+Bloencustoms Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 What are some examples of quick fixes you have done to your caching equipment? How did you get that faulty power cable to work again, or hold your pack together when the zipper breaks? Some of the caches placed are very inventive. Let's see how cachers apply that creativity to getting their caching / outdoor equipment working again in the field. Quote Link to comment
solohiker Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 I just bring extra batteries. Since geocaching has become mainstream there don't seem to be as many trail caches. Puzzle caches in parking lots? Go inside the Wal-Mart to fix anything. Quote Link to comment
Link & Zelda Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Two words do it for me...duct tape...it truly has a thousand uses! That and a couple of large safety pins (to hold a broken zipper or ripped pack strap) will get you through almost anything. Quote Link to comment
+Polgara Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Two words do it for me...duct tape...it truly has a thousand uses! I used duct tape to 'wax' chiggers off my pants this past summer after finishing a cache. I never saw so many chiggers in my life. Quote Link to comment
+Bloencustoms Posted January 1, 2004 Author Share Posted January 1, 2004 Two words do it for me...duct tape...it truly has a thousand uses! I used duct tape to 'wax' chiggers off my pants this past summer after finishing a cache. I never saw so many chiggers in my life. Great idea. I'll have to rememr that next time I'm in a tick infested area. Quote Link to comment
solohiker Posted January 1, 2004 Share Posted January 1, 2004 I live in a tick infested area. I never used duct tape to pick them off. I usually find them in a hairy part of my body. Duct tape? Ouch! Quote Link to comment
+Capitalpete Posted January 1, 2004 Share Posted January 1, 2004 Things of absolute neccesity to carry in the geocache backpack, or any other backpack for that matter. -Duct tape, any color, but you must really carry this. -electrical tape, for something that you will have to take the tape off again. -Zipties, of many sizes and varieties, take some that have the screw eyes in them as they are really valuable for fixing things and holding them to something. -Rope, always carry rope. I mean real good rope too, not polypropelyne rope. -a real leatherman. Not a "cheap knock off, blades are already dull, screwdrivers will break when you use them, rusts in the case piece of crap" -spare change, to use when repairing things or use in a pay phone when all else fails -Ziplock bags, again use the real brand here as when you need them, you really need them. -a small length of Marine grade electrical wire, about 14-16ga can be either single or double. Marine grade is tinned copper wire and will not corrode. -stainless steel seizing wire, used by sailors and aircraft mechanics when they really do not want things to come apart again by accident. -a really good quality folding/locking knife with a large blade. Now "thats a knife" I have used all of these things to repair GPS units on friends boats. One memorable trip my friend lost the springs and connectors from the battery tray of his GPS12. I was able to fabricate a new set from items in my backpack in less than 10 minutes and we were able to once again navigate with the GPS. Which was a good thing because he neglected to tell us that he did not have real charts for the are of Desolation sound that we were in! Have also used these items to Jerry Rig GPS mounts together for use on the boats. Most sailors are notoriously cheap so they tend not to invest in real mounts for their GPS units, so you always end up rigging something together but hopefully before you lose the GPS over the side! Quote Link to comment
+sturgeongeneral Posted January 1, 2004 Share Posted January 1, 2004 Most sailors are notoriously cheap so they tend not to invest in real mounts for their GPS units, so you always end up rigging something together but hopefully before you lose the GPS over the side! That HURTS!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment
+Bloencustoms Posted January 1, 2004 Author Share Posted January 1, 2004 Oh, yeah. Parachute cord is great for all kinds of stuff too. Quote Link to comment
+CYBret Posted January 1, 2004 Share Posted January 1, 2004 (edited) yep, I've always got a decent length of parachute cord with me, there's just too many things it can fix. I've also wrapped several feet of black electrical tape around my flashlight. It serves two purposes - one it shims the flashlight up a bit so it stays in it's pocket better and two it's always handy to have some electrical tape just in case. I probably should wrap duct tape around the rest of the light. ;-) Last weekend I did a cache in an exceptionally muddy area (you absolutely cannot believe where this guy put the cache!). I realized about half way back from it that two decent sized Wal-mart baggies would have been really handy. I could have put them on over my shoes and then held them in place with the tape or parachute cord and then I wouldn't have had to spend all that time cleaning off my shoes! Yeah, I know...doesn't really fit the "if it ain't broke" category, but it still would have been a good idea. Bret Edited January 1, 2004 by CYBret Quote Link to comment
+Bloencustoms Posted January 1, 2004 Author Share Posted January 1, 2004 Ihave been using para cord on the handles of a couple of knives, and a machete. It beefs up the grip a bit, and can be removed for other uses if need be. I do need to stock up on some duct tape, though. You can never have enough. I'm hoping I never need to use it to hold my batteries in. Quote Link to comment
+cachew nut Posted January 1, 2004 Share Posted January 1, 2004 How to make a paracord knife handle How to make a ammo box BBQ grill How to make a walking stick How to make a Cache In Trash Out shelter Quote Link to comment
+CYBret Posted January 1, 2004 Share Posted January 1, 2004 Great links, Cachew. I especially liked the ammo box grill, which is a much better idea than mine of painting the ammo can black and leaving a can of soup in it on a hot summer day. Bret Quote Link to comment
+Divine Posted January 1, 2004 Share Posted January 1, 2004 All a geocacher needs is three things - WD-40, duct tape and a baseball bat. If it moves and it shouldn't? Duct tape. Should and doesn't? WD-40. Everything else? Baseball bat. Err...receiving a mental note from the leader of the Evil Horde...change that baseball bat to hiking staff! Sorry El Diablo! Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.