Cache: What size?

[Guest Pepe]

Hi

 

I'm new here. And I'm asking me:

1) How big are this caches?

2) What kind of caches are you using to protect the inside from dirt and rain?

 

Thanks for answering.

 

Pepe

[Guest 300mag]

Make your cache like you want.Most people use tuperware or plastic type containers.These containers should be waterproof.So any reasonable size waterproof and unbreakable container would be good.:-)

[Guest Pepe]

quote:

---

Originally posted by 300mag:

So any reasonable size waterproof and unbreakable container would be good.:-)

---

 

What is a reasonable size? I don't know, what the visitors bring with to leave in the box ...

 

Pepe

[Guest Anton]

Greetings,

 

I use military surplus ammo boxes in the 30mm size. These are sturdy metal boxes, and this size is slim enough to fit into a narrow opening. Inside the box I put several plastic "ziploc" bags:

 

1. Log book with pen, pencil & sharpener, along with the standard Geocaching.com information sheet explaining the sport to someone who finds the cache by accident.

 

2. A disposable camera - each cache finder takes his own photo and leaves the camera.

Later I can retrieve the camera, develop the film, and email or post the pictures.

 

3. One or two bags with the prizes, which are an assortment of items that will be enjoyed by children and adults, and do not require any specific size: ball, cards, clay, keychain items, small books, CDs, tools, compass, whistle, corkscrew, etc.

 

I make sure the first item visible at the top when someone opens the cache is the geocaching.com information sheet, in case they found the box by accident and don't know what it is, or what to do with it.

 

Sure, you can make up geocaches in small, plastic containers with just a couple of inexpensive throw-away prizes. I'd rather make a cache I'm proud to call mine, and that I know will make people smile when they find it. I hope they're still smiling when they take a picture with my cache camera!

 

Anton

 

------------------

Anton Ninno - N2RUD

Syracuse, NY 13210

[Guest emrldjetta]

Generally they are about 12" x 5" X 4" or 30cm X 13 X 10 clear up to a big one the size of a 5 gallon or 20 litre bucket. However big or small your container is will dictate how large the items people can leave in your cache will be. This site is full of good ideas like lottery tickets, batteries, gift certificates, paperback books, CDs, disposable cameras, old compasses, bottles of beer, childrens toys, trash bags, first aid kits, maps of other areas and so on. Usually we seal individual items in zip-lock type plastic bags so that the items stay dry even if moisture gets into the container. Any of these items along with a log book for your visitors to sign and you have a nice little cache to get started with. Hope this helps.......Kyle

 

------------------

[Guest Pepe]

quote:

---

Originally posted by emrldjetta:

Hope this helps.......Kyle

---

Hi Kyle

Yes, it does. Thanks.

Pepe

[Guest easom1]

quote:

---

Originally posted by emrldjetta:

However big or small your container is will dictate how large the items people can leave in your cache will be. This site is full of good ideas like lottery tickets, batteries, gift certificates, paperback books, CDs, disposable cameras, old compasses, bottles of beer, childrens toys, trash bags, first aid kits, maps of other areas and so on.

 

---

 

Im not sure beer or the like is a good idea, If someone were to find it that was not of drinking age it could present some problems. Easom

[Guest emrldjetta]

Yes the beer isn't a good idea but locally we have done it......Kyle

 

------------------

[Guest EraSeek]

I use what most would consider a somewhat small cache container. I use a rectangle 91/2 cup ziplock pastic container (you get two for about $4.49) and seal anything inside that is susceptible to water in a one gallon ziplock freezer bag. I feel too many of these caches look like a garage sale on a hill,and like these containers for their modest size and price.

[Guest Peter Scholtz]

I have found that one has to consider the third dimension when it comes to containers. Especially after raiding the R10 shop. A nine liter tupperware is ideal but doesn't fit into a small backpack. A 4.5 liter does but no large items in the Z dimension.

 

------------------

Regards

 

Peter Scholtz

www.biometrics.co.za

[Guest Mike_Teague]

I think one should use the container that fits what the circumstances require... I've used 4 or 5 quart rectangular tupperware boxes, and more recently, a 2 gallon paint bucket with a lid that is almost TOO watertight... The 2 gallon bucket is probably the best size I've found, overall..

It's not too big, not too small... 5 Gallon buckets with lids were some of the first containers used... I think 5 gallon is a bit large, but ya never know what people want to leave in a cache...

 

Water is the main culprit to cache life, in my experience..

 

I think we have said from the beginning that you should always use secondary protection for the various items.. ziplock-type bags seem to work great, because water WILL get into your container sooner or later...

 

In fact, after visiting one of my almost-year-old-caches recently, I suggest leaving EXTRA ziplock bags in the cache, because they experience wear and tear and eventually do not protect as well as they should... I found a logbook in a ziplock bag full of holes.. not very effective! I suggest putting each individual item in it's own bag if possible....

 

A nice big pack of silica gel might be worthwhile also..

[Guest Anton]

Enough ammo boxes!

 

I've switched to large "steamer" trunks, beacause they hold the kinds of prizes I'd like players to put in my caches. Really.

 

Anton

 

------------------

Anton Ninno - N2RUD

Syracuse, NY 13210