Newbie Testing his future cache plans

[+nimrodblack]

I saw this on instructables from cacher Brantflakes:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Micro-Geocache-Container/

 

And came up with a similar design with a few changes. I thought I would share them and get feedback. I am still testing and given that I only have 30ish finds I am not ready to place one. But no harm in designing, redesigning, testing and thinking about what I might do. (Yes I am OCD its ok I am at home with it)

 

You might see some of these photos on instructables. I want to make sure I give that guy full credit for the original idea. These Sunkist photos are mine. And who knows someone else might like this design.

 

So I used a hacksaw to cut off the mouths of two sunkist bottles (yes i messed up a couple in the process) and then I used KrazyGlue to sort of tack weld the two together in this pic. After it was held in place I sealed the seam up (inside and out) with Marine Goop.

 

Then i took this thing and put in in hot water and cold water on and off completely submerged for a couple days just to test out the water proof-ness (a word?) of the container. Everything checked out.

 

Then I got some log papers from geocache.com shop (i like to support the cause), cut a short pencil (i know it will disappear), got a small track-able and tried to fit it all.

 

Shockingly it all fits!

 

I don't have a place in mind, and I don't intend on placing it anytime soon as I would rather my first cache be a non-micro and perhaps once i get some more finds under my belt. But I thought I would share this adapted idea from Brantflakes instructable that i listed above.

[+e5c4p3artist]

Everything you posted here is a great idea! I have seen a cache in a container like this and thought it was a creative idea. In fact, I have been thinking about copying it myself. Nice job on all the prep and testing you have done. If you put as much research into good hiding places as you do for building caches, you will have some excellent hides.

[GOF and Bacall]

I'd leave out the pencil. It is just gonna get broken or lost and makes it harder for folks in the field to get it all back in.

[+nimrodblack]

e5c4p3artist

Yeah I don't really have great hide ideas right now. Nothing clearly on public land that doesn't already have 15 caches on it. And the land I do know of that could use a cache due to great hike/scenery really deserve something bigger (med or lg) and I don't feel comfortable as I have not seen enough larger hides yet. But I am working on it. Thanks for the reply!

 

GOF & Bacall

 

Yeah I agree...the pencil was an afterthought and not a great one. And the tracking bug is really just a FTF idea. So with all that gone.....getting the log back in would be easier. Thanks for the comment.

[+briansnat]

On thing. The submersion test is not a complete one. Water pressure sometimes creates a better seal than the container would have in the real world. I've tested a number of containers that passed the submersion test with flying colors and got wet anyway. You can start with a submersion test, but also try a shower test holding the container in all positions.

 

Even that is not perfect because you won't have the extremes in heat and cold that cause containers to expand and contract.

[+nimrodblack]

On thing. The submersion test is not a complete one...-snip-...Even that is not perfect because you won't have the extremes in heat and cold that cause containers to expand and contract.

 

Good call! Means I need to send it through the wash on a rinse cycle both hot and cold and perhaps freeze it wet as well.

 

I need help. Perhaps I should just hide it in my backyard until I get another 100 or so finds and by then if its still dry...probably ok. But the washing machine sounds like fun!

[Clan Riffster]

Perhaps I should just hide it in my backyard...

Brian made a valid point, which I'm glad to see you picked up on. I also use an immersion test initially, but this just tells me if I have a huge fail point. Here in Florida, humidity and ground vapors are the biggest saturators of logs, as they are both highly invasive. Once a container passes my immersion test, (typically one week in the bottom of a 30 gallon drum), I set it amongst a stand of pine trees in my front yard, wiggling it partially into the pine needles. If it survives there for a month, I figure it's a pretty good container. I have one similar to the container you built, which was given to me by another cacher. It survived both tests with nary a hint of moisture.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

I have found a coupel of these home-brew caches, and if I remember most (if not all) were damp/wet inside.

[+kywaterfowler]

I have 5 of these out now and they have always stayed dry. It really depends on what type of glue/epox you use. I use some stuff made by Loctite, and they appear to be holding up pretty well:)

[+The VanDucks]

Just have to compliment you on your original, handmade cache idea! We love to find unique hides like the one you describe. So many new cachers place the standard film can in a lamp post skirt, or nano on a sign. One of the things that makes geocaching so much fun is the creativity displayed by many cachers, and it looks like you will be one of that elite group!

[Clan Riffster]

I forgot to add: If you add a dolop of Marine Goop to the inside that gets glued shut, then drop in a rare earth magnet, you increase greatly the types of locations you can place such a cache in.

[+niraD]

I forgot to add: If you add a dolop of Marine Goop to the inside that gets glued shut, then drop in a rare earth magnet, you increase greatly the types of locations you can place such a cache in.

I know someone who makes these with the lids from wide-mouth gallon-size bottles. He uses aquarium sealant to glue the bottom lid on, and to glue a magnet to the bottom lid. They work well and stay dry.