+Ry Dawg Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 This may have already been discussed, but apparently my search bar is not agreeing with me today: I will soon be receiving five new sets of bug tags, I plan to set out within the next year, depending on when I come up with goals. I've never owned a bug, but I find the concept fascinating. Does anybody have any advice for a newbie? What to expect, pro's/con's, disappointments, etc.? Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Most important - Don't send out anything of any sentimental value - Nothing that you'll regret losing. Accept the fact that eventually the bugs will go missing. When is "eventually"? Answer: How long is a piece of string? Every one you release is your own personal little gamble with the gods of geocaching. MrsB Quote Link to comment
+Bear and Ragged Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Don't release anything you consider 'of worth' or sentimental value. Don't get too attached to them, they will go missing. Hopefully many years and miles down the road! Worth taking a read of Snoogans' Tb Longevity Clinic up at the top of the page, in the pinned section. Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Did somebody already say... Worth taking a read of Snoogans' Tb Longevity Clinic up at the top of the page, in the pinned section? If so, it is worth repeating, anyway. You may have TB's that simply want to "wander", you may have TB's with specific mission's. Don't make the mission too complicated. A large traveler = slow movement (hard to find caches large enough) A very cute traveler = lost (becomes some kid's toy) Use only durable items as traveler's, and try to avoid using a plastic baggie to contain it. Here is a handy tip: Discard the little bead-chain. Instead, use a 1/16" cable -- cheap at most any hardware store (garage door cable), available in whatever length you want as it cuts easily with linesman's pliers. Loop it through the traveler, the TB tag and the mission card. Fix both ends into a crush-able ferrel also available at that hardware store (make sure the cut ends are INSIDE the ferrel -- those cut wires poke through skin very easily). The following photo, the ferrel is not sealed yet as the mission card was added after the photo. Mission card, or statement can be printed and re-sized into a smaller page from a link on the TB page. Laminate both sides and insert a grommet near the corner. You could create and print a mission card in your own style. It is not absolutely necessary to have such, but it sure does help that somebody knows the mission immediately upon picking up the TB. Good luck. We hope your TB's have a long life and travel a million miles. Quote Link to comment
+ShaunEM Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 I drilled a hole through my travelbug, ditched the crappy chain that comes with the tag and just used a keyring from a keychain (its pretty hard to put through the tag AND your travelbug, I recommend pliers). Once this has been done you have a very durable connection between your tag and your TB. We left a TB in Maui (our first). I made it two caches and now appears to have gone missing. Boo Hoo. Shaun Quote Link to comment
+Ry Dawg Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 Wow, thanks for the quick responses! I checked out the travel bug longevity pin; very helpful! Just an idea, to get an opinion on: I have a plastic toy scorpion. I was thinking about drilling a hole through him, and attaching the bug via sturdy chain/cable of some sort. The goal of this bug would be to travel around the deserts & take pictures (he will be launched somewhere is southern Utah or eastern Nevada). Is this a "fair" bug/quest? He's not too big, and not very "cute" at all to want to keep as a toy. Just a thought thanks! Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Wow, thanks for the quick responses! I checked out the travel bug longevity pin; very helpful! Just an idea, to get an opinion on: I have a plastic toy scorpion. I was thinking about drilling a hole through him, and attaching the bug via sturdy chain/cable of some sort. The goal of this bug would be to travel around the deserts & take pictures (he will be launched somewhere is southern Utah or eastern Nevada). Is this a "fair" bug/quest? He's not too big, and not very "cute" at all to want to keep as a toy. Just a thought thanks! This sounds like an excellent starter. Your choices as the "traveler" part of the TB are seemingly endless. Just don't get locked into thinking it must be an actual "toy". I remember finding (and adding to) a TB that started simply as TB tag and chain. It's goal was to travel the world and collect coins from as many countries and areas as possible. The coin did not have to be monetary, just a coin. I drilled a coin from a local casino, added it to the dozen or more already collected and sent it back out. I thought this to be flat-out brilliant! I also took a photo of it's current status and uploaded -- just in case if it were to get lost, the owner would at least have the photo. Maybe your scorpion could even make the Sahara or Gobi. Just imagine the possibilities...... Quote Link to comment
+jmobr Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Think my most creative one is a small cheese grater with the goal being pizza places, cheese shops, but it might have ended upon a mini kitchen? Quote Link to comment
+Bear and Ragged Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Wow, thanks for the quick responses! I checked out the travel bug longevity pin; very helpful! Just an idea, to get an opinion on: I have a plastic toy scorpion. I was thinking about drilling a hole through him, and attaching the bug via sturdy chain/cable of some sort. The goal of this bug would be to travel around the deserts & take pictures (he will be launched somewhere is southern Utah or eastern Nevada). Is this a "fair" bug/quest? He's not too big, and not very "cute" at all to want to keep as a toy. Just a thought thanks! Sounds a good one! TIP. Don't have the chain/fixing too long. And don't have it too short! It needs to be long enough to be able to turn the TB over, so the tracking number doesn't show in any photos to be posted on the site. And don't have the mission statement too big, or it WILL be folded to fit in the smaller caches! Quote Link to comment
+Ry Dawg Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share Posted November 1, 2011 Good to know, thanks! I am planning on making my own "chain" with some cable and a spot-welder. I think that should do the trick! Quote Link to comment
+EXMAN Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 another thing..... i would NEVER put a geocoin out there. if you think a $5 TB will disappear fast. try a $10 coin. disappears like magic. poof.....it's gone Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 another thing..... i would NEVER put a geocoin out there. if you think a $5 TB will disappear fast. try a $10 coin. disappears like magic. poof.....it's gone What?... You mean like this one? (Hasn't) Or this one? (Hasn't) Or this one? (Nor this one) Geocoins do disappear, but some live a good long life. MrsB Quote Link to comment
Fletcher15 Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Every second time after we defeat the boss the game doesn't end i don't see my score and after a long long time im getting to town or i need to close the game can they fix it can i fix it what to do? Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Every second time after we defeat the boss the game doesn't end i don't see my score and after a long long time im getting to town or i need to close the game can they fix it can i fix it what to do? I suppose this cryptic post means something. Quote Link to comment
+squirtchy Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 I dropped a bug off in North Wales, in July last year, I live in South East England, so decided to see if it could come home, after a year it found it's way back to 10km away from my house, the day I went to retrieve it, there was no travel bug in the cache? Where could it be? .... I got home to find somone else that day had found it, logged it and said " My first Tb, very excited, taking it to Poland... DOH! Oh well.... I've also had a Tb go straight from near to my home coords, to Scotland, then to Spain, then to a Small Island off spain, now it's back in spain... this was all within two weeks... At the end of the day, with TBs... it's all down to luck. Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 .... I got home to find somone else that day had found it, logged it and said " My first Tb, very excited, taking it to Poland... No mission card/statement with the TB? Yet they probably would not have known that it was on it's way home. But, even then... "stuff" happens. Quote Link to comment
+squirtchy Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 .... I got home to find somone else that day had found it, logged it and said " My first Tb, very excited, taking it to Poland... No mission card/statement with the TB? Yet they probably would not have known that it was on it's way home. But, even then... "stuff" happens. As it was there first, i'm guessing they got too excited and thought 'sod it, lets take it to Poland' Im not too fussed, would have sent it on it's way after i had seen it again anyway, nice to see it going to new places. Quote Link to comment
jacquez Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 (edited) . Edited November 6, 2011 by jacquez Quote Link to comment
+Ry Dawg Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 Howdy, just an update for anybody interested: I've made my first bug, here he is: I have a hole drilled through a thicker part of the center, and key-rings passing through them. There are two, so it can be rotated easily enough to flip the tog both ways. When I attach the Travel Goal Card I will be melting the rings closed, so they would have to be cut off. Let me know what you think! Here is his reference number if you wanna give it a look: TB4JRWN. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 That looks great! Several of my TBs use key rings. How do you "melt" the rings? Quote Link to comment
+Ry Dawg Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 (edited) Thanks! A really hot soldering iron. Melt several of the "both sides" fairly close together, and make sure you do one on each end that pops up as well. Edited November 6, 2011 by Rychu Quote Link to comment
icecreamcaching Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 The deer is a great idea. With the antlers, it is bulky and not something easy to slip in a pocket and forget. Although, I hope it is sturdy enough so the antlers will not break off. On the flip side if they do break off, more reason someone would not want to keep it. Quote Link to comment
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