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Showing posts with label plastic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plastic. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

How Waterproof Are Your Geocache Hides?

Lock N Lock Geocache Container
There is a very popular saying in Geocaching and it goes something like this: "I use a multi-billion dollar satellite system to find Tupperware in the woods.", and the cool thing is its true. Oh sure Tupperware may not be as popular as in years past though we do traditionally hunt for containers hidden all over this great big planet of ours. In fact, after finding the perfect Geocaching hiding spot and getting permission to place it there, the most important aspect of any Geocache hide is the container itself. With that being said the most important aspect of that container to you is how waterproof it is overall. In other words, how well does it keep the elements out plus how well does it stand up to those very same elements over time?

Anyone can get a cheap Glad transport container, fill it with swag and a logbook then place it somewhere. Yet after a day or two the flimsy plastic warps and the seal gives way to an afternoon shower. What good is that now newly placed Geocache of goo? What do you think the next geocacher is going to think of your hide? I am thinking not very well.  You don't want that right?

Save yourself some unwanted nasty logs and a quick replacement by following some of ole HeadHardHat's suggestions:

- Understand the environment you are placing the Geocache. If your area has wet seasons you need more heavy duty containers with very good seals. 
- If you have extremes with heat and cold remember that plastic warps and can become brittle depending on the outside temps. Make sure your container can handle it.
- If you are not sure how waterproof your container is then do the 'Dunk Test'.  Get a water fillable container that can allow your Geocache to be placed into it and be completely submerged. Then do just that. Fill the larger container with water and then close your Geocache. Hold it under water for at least five to ten minutes. Pull your Geocache out, dry off and then open it. Any water inside? If your container is not going to hold up to this simple test then you need to find another one.

Follow these basic suggestions and you will have a class act of a Geocache to hide. Don't and the logs that get sent your way may not be what you are expecting!

See you out on the trails,

Andy Headhardhat Smith


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Saturday, January 31, 2009

That Would Be A 81MM Mortar Carry Tube, Alex.

One of my recent GeoSnippits tutorial videos called "GeoSnippits Geocache Navigator Tutorial Part Two" had an unusual geocache of which I found. It was a large tube that was two feet long, three inches in diameter with a large cap on the top and a nice handle on the sides. After the video aired on You Tube I received several posts and emails asking what this strange tube was. Quite frankly I didn't know.

At first I looked over the internet, called several Army Surplus stores and still couldn't find an accurate photograph or name of the plastic object. Then today I stopped by my local Army Surplus store and there it was. The very item I was searching for. I again asked the store attendent what it was and they did not know but they said they had a few more in the corner and one had a label on it.

It said that it was a Cartridge for an 81MM Mortar M889. There was a bunch of category stuff most likely warehouse information but there it was. A transport cartridge for a mortar.
I purchased one for $7.00 and will most likely use it for a unique cache. Below are some shots to show you the inside and with the cap off.