+briansnat Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 has anyone used coffee containers? They are probably waterproof!! I have two 1-gallon ones w/ snap-on lids, but the screw-on ones are probably better...any advice? Bad choice, they rust quickly and the lids split after a few finds. Link to comment
+Kookykraut Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 Folger's coffee has changed to plastic containers in the past year. Beside the 36 ounce they have a 52 which is a really nice size and a smaller which is probably about 20 some ounces. They seal well. I've been considering using one to see how they will hold up. The downside to plastic is the attitude I have toward it. The first seven or eight caches I found were all in ammo boxes and they spoiled me. Now when I find a rubbermaid cache with soggy contents I think that Ammo containers are the way to go. Besides, the Ace Hardware near me has them for 4.00 each or three for ten bucks. Link to comment
McKenzie Clan Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 I would think they would be waterproof, as they keep paint fresh and unspoiled. They are waterproof when new. Once that lid gets bent from repeated closing and opening, it won't be any longer. They also rust quickly. We have had a paint can out for over a year (including a Canadian winter) and it is still water proof. The area is also very wet in the spring. That being said caches up here do not get the traffic that US caches do... average about 1 /month for me. I painted it first with black rust paint then cammo. There is a opening tool attached to the handle and nothing but a rock to close it up... Scott Link to comment
+ValleyRat & TillyMouse Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 Newbies, we've only placed one cache, but we have many filled containers ready for placing. Garage sales provide lots of innovative ideas for containers. We're leaning towards tupperware, but with a small roll of tape inside for future sealing. Would love to afford ammo boxes, but. . . Link to comment
Azaruk Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 Hmmmmmmm........ "Cool of them to give us tape to seal the container." "Sure was" . . . . . "OK .... all done. Container sealed ......... ummmm?" "What? "How do I get the roll of tape back into a sealed container?" Sorry - couldn't resist Link to comment
+ziatriguy Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 My first cache is in a small "Otter Box". Its tough and waterproof to 30ft. The local dive shop has them for under $10. Link to comment
+Mudinyeri Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 I too prefer ammo cans for larger, more remote caches. I like to cover mine with camo duct tape. Not only does it help hide them it reduces the clang factor somewhat. I'd sure like to find a place, locally, where I could get them for $3.00 or $5.00. I spent $9.99 on the last one I bought (.50 cal). Although I haven't hidden a micro yet, I have hundreds of the perfect container. There are small plastic tubes from a medical supply store with screw-on lids. They're waterproof (I used to ship HO racetrack cleaner samples in them.) and small enough to fit almost anywhere. Dimensions are about 1.5" in length and about 7/16" in diameter. If anyone would like a few, just e-mail me at Mudinyeri Link to comment
+Pork King Posted November 25, 2004 Share Posted November 25, 2004 Ammo cans are definitly the best...My favorite, though, is the little tubs that cool-whip comes in. They are cheap, spacious, and last up to 3 weeks! As for micros, match containers work well, but the rubber gaskets tend to rot. Film canisters do fine. As for cookie tins stated above, they wrok good, but repeated opening cand closing can cause the containers to bend, rendering them non-waterproof. Link to comment
+JoesBar Posted November 25, 2004 Share Posted November 25, 2004 Ammo cans are the best. Although, one of mine has a lid that comes off at the hinge. Next time I buy, I will inspect them carefully. I have one cache out that is PVC pipe. It is waterproof but the problem is that it is hard to open. I have to go out and apply silicon to the threads of the cap every so often. Rubbermaid makes some very good containers. I have one of the new Folger's coffee cans out right now on a field test. The winter will tell. (I live in Northeast Ohio.) Finally, has anyone tried one of the new plastic paint cans? They appear to be made of a thick plastic. But you would have to trim off the pouring spout. Link to comment
sorchah Posted November 27, 2004 Share Posted November 27, 2004 Both of my cache containers are painted altoid tins. One of them got very very wet after a rain once- so I put a plastic bag over it. It seems to be fine. The other one is hidden in a rafter of a park shelter, so there is absoltely no way it could get wet, unless the roof leaked or it fell down (impossible). The caches I have been to recently have 'TakeAlongs' containers. They seem to work well-even with the lid 5' away, which is how I found one of them!!! Link to comment
+Kookykraut Posted November 28, 2004 Share Posted November 28, 2004 I just emptied one of the 52 oz folger cans and will give it a try soon. I've even thought of putting another lidded container inside the can for double protection during our wet fall and wetter spring in Wisconsin. Link to comment
+chstress53 Posted November 28, 2004 Share Posted November 28, 2004 My very first hide was a typical ammo can but then I discovered those bear proof containers. They are water proof, they can be opened with a coin,they have a sack that comes with them and they also have a cord rope to hoist into a tree. So far these are my favorite, but then again I only have 3 hides to our account. I did buy several unique containers (on an auction type web site_, a fence cap, an apple, and a secret compartment book just to name a few that says it is waterproof, they will be my next hides. Link to comment
Rebel Cacher Posted November 29, 2004 Share Posted November 29, 2004 Cabela's has these ammo boxes, made of plastic, so should be lighter than your steel ammo cans... not sure how to link to page...just do a google search for cabela's, then ammo boxes...hope this helps Link to comment
+briansnat Posted November 29, 2004 Share Posted November 29, 2004 but then I discovered those bear proof containers I'm sure they are great containers, but aren't they on the expensive side? The ones I've seen were over $50. Link to comment
+Medic005 Posted December 2, 2004 Share Posted December 2, 2004 Here's a picture of my first cache containers, what do you think? One is a medium sized tupperware container with the Camo Duct Tape and the other is a Insulated Coffee Mug with Camo Duct Tape. I had to seal the coffee sipping holes on the lid. The lid has a nice tight rubber seal, so I don't think it will leak. Now I just have to find a good hidding spot... Link to comment
+Clan X-Man Posted December 3, 2004 Author Share Posted December 3, 2004 Here's a picture of my first cache containers, what do you think? One is a medium sized tupperware container with the Camo Duct Tape and the other is a Insulated Coffee Mug with Camo Duct Tape. I had to seal the coffee sipping holes on the lid. The lid has a nice tight rubber seal, so I don't think it will leak. Now I just have to find a good hidding spot... Love the coffe mug idea! That should really work well. Tupperware looks good but may leak. That's just my experience here in the south. But nicely taped. Link to comment
+Ole_Mithaugen Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 I have been looking around and I find that there are fairly good alternatives at the "Dollar Stores" for a dollar! Today I picked up three quart containers with a screw top lid. I have had one out for several months through a lot of rain and it seems to be holding up quite well. Snap on lids containers ie. tupperware just don't cut in the cold weather. Expansion and contraction cause lids to pop off. In rural areas I believe ammo boxes are the best. But in this age of terrorism an ammo box in an urban area is just asking for problems. Link to comment
+SwampGoat Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 The cache I found today was a (plastic) coffee can. It has only recently been placed, so don't know how it will fare, but was fairly well-protected water-wise and from UV-rays, too. Hoping to place my first cache soon, so this thread has been mighty useful. I will definitely be doing ammo cans, as my caches will be out in the woods with plenty of room. I've got to find a local surplus store, though. Shipping & handling seems to drive up the price of the online boxes quite a bit (understandable since it's big and heavy). Link to comment
+willybee Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 ammo cans are great...but a little heavy and kinda hard to hide. i've had really good luck and response from the containers i've used. being a landscaper, i've used PVC in a couple different sizes and put a threaded cap on one end. they don't cost me a thing because their scraps from the job but you can put one together for 2-$4 and they'll last almost forever. they are light and stay dry even under snow for the winter months. i throw a silica gel packet inside and it seems to help. they come free with many items you buy anyway. you can also paint them any camo style you want. my two cents... willy Link to comment
+evergreenhiker! Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 (edited) The cache I found today was a (plastic) coffee can. It has only recently been placed, so don't know how it will fare, but was fairly well-protected water-wise and from UV-rays, too. Hoping to place my first cache soon, so this thread has been mighty useful. I will definitely be doing ammo cans, as my caches will be out in the woods with plenty of room. I've got to find a local surplus store, though. Shipping & handling seems to drive up the price of the online boxes quite a bit (understandable since it's big and heavy). Don't think I'll hide anymore METAL coffee cans. They condensate too much. They work fine if the area is a drier climate, but here in the Seattle area...water tends to collect. Edited December 5, 2004 by evergreenhiker! Link to comment
+briansnat Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 I've got to find a local surplus store, though. Shipping & handling seems to drive up the price of the online boxes quite a bit (understandable since it's big and heavy). Shipping is a flat rate at Cheaperthandirt.com (up to 100+ lbs), so it's $8 whether you buy one can or 2 dozen. You can save a lot of money by buying in bulk and selling the excess to your local geocaching buddies. I find they are very easy to get rid of with a simple post in your regional forum. Link to comment
hunter-bob Posted December 8, 2004 Share Posted December 8, 2004 I like ammo cans but after being in the field they get hard to open. Link to comment
+1Queenand4Jokers Posted December 17, 2004 Share Posted December 17, 2004 Haven't seen plastic Tobacco containers mentioned at all. The inside of the Players one I have used said it was both dishwasher safe and freezer safe. Those factors convinced me to try it in Manitoba where the temps get very cold. Also they are made to keep Tobacco dry so...I will report back in spring how it stood up but its been out since July and is looking good so far with the temperatures dropping. It is under a bit of snow right now but high enough to find. There are several sizes though the one I used would be considered small-regular sized. I pick them up at a Goodwill store nearby. Good recycling...And they fit into hollow trees nicely. I'm wondering how the silver cigar containers would do? Anybody tried those for micros? Link to comment
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