brendannewell Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 I was thinking of hiding some 35mm film containers and I was wondering what anyone would suggest to use as a logbook? All the film containers I've found so far have had a long thin log book but I have no idea where I'd get one. I live in England if that makes any difference. Many thanks for any suggestions :-) Quote Link to comment
+StarBrand Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 For starters - those film canisters make lousy cache containers and tend not to be watertight over time. But for some micro logsheeets.... http://www.wnag.net/docs.htm Quote Link to comment
+Manwithbeers Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 I found this website (Blog) some time ago. Usefull PDF type cache sheets for a variety of containers. http://www.techblazer.com/ Quote Link to comment
+KoosKoos Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 And some more in various sizes: http://home.austin.rr.com/candylind/caching/stashnotes/ And to reiterate...unless your canister is protected from the elements, it's probably not going to be watertight, so plan accordingly. Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 I was thinking of hiding some 35mm film containers and I was wondering what anyone would suggest to use as a logbook? All the film containers I've found so far have had a long thin log book but I have no idea where I'd get one. I live in England if that makes any difference. Many thanks for any suggestions :-) I bought some rolls of cash register tape a while back for real cheap at an office supply store (it was a partial pack). Makes it real easy to create logs for small container. Quote Link to comment
+therealwesty Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 I just make my log sheets using a spreadsheet. Check the depth of you film cann, then decide whether to go one column or two. I print the whole 8x11 sheet then cut the columns into strips and then just staple it like a log book. Roll it up and stuff it in the container. If you have a spare little baggie from a travel bug or something you can put the paper in there for some extra protection. Quote Link to comment
Motorcycle_Mama Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 http://www.geocaching.com/seek/ Look about halfway down on the right side of the page. And yes, please do everything you can to make it water resistant. Quote Link to comment
+patned Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 If you are going to hide film canisters, try to locate the translucent ones from Fuji, rather than the black ones from Kodak. The Fuji cans with the snap_IN lids are waterproof, the others with snap_ON are not. Check your nearest photo store for a possibly free supply. Quote Link to comment
+StarBrand Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 If you are going to hide film canisters, try to locate the translucent ones from Fuji, rather than the black ones from Kodak. The Fuji cans with the snap_IN lids are waterproof, the others with snap_ON are not. Check your nearest photo store for a possibly free supply. I haven't the same experience with the Fuji ones....... Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 If you are going to hide film canisters, try to locate the translucent ones from Fuji, rather than the black ones from Kodak. The Fuji cans with the snap_IN lids are waterproof, the others with snap_ON are not. Check your nearest photo store for a possibly free supply. I haven't the same experience with the Fuji ones....... I've rarely found a dry logbook in either kind of film canister. Terrible containers. Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Yup. All film cans will leak under the right (or wrong) conditions. Go for the waterproof match container. Quote Link to comment
+Moosiegirl Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 And some more in various sizes: http://home.austin.rr.com/candylind/caching/stashnotes/ And to reiterate...unless your canister is protected from the elements, it's probably not going to be watertight, so plan accordingly. My webpage was obliterated by RoadRunner so I have created a new webpage with these stash notes: http://geocaching.perklind.com/stashnotes I'm happy for anybody to use them. If you have trouble with any of it, please email candylind@gmail.com. Thanks. Happy Trails, Candy Quote Link to comment
lilbeardy Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 (edited) watch this: Edited July 10, 2012 by lilbeardy Quote Link to comment
+wifireman Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Geocacher University Heres some good logs and downloads for various size caches. Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Years ago, I bought some real cheap cache register tape (narrow). The package had been opened and a roll was missing, so it was in the "damaged goods" bin at Office Depot. It's great for making match container logs, or any small log books. No more cutting and taping strips of paper. Quote Link to comment
+BAMBOOZLE Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 I just make my log sheets using a spreadsheet. Check the depth of you film cann, then decide whether to go one column or two. I print the whole 8x11 sheet then cut the columns into strips and then just staple it like a log book. Roll it up and stuff it in the container. If you have a spare little baggie from a travel bug or something you can put the paper in there for some extra protection. This is exactly what I do and I've made hundreds.....adding a small ziplock from a craft store is even better. The film can has become the poster boy of bad containers and it just isn't true....in the rainy swamps of LA I've hid a bunch with good results and even had one submerged for 2 years....they are not the best micro's but far from the worst ( any kind of tin, key holder, fake rock, etc )...I paint them which helps re UV......the tops will eventually fail but after hundreds of finds the majority will be fine. For the best micro go with a preform or baby soda bottle.....a match holder with good gasket is almost as good. Quote Link to comment
jholly Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I think film canister is GREAT. There are plenty of them aorund for cheap or free, add a simple ziplock bag and a little yearly check-up and your water sin't a problem, and they are very universal Hide on the ground it's fine if it gets dirty Hide in the air, perfect size for a homemade strap/holder Hide anywhere it's small and compact for a great hide ANYWHERE Any container that requires a ziplock to keep the log dry has already failed. About half or more of the film cans with ziplock bags I have found that have been in the wild for more that a month have wet logs. The other problem is CO's or helpful cachers replacing torn bags use what seems to be the quart size bag for a small log. You can't get the whole mess back in the container and get the lid on tight. The only other container that is worse than a film can is a gladware container. Quote Link to comment
+stijnhommes Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I found a couple of try film cans, but those were usually either pinned to a tree in the upright position or hidden from the elements. One log that was particularly wet was hidden on ground level on its side. A big storm probably filled it up with water. Quote Link to comment
Chino1130 Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 (edited) Do the entire community a service and dont use film containers. Edited August 21, 2012 by Chino1130 Quote Link to comment
+Lieblweb Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 (edited) Film containers are awesome cache containers...You can get them for free at your local drug/film developing stores. Using a tiny plastic bag to put the log inside, will help the log stay dry. I have several film containers out for a battleship game and haven't had any problems with them at all in over a year. The logs get full before the logs get wet. And even so...I maintain them every year regardless. Edited August 21, 2012 by Lieblweb Quote Link to comment
+J the Goat Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I think film canister is GREAT. There are plenty of them aorund for cheap or free, add a simple ziplock bag and a little yearly check-up and your water sin't a problem, and they are very universal Hide on the ground it's fine if it gets dirty Hide in the air, perfect size for a homemade strap/holder Hide anywhere it's small and compact for a great hide ANYWHERE They're not waterproof and will get wet this way. Plastic baggies don't help; they keep water in, not out. If you're going to take the time to make a custom strap, please make a quality custom container that won't leak and break. I've never seen a great film can hide anywhere. I've seen plenty of crappy ones, they seem to be the standard. Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 If you're going to take the time to make a custom strap, please make a quality custom container that won't leak and break. I make my straps/holsters out of electrical wire, wound around the container until its about half down. This is a sturdy holster, it bends into place, but takes force so the hook wont un-bend. And the wire can withstand the elements. And please don't reply with why this is wrong. My reply would be: I enjoy finding film containers more than any other. You know almost all large ones are on the ground hidden by logs sticks or leaves. The small ones are what I find fun to hunt for. And when I find one my favorite part is seeing there creative way to hang it or hide it. When you finally decide to place them (you have no hides out yet), please let us know how they held up after a few seasons. The posts that may seem negative towards these crappy containers are from quite a few years of long-time cachers finding soggy, often moldy pulp of a log in them. We learned (after many trips to fix) and now our few micro hides are all matchstick containers. You could perform your wire trick on those as well. Quote Link to comment
+J the Goat Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 If you're going to take the time to make a custom strap, please make a quality custom container that won't leak and break. I make my straps/holsters out of electrical wire, wound around the container until its about half down. This is a sturdy holster, it bends into place, but takes force so the hook wont un-bend. And the wire can withstand the elements. And please don't reply with why this is wrong. My reply would be: I enjoy finding film containers more than any other. You know almost all large ones are on the ground hidden by logs sticks or leaves. The small ones are what I find fun to hunt for. And when I find one my favorite part is seeing there creative way to hang it or hide it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with liking to find challenging and interesting micros. Your wire idea is a good one. None of that changes the poor quality of film canisters. There are plenty of containers that work wonderfully, one of which is mentioned in the post above mine. Soda bottle preforms are stellar. I've seen people use halves of contact lense cases. Decon containers are a little larger but very easily cammo'd and are great against the elements. Lock'n'lock's seem to come in pretty small sizes. The possiblities for good quality micros that can be cleverly camoflaged are pretty extensive. Heck, if you know anyone who's diabetic the test strip containers work really well too... Quote Link to comment
+Lieblweb Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 (edited) The posts that may seem negative towards these crappy containers are from quite a few years of long-time cachers finding soggy, often moldy pulp of a log in them. We learned (after many trips to fix) and now our few micro hides are all matchstick containers. You can't blame the containers on CO's who don't maintain their caches. And by putting out 'better' containers, is just an excuse for them not to visit/maintain the caches. Poor CO's can make any container look bad...... Edited August 23, 2012 by Lieblweb Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 (edited) Poor CO's can make any container look bad...... +1 The replies in this forum suppose typical cache maintenance (none, for example). Think of all the times you've found a film canister and said "Man, the CO is maintaining the HECK outta this thing!" I've had a 35mm film canister cache in place for three years, still the same container. It's got "leaf" coverings which are water repellent -- like a little cache raincoat. It's hanging up, so never sits in water. And I'm using Nat Geo waterproof paper for the log. Merely opening the container fills it with thick Atlanta humidity (which then gets sealed back up inside). But it's right on my walking route, so no big deal to keep it in decent shape. I could have used an Altoids tin, just swap it out every few weeks. As for the log book, mine's a rolled-up sheet. But a few pieces of paper carefully cut to size, folded, and stapled, make a nice little booklet in a micro, leaving room for tiny Swag. That may be what I do for my replacement log. Edited August 23, 2012 by kunarion Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 The posts that may seem negative towards these crappy containers are from quite a few years of long-time cachers finding soggy, often moldy pulp of a log in them. We learned (after many trips to fix) and now our few micro hides are all matchstick containers. You can't blame the containers on CO's who don't maintain their caches. And by putting out 'better' containers, is just an excuse for them not to visit/maintain the caches. Poor CO's can make any container look bad...... We placed "much better" containers after bimonthly hiking/biking the eight mile round trip to poor water out of and replace the logs in the film containers in a series. We maintain our hides. The matchstick holders have held up since 6/11 without need for log replacements. We know because we visit. Quote Link to comment
+J the Goat Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 The posts that may seem negative towards these crappy containers are from quite a few years of long-time cachers finding soggy, often moldy pulp of a log in them. We learned (after many trips to fix) and now our few micro hides are all matchstick containers. You can't blame the containers on CO's who don't maintain their caches. And by putting out 'better' containers, is just an excuse for them not to visit/maintain the caches. Poor CO's can make any container look bad...... That's probably one of the uh.... silliest statements in this whole thread. You're saying that I shouldn't use quality containers because their quality means I don't have to check on them once a week? That's ridiculous. Quote Link to comment
+Lieblweb Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 (edited) That's probably one of the uh.... silliest statements in this whole thread. You're saying that I shouldn't use quality containers because their quality means I don't have to check on them once a week? That's ridiculous. Bad CO's are ridiculous no matter what containers they use. That about sums it up. The container is only as good as the CO is willing to maintain it. Edited August 24, 2012 by Lieblweb Quote Link to comment
+J the Goat Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 That's probably one of the uh.... silliest statements in this whole thread. You're saying that I shouldn't use quality containers because their quality means I don't have to check on them once a week? That's ridiculous. Bad CO's are ridiculous no matter what containers they use. That about sums it up. The container is only as good as the CO is willing to maintain it. Your first statement it absolutely correct. I do take issue with your second statement. Take an ammo can and set it under a tree and let it sit there unmaintained for a year. Do the same with a black film can with a gray lid. All things being equal, the ammo can outlasts the film can every single time. Of course maintainence will help either one, but to say one is the same is the other is pretty off the mark. Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 (edited) All things being equal, the ammo can outlasts the film can every single time. Of course maintainence will help either one, but to say one is the same is the other is pretty off the mark. A plastic container outdoors will get brittle and crack. So you can expect to need to replace a 35mm film canister a few times over the life of a metal ammo box. But change the canister on a schedule (every week is silly, do that every two weeks ), and that may be perfect in a spot the requires a Micro. And I've seen quite a few ammo boxes that were wet inside (they seal water in), hidden in unappealing spots, raided and containing questionable items, complete with inattentive CO. More or less a film canister drop cache, only bigger. And permanent. Edited August 24, 2012 by kunarion Quote Link to comment
+Lieblweb Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Your first statement it absolutely correct. I do take issue with your second statement. Take an ammo can and set it under a tree and let it sit there unmaintained for a year. Do the same with a black film can with a gray lid. All things being equal, the ammo can outlasts the film can every single time. Of course maintainence will help either one, but to say one is the same is the other is pretty off the mark. Not all ammo cans are created equal..... I've seen water & mud inside ammo cans before. Again - Just because you hide a 'quality' container, doesn't give you the excuse to not maintain them. Quote Link to comment
+BAMBOOZLE Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Film containers are awesome cache containers...You can get them for free at your local drug/film developing stores. Using a tiny plastic bag to put the log inside, will help the log stay dry. I have several film containers out for a battleship game and haven't had any problems with them at all in over a year. The logs get full before the logs get wet. And even so...I maintain them every year regardless. This is basically true of film can hides....I've been putting them out for almost 10 years with good results in a wet environment. All my film cans survived hurricane Katrina....a couple of ammo cans didn't ( crushed ) Quote Link to comment
+BAMBOOZLE Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 If you're going to take the time to make a custom strap, please make a quality custom container that won't leak and break. I make my straps/holsters out of electrical wire, wound around the container until its about half down. This is a sturdy holster, it bends into place, but takes force so the hook wont un-bend. And the wire can withstand the elements. And please don't reply with why this is wrong. My reply would be: I enjoy finding film containers more than any other. You know almost all large ones are on the ground hidden by logs sticks or leaves. The small ones are what I find fun to hunt for. And when I find one my favorite part is seeing there creative way to hang it or hide it. One of my favorite caches to seek is a micro in the woods....a real challenge. Some would say you should hide a regular size in the woods.....heck, you could hide a school bus in the woods ( one big pile of sticks ) but where's the challenge. Quote Link to comment
+Lieblweb Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 One of my favorite caches to seek is a micro in the woods....a real challenge. Some would say you should hide a regular size in the woods.....heck, you could hide a school bus in the woods ( one big pile of sticks ) but where's the challenge. Challenging yes... People talk about how bad film containers can be... What about bison tubes & blinkies?? You have to use write-in-the-rain logs and keep a stockpile of o-rings. Quote Link to comment
+BAMBOOZLE Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I used to use them as waterproof match containers, for camping and hiking. Just as a matter of interest, do any films still come in the old aluminium, screw top, canisters? I came across a couple when we were clearing out stuff before we left South Africa a couple of years ago. I saw those a few years ago on Ebay where I picked up a hundred or so plastic cans. Nothing I've ever tried with screw threads only, including pipe, has been water tight. Where a gasket or o-ring is incorporated in to the design ( bison or match holder) you have a really good chance of being waterproof. Quote Link to comment
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