Sunday, September 12, 2010

GeoSnippits - Make Your Own Evil Nano Geocache















One of the really cool features about geocaching is the ability for geocachers to invent geocaches. The possibilities are almost endless and limited only to our imagination. One thing for sure is if someone creates a geocache and the design is solid others will modify it to their liking. That is the way it should be and keeps the game, sport, obsession fresh and fun.

This particular geocache is one of those adaptations. It originated from my How To Make An Evil Ant Hill Geocache video of which I made last year. Recently I received an email from Seth Jones who sent in some photos where he made a geocache based off the Ant Hill geocache and instead of using bondo he used a plastic resin. Check out the post I made about it here.

I was immediately intrigued and had to make some geocache versions for myself. This video shows how I made them and the end results. I completely expect our viewers to come up with their adaptations as well.


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As usual your comments, show suggestions, etc. are welcome. Please be sure to send in photos of your geocache ideas. They may get posted in one of our upcoming GeoSnippits videos.

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

HHH's Nano Resin Based Geocache Hides

I want to thank Seth Jones who sent in a photograph a few weeks ago of a modified version of my bondo Evil Ant Hill geocache. You can see it here: ClickMe where you will note that instead of bondo, a resin was used to create the geocache.
Over the weekend I wanted to see if I could make a geocache that was thinner than my ant hill geocache and use something really small like a nano. Below are the steps I took to make it.
As usual I fully expect my readers to come up with a zillion versions of this and add their own twists. I say go for it but before you do check out my version. FYI - You can get resin at many craft stores near you.
I started out by taking some Styrofoam and scraping out an area that would have a very rocky or dirt clod look to it. About two and a half to three inches in diameter.
When it comes to using resin there are many different ways of making a mold including plastics, Styrofoam and plaster of paris. Try different ways and see what works best for you.
Next, make a small portion of the resin and fill just enough of the very bottom to create a base for the nano to sit upon and yet not fill up the entire mold.
Let the resin harden over night or until it is not tacky to the touch.
Set the nano on the hardened resin base and then fill to just under the lid of the nano with more resin.
Let harden again over night.
Carefully remove the hardened resin from the Styrofoam and pick as much of the mold away from the resin as you would like.
Personally I wasn't sure if I liked how it was looking at this point but the longer I played with it the more it really started looking like a rock, bark, a stone, etc.
Use your favorite combination of base spray paints and stone textured paints to colorize this geocache. I used a green and brown base with grey stone to give it a mold or bark look to it.
Note the bottom of this geocache and the nano cap is sticking out for easy access.
After playing with several different camouflage combinations of paint colors and the nice texture of the Styrofoam for the top section I was amazed how quickly I could closely duplicate a look of tree bark, moss, mold, even old asphalt.
This is a great addition to my Evil Ant Hill collection of geocaches and I hope it inspires you to make all sorts of variations for your geocaching enjoyment.
Have fun!
-HHH
GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Friday, October 9, 2009

HeadHardHat's EVIL Ant Hill Geocache

First and foremost I have to give credit to one of our GeoSnippits viewers TheWhiteCroe, who took me down this EVIL path by giving me the suggestion to see if a fake rock could be made out of bondo. I will be sending him an Official GeoSnippits pathtag for the suggestion.

It all came out of trying to prototype the geocache in the first place. I started out very similar to how it is described in the video. I simply made some bondo and poured it out on top of the 35mm container. I observed how quickly the bondo started to harden so I started piling it up on top of itself. Before I knew it I had that same shape you see out of the Close Encounters movie. It certainly didn't look like a rock. In fact it looked more like a dog turd but I wanted to see how the textured spray paint was going to look so I painted it anyways. After it dried I looked at it again and the light stone paint looked a lot more like sand than anything. Then it popped in my brain, "well that looks a whole lot like an ant hill..."

So after trying a couple of different stone colors I was really pleased with the results. The rest is now history and my EVIL Ant Hill made from bondo is out in the world. The video wasn't out more than a couple of minutes before the comments started pouring in. One suggestion was to use a nano instead of a 35mm container to make it even smaller. I just love how the main template of an idea comes out and people use their own ideas to make it better. All I can say is go for it.

I had a blast making this video and inventing the Ant Hill Geocache, now back to making that geocache look like a rock. Where did I put that bondo?




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HeadHardHat is known for making all sorts of interesting and creative geocaches.
Watch all his geocaching tutorial videos at www.geosnippits.com


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

Saturday, September 19, 2009

GeoSnippits How To Make Your Own PVC Water Main Geocache

I don't know why I like making unusual geocache hosts out of PVC but I do know it is a whole lot of fun. This next example came to me while doing my normal walk through at the hardware store. I was thinking about how to make a really nice hide that would be very much waterproof.

While strolling down the plumbing area I noticed the water main shutoff and the inspiration hit me. I have not seen this particular type of geocache before and even though the cost is a bit more this time the results I think are well worth it. Below is the list of items you are going to need to make this amazing geocache. It is not the only way you can construct it. If you have better ideas of what you want to do with the initial design then go for it. You are only limited by your own imagination.

HHH's PVC Water Main Geocache

1 - 2" Water Main Valve ($13.00US)
2 - 2" Male Connectors ($2.50 US each)
2 - 2" Elbow Joints ($2.50 US each)
1 - Small Pill Holder (metal). These can be found at any pharmacy for about $5.00US
1 - Log Sheet small enough to fit in pill holder.
2 - Tent or Yard Stakes
PVC glue

Well that's about it.. Enjoy this little creation of mine and have fun watching the video. If you have any questions, comments, etc. then by all means, send me an email. headhardhat@gmail.com





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HeadHardHat's Ingenious Cache Inventor:

GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

GeoSnippits Make Your Own PVC Hydrant Geocache

The latest GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Video went live on You Tube.

This episode entitled "GeoSnippits Make Your Own PVC Hydrant Geocache" is a How To tutorial which gives you step by step instructions on making your own geocache out of some PVC pipe and other knick knacks found at your local hardware store.

Also featured in this episode is the introduction to Emily the GeoPuppy who tests to make sure the hydrant geocache is up to puppy snuff.

You can see the video via YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1YCbcphy7E

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

A Unique Geocache Container

Indeed the title says it all on this cool geocache container.. Check out the video created by Chris Pine:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8gd7Nr-3Rs

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Making Your Own Geocache Series: Size Small

We had a lot of fun making this series and this episode will be very informative to many of new geocachers. It shows you how to choose, cammi, fill with swag and hide a small sized geocache. The tutorial gives hints on how to and how NOT to hide geocaches. Enjoy.



Here is the video via YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piG1IjEYGKU

Be sure to check out our GeoSnippits Website:
http://www.geosnippits.com