries i am going to put a canister so it pokes out on the bottom and can be accessed by just flipping the "rock" over. I will post a picture of the final project:)