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Nano Cache & Cheap Cache Containers


josher2468

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I am starting to hate the nanos.

 

One of the biggest problems I see with them, is that they are too easy to hide. People can slap them just about anywhere, without really thinking about why they are placing them where they do. A bus stop...place a nano. A quard rail at a park and ride...place a nano. Big deal.

 

Now, I admit I recently used a nano for by urban night cache. The final location is a very cool spot, with lots f local history. If I could have, I would have used a larger container, but the location prevented it.

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I'm not entirely sure I know which magnetic nanos you're talking about, but those will be just as good as the location you put them in.

 

As far as good cheap cache containers, that really depends on what kind of cache you're placing.

 

Ammo cans are just about the best containers you can get. They shouldn't be more than $5 at your local Army/Navy store.

 

Lock&Locks are also great containers, they come in a variety of sizes, easy to camo, less than $8 for a large one.

 

Recycled food containers will be varying degrees of mediocre, but they're free. And never mind whatever the hypersensitive whiners out there hare to say (and God have mercy, they will whine at anyone who will listen, and most people who won't), if you thoroughly wash the blasted thing, you won't be exposing anyone to any allergens they wouldn't have been exposed to on the way to the cache. But you can generally do better.

 

Wal-Mart has little Pelican style containers that are waterproof and tough in Sporting Goods for $7.

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As far as cheap, small water tight containers...do you know a nurse? Those pee cups are great. Blood tubes are good too. You need to be friendly with the medical staff to get them new...please get them new and unused!!!! EWWWW! The problem I have with those little store bought nanos is the tiny logs. No fun unless you keep up on changing them often, we do need a spot to at least initial.

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I Just Got 4 Of Those Magnetic Nano Caches, are these good cache containers?

 

They can be. The advice you'll get around here is to be selective to your location (at least the nice ones around here will say that). I mean, technically, you just randomly slap a nano on anything and get it published. But if you put it somewhere people may enjoy going where they've never been, many more people will appreciate that.

 

Also Were Is A Good Place To Get Cache Containers, that are very cheap?

Thanks-

Josh

 

It always good to find inexpensive containers. Containers can also be made out of lots of things not designed for caching. But don't cheap out....glad lock containers can only take so much.....

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This place has the magnetic nano caches for 99 cents:

 

http://www.aetoys.com/index.asp?PageAction...dID=19&HS=1

I checked out the website that you are referring to. This is their nano pic:

8204db39-679f-46a1-8e27-8c158458dd6d.jpg

This nano will leak.

 

As shown in the picture, this nano has a hole in the cap, just above the threads. Water will enter through this hole and damage the log.

 

If you buy nanos with a hole like this, the hole must be filled from the inside of the cap. I've had good luck doing this with a gel CA, using a toothpick to push the CA into the hole and over the surrounding area.

Edited by sbell111
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This place has the magnetic nano caches for 99 cents:

 

http://www.aetoys.com/index.asp?PageAction...dID=19&HS=1

I checked out the website that you are referring to.

This nano will leak.

 

As shown in the picture, this nano has a hole in the cap, just above the threads. Water will enter through this hole and damage the log.

 

If you buy nanos with a hole like this, the hole must be filled from the inside of the cap. I've had good luck doing this with a gel CA, using a toothpick to push the CA into the hole and over the surrounding area.

 

We carry the same nanos that are pictured and from my experience they do not have a hole in them as stated. I believe what you are referring to as a hole is a reflection in the picture. We have never had a hole in the cap of any of our nanos to date.

 

I will admit though that unless properly protected, these nanos are not great shelters from the elements. They do not have a seal of any kind nor do they have an o-ring to keep the log dry. Best used in a well protected area or in a very dry climate.

 

A better micro sized container that is waterproof would be some of the various micro sized capsules with o-rings. These can range from fairly small micros to some "scuba" type capsules that allow you to still have a fairly small hide while being able to fit a slightly larger log book inside.

 

For the OP - just keep looking around the web and on the forums. Many people here have great imaginations and ideas when it comes to cache containers. You can get into fairly expensive containers, but dollar for dollar - as many people will probably agree - it is very hard to beat the 30 cal ammo can on value. For $4.49 you can get a cache that is not only completely impervious to any weather but one that will also last you many, many years!

Edited by logonwheeler
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We carry the same nanos that are pictured and from my experience they do not have a hole in them as stated. I believe what you are referring to as a hole is a reflection in the picture. We have never had a hole in the cap of any of our nanos to date.

Negatory. I bought some eBay and they had a hole just like the picture. I tried to get a refund but the seller never responded so I tossed them in the trash and left negative feedback. Most nanos suck anyway. Hide an ammo can instead!
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This nano will leak.

 

 

I've only found one of these, but it had not leaked. Of course, it was positioned where getting wet would be unlikely (it was a very clever hide altogether).

 

My choice for smaller caches is the waterproof match containers. They can be painted, they have a rubber o-ring, and they are fairly sturdy (ABS?). Under a dollar at the big box stores.

 

I have a few that I've painted different colors (camo in greyish tones like bark, camo in greenish tones, white, silver, black). You can also attach a 15mm rare earth magnet inside the cap with epoxy to stick to metal structures.

 

Sidenote: please write SMALL on the nano logs. On the one I found, someone had written "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"

 

Seriously. It took up about 1/4 of the available writing space!

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This place has the magnetic nano caches for 99 cents:

 

http://www.aetoys.com/index.asp?PageAction...dID=19&HS=1

I checked out the website that you are referring to.

This nano will leak.

 

As shown in the picture, this nano has a hole in the cap, just above the threads. Water will enter through this hole and damage the log.

 

If you buy nanos with a hole like this, the hole must be filled from the inside of the cap. I've had good luck doing this with a gel CA, using a toothpick to push the CA into the hole and over the surrounding area.

We carry the same nanos that are pictured and from my experience they do not have a hole in them as stated. I believe what you are referring to as a hole is a reflection in the picture. We have never had a hole in the cap of any of our nanos to date.

 

I will admit though that unless properly protected, these nanos are not great shelters from the elements. They do not have a seal of any kind nor do they have an o-ring to keep the log dry. Best used in a well protected area or in a very dry climate.

 

A better micro sized container that is waterproof would be some of the various micro sized capsules with o-rings. These can range from fairly small micros to some "scuba" type capsules that allow you to still have a fairly small hide while being able to fit a slightly larger log book inside.

 

For the OP - just keep looking around the web and on the forums. Many people here have great imaginations and ideas when it comes to cache containers. You can get into fairly expensive containers, but dollar for dollar - as many people will probably agree - it is very hard to beat the 30 cal ammo can on value. For $4.49 you can get a cache that is not only completely impervious to any weather but one that will also last you many, many years!

I've bought and sold many, many nanos and other cache containers. Many nanos have that hole. Some manufacturers place a small strip of plastic (like a tiny post-it flag) in that hole so the batteries won't prematurely discharge. If the nanos we receive have that hole, we carefully seal it prior to painting. When properly prepared, nanos will remain reasonably water resistant. Edited by sbell111
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They almost all have that hole. Even if you do seal it still isn't 100% watertight, we put waterproof logs in ours and they work out great.

 

I've found several of the nano cache list the ones shown in the photos in a previous posting. I assume you're using waterproof paper because there isn't room for anything else except a piece of paper 1/3" wide and maybe 5" long.

 

I've found them in places that were very exposed (one was painted copper and stuck on the side of a rusty bridge) and places that were more protected (behind some metal siding on a building). For the latter you wouldn't really have to be worried about waterproofing the log.

 

I have even found nano caches under light pole skirts.

 

I am guessing that the person that took up 1/4 of the log to leave a message was expressing his/her opinion about nano caches.

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The nano that we just placed came with a log sheet with spaces for 37 nano logs...

 

$0.99 each including one log sheet on e-bay

 

(no, they are not for sale by me... That's just where I found them)...

 

update...

I just ordered 20 @ $0.99 with $0.75 shipping... for a total of $20.95...

found out after I ordered... that same seller has 10-packs for $9.75 (with logs) and free shipping to US...

20-packs have free shipping international...

This is about the cheapest you'll find...

 

I do like nano's... if placed in a good spot that is of historic value and/or close to other good regular caches...

or in an urban location...

 

I do not like dumpster caches of this type...

like beind a W**mart or k*art... or on some non-descript guardrail...

If you are going to place a nano cache...

PLEASE, place it in a spot that has some interresting feature...

and not just somewhere for the sake of placing a cache...

 

Think of a nano cache as being akin to the old Virtual Cache's...

If it's not an interresting spot... don't place it there...

 

OK.. that's my 2 cents...

Edited by Peconic Bay Sailors
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The nano that we just placed came with a log sheet with spaces for 37 nano logs...

 

$0.99 each including one log sheet on e-bay

 

(no, they are not for sale by me... That's just where I found them)...

 

update...

I just ordered 20 @ $0.99 with $0.75 shipping... for a total of $20.95...

found out after I ordered... that same seller has 10-packs for $9.75 (with logs) and free shipping to US...

20-packs have free shipping international...

This is about the cheapest you'll find...

 

I do like nano's... if placed in a good spot that is of historic value and/or close to other good regular caches...

or in an urban location...

 

I do not like dumpster caches of this type...

like beind a W**mart or k*art... or on some non-descript guardrail...

If you are going to place a nano cache...

PLEASE, place it in a spot that has some interresting feature...

and not just somewhere for the sake of placing a cache...

 

Think of a nano cache as being akin to the old Virtual Cache's...

If it's not an interresting spot... don't place it there...

 

OK.. that's my 2 cents...

LOL Thanks :ph34r:

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Look around your house. Empty tins, pretzel containers, or just about any sealable plastic container will work fine. Run them though the dishwasher at least once to get the food smell off them.

 

Hit up the craft store and buy some assorted fake leaves and a hot glue gun. Go to town gluing the leaves to the container. If you add a hook to it, it will blend in just about any plant you hang it in. Camo tape also works, but doesn't blend quite as well.

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Soda bottle preforms. They come out to less than 75 cents each with shipping.

 

For prepaid orders (check, credit card, or money order) standard shipping is 6.8% of the total cost of the order with a minimum of $6.80.

 

WOW!

(Just kidding from the other thread) :huh:;):huh:;)

 

Anyway, you can get those at Hobby Lobby and Pat Catan's and other hobby stores two in a pack. Best to save a cap of of a real soda bottle because the caps that come with them don't have a good seal.

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I am guessing that the person that took up 1/4 of the log to leave a message was expressing his/her opinion about nano caches.

 

That's what I was thinking.

 

But it makes me wonder why they would even SEARCH for the thing (it was described in the listing as "an urban nanocache", and the name of the cache itself includes "nano").

 

That's a whole nuther dozen threads, though. ;)

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I Just Got 4 Of Those Magnetic Nano Caches, are these good cache containers? ;)

Also Were Is A Good Place To Get Cache Containers, that are very cheap? ;)

Thanks-

Josh :)

You might check out your local Thrift Store for cookie or candy tins. They are usually less than a dollar, come in all different shapes (square, rectagular, round, short, tall), and are waterproof. A couple of very long-lasting caches in this area are cookie tins. I have cammoed some of these with different colors of paint and then glued leaves, cut from a garland I bought at a craft store, on them.

 

Nano containers, if they are in a location where no other container will work, are okay . . . as long as there is a very good hint. :)

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You might check out your local Thrift Store for cookie or candy tins. They are usually less than a dollar, come in all different shapes (square, rectagular, round, short, tall), and are waterproof.

That must vary with geography. Most cookie-tin caches I've found around here (New England) have become dented, rusted, and leaky.

Edited by the hermit crabs
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You might check out your local Thrift Store for cookie or candy tins. They are usually less than a dollar, come in all different shapes (square, rectagular, round, short, tall), and are waterproof.

That must vary with geography. Most cookie-tin caches I've found around here (New England) have become dented, rusted, and leaky.

 

Same experience I've had with cookie tins. Nearly always wet inside. Often rusty and hard to remove the lid.

Maybe they'd be OK in the desert.

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I like cookie tins. Well, actually what I like is cookies. I have no opinion about tins, unless they are full of cookies and then I like them.

 

Food in caches is a NO NO... :lol::lol::):huh::)

I promise to remove all the cookies.

orange-Cookie_Monster.gif

So What About These? :)

Also What Type Of Camo Is The Best For Very Hard Caches? :anibad::huh: (Ex. Camo Net, Camo Duck-Tape, Cloth Camo Tape, etc.)

-Josh :)

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I like cookie tins. Well, actually what I like is cookies. I have no opinion about tins, unless they are full of cookies and then I like them.

 

Food in caches is a NO NO... :):):lol::lol::)

I promise to remove all the cookies.

orange-Cookie_Monster.gif

So What About These? :anibad:

-Josh :huh:

I have a few thoughts about those metal match keepers. First, matches taste much, much worse than cookies. Cookies are yummy, matches are not.

 

Also, those containers get rusty. It can be difficult to get them open after they've been in the field for a while. The plastic ones are MUCH better.

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So What About These? :)

Also What Type Of Camo Is The Best For Very Hard Caches? :):anibad: (Ex. Camo Net, Camo Duck-Tape, Cloth Camo Tape, etc.)

-Josh :huh:

 

Those will work, but the plastic ones are cheaper (87 cents at Walmart) and just as good.

 

Camo duct tape is OK, but washes out if it's exposed to weather. Cloth camo tape has worked very well for me as long as I put a few coats of sealer on it.

 

I've seen people use the net stuff, but it gets damp and nasty.

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So What About These? :)

Also What Type Of Camo Is The Best For Very Hard Caches? :anibad::huh: (Ex. Camo Net, Camo Duck-Tape, Cloth Camo Tape, etc.)

-Josh :)

 

Those will work, but the plastic ones are cheaper (87 cents at Walmart) and just as good.

 

Camo duct tape is OK, but washes out if it's exposed to weather. Cloth camo tape has worked very well for me as long as I put a few coats of sealer on it.

 

I've seen people use the net stuff, but it gets damp and nasty.

Ok Thanks! :)

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Also, those containers get rusty. It can be difficult to get them open after they've been in the field for a while. The plastic ones are MUCH better.

 

Brass doesn't rust, unless the seller of that item is lying about it being brass.

 

Also, I notice Miragee lives in San Diego. In the desert, tins are great. Anywhere else, they might last about a month. See what sbell111 said, but tins ARE tins, not brass.

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Also, those containers get rusty. It can be difficult to get them open after they've been in the field for a while. The plastic ones are MUCH better.

 

Brass doesn't rust, unless the seller of that item is lying about it being brass.

 

Also, I notice Miragee lives in San Diego. In the desert, tins are great. Anywhere else, they might last about a month. See what sbell111 said, but tins ARE tins, not brass.

All I can tell you is the caches that I've found that look exactly like that one become very difficult to open and close after being in the field for a while. Whether it's caused by rust, oxidation, corrosion, or global warming, this problem can lead to a compromised container.

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Also, those containers get rusty. It can be difficult to get them open after they've been in the field for a while. The plastic ones are MUCH better.

 

Brass doesn't rust, unless the seller of that item is lying about it being brass.

 

Also, I notice Miragee lives in San Diego. In the desert, tins are great. Anywhere else, they might last about a month. See what sbell111 said, but tins ARE tins, not brass.

All I can tell you is the caches that I've found that look exactly like that one become very difficult to open and close after being in the field for a while. Whether it's caused by rust, oxidation, corrosion, or global warming, this problem can lead to a compromised container.

 

True....those metal ones are tough to open in general let alone after weathering. Plastic much better.

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Also, those containers get rusty. It can be difficult to get them open after they've been in the field for a while. The plastic ones are MUCH better.

 

Brass doesn't rust, unless the seller of that item is lying about it being brass.

 

Also, I notice Miragee lives in San Diego. In the desert, tins are great. Anywhere else, they might last about a month. See what sbell111 said, but tins ARE tins, not brass.

All I can tell you is the caches that I've found that look exactly like that one become very difficult to open and close after being in the field for a while. Whether it's caused by rust, oxidation, corrosion, or global warming, this problem can lead to a compromised container.

 

What?!? King Boreas has placed cache in your area, too? :unsure:

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Also, those containers get rusty. It can be difficult to get them open after they've been in the field for a while. The plastic ones are MUCH better.

 

Brass doesn't rust, unless the seller of that item is lying about it being brass.

 

Also, I notice Miragee lives in San Diego. In the desert, tins are great. Anywhere else, they might last about a month. See what sbell111 said, but tins ARE tins, not brass.

All I can tell you is the caches that I've found that look exactly like that one become very difficult to open and close after being in the field for a while. Whether it's caused by rust, oxidation, corrosion, or global warming, this problem can lead to a compromised container.

 

What?!? King Boreas has placed cache in your area, too? :)

 

LOL so true but hey its another cache :o:o:)

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Also, those containers get rusty. It can be difficult to get them open after they've been in the field for a while. The plastic ones are MUCH better.

 

Brass doesn't rust, unless the seller of that item is lying about it being brass.

 

Also, I notice Miragee lives in San Diego. In the desert, tins are great. Anywhere else, they might last about a month. See what sbell111 said, but tins ARE tins, not brass.

 

I've found a lot of rusted cookie tins in the San Diego area when I lived there.

As for the desert I lost a $40.00 Kershaw :o in the Palmdale Lancaster area last April using the blade to pry open stuck tins, so even in the desert they get rusted.

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I like nano's... if placed in a good spot...

Makes for a really good hunt... we have found some very clever hides with nano's...

(for example, Downtown / Main Street USA: Pluckemin, NJ for a particularly clever one)...

There are many urban areas where his type of cache is all that can be placed without muggling...

Yet bring you to places of of great interest...

It's the total experience...

Like the traditional ammo cans, but we have also found some memorable nano's...

They are also good for quick Cache & Dache's along a well travelled route, when you don't have the time for a long hunt, but will grab a quick one...

Like some on the NYS Thruway reststops, for example...

everyone we have found has always been dry... and popular...

Gives you a chance to getout of the car, stretch your legs, and grab a few smileys...

Edited by Peconic Bay Sailors
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Nanos are nice but some people despise them. I have a couple out there and they fit the application. Haven't had a problem with them leaking but I have had magentics fall off and the paint chip from use. Kind of takes away the flat black stealth of it when chipped parts are shiny bright.

 

My #1 micro is the $1.00 Wal-Mart waterproof match containers. Great and water tight as you could ever ask for. They're bright safety orange and that usually doesn't work well for a hide but a blast of camo paint holds great on them. They can be hung with an eye hook (hot melt inside the lid to keep from leaking), stuffed in the end of a stick and set up by a tree, spanish moss hot melted to them and hung in a tree, mounting into an old cow bone with some Quick-Crete concrete molded on the cap, hundreds of uses :o

 

My #1 regular is the good old Wal-Mart Lock-n-Lock, cheap, easy, water tight, holds camo paint well, and readily available in many different shapes and sizes. That is when I run out of ammo cans.

 

My absolute #1 favorite container is the decon but unfortunately I am findng that all too many cachers can't seem to get the knack of snapping them back shut tight (or they snap the nylon strap into the lid making them vulnearble to the rain). No painting required.

 

My 2-cents....

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For those that don't like nano's... they have the option of not doing them...

That's entirely a personal preferance...

For us it's the hunt that is our goal, the actual final container makes is inconsequential...

I don't need to get a bunch of geoswag... we usually don't take anything from a cache anyway...

Be it a film container or a 50 gallon oil drum...

 

I have seen some that are years old...

Edited by Peconic Bay Sailors
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Small magnetic Nano containers go in the garbage can. Cheap containers also. They don't last.

We have found some that are years old, and have had logs replaced many times...

just a good maint. plan...

 

Cheap containers are bad (Glad Containers, etc), but the new magneic nano's have come a long way...

I just got a few with whole earth magnets, waterproof paper logs included... and have o-rings to prevent water intrusion...

made from aluminum, so not a problem unless in a salt water envoronment...

 

and DUH :o ... when you place a nano... place it protected from the weather...

 

I know there are a lot of lousy ones out there...

but if you read the logs, you can weed them out and only hit the quality ones...

Edited by Peconic Bay Sailors
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and DUH :o ... when you place a nano... place it protected from the weather...
The first nano we ran across was on a sign post outside a BBQ joint exposed to 100% of the weather. I have one nano that catches everything the Florida weather can throw at it and has survived thru a hurricane and several tropical storms without the log ever getting wet. The magnet came off once (the people didn't know how to open it and tried prying the magnetic off to gain access) but it's been rock solid.
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