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

Cache Inventor Updates

Greetings all - HeadHardHat here,

Email Subscription

Couple of things going on. First off we received a very nice comment about our blog from emcofnorthridge who asked if we could set up an email subscription. Not a problem, if you go to the right side column of either of our blogs and you will find an email subscription widget. Put in your email and do a quick comformation and anytime we post you will get the update. You can also visit our California friends of northridge by going to this link: http://emcofnorthridge.wordpress.com/ and thanks again for the suggestion!

Upcoming Article About Glues

Been asking around by people who know, a.k.a fellow cachers, as to what are the best adhesives we can use to make caches. For example, what is the best glue to use for connecting a magnet to a 35mm container or what do you use to connect PVC pipe to concrete. I have been getting some really interesting information of which will be shared to you when I get back from my Boston trip. If you have any comments or suggestions, please send them in.

GeoSnippits You Tube Videos Welcomed

If you go over to my "I'm Not Obsessed" blog or put headhardhat in You Tube's search field you can see my first edition of GeoSnippits which will be a series of tutorials about everything geocaching. I have received a host of nice compliments and suggestions for other videos. Even though I am not even close to running out of ideas any from you will come to the top of the list so send them in.

Well that's it for now. I should be able to get at least some posts in next week but if not I will at least send in a postcard from Boston, Mass.

See ya soon,

HeadHardHat

Basics: Painting Caches

Lets face it, anybody can slap on the cover of a tupperware bowl or Lock'nLock box, hide it under some sticks and call it a cache. For many that is more than acceptable and gives the same reward of a smiley just like any other hide. But does it really give the same reward to the overall geocaching experience? I think not.

I guess it would depend on what you define as your preferred style of caching. For me if it comes to hunting the elusive woodland cache and the end result is "oh there it is", compared to "holy cow, how did they do that"? I will take the latter. Nothing gets my heart a pump'n like a good, well thought out cammied cache. Sure you can use tape or some other sticky medium but for the best bang for the buck I like spraypaint. Why? It is easy to apply, comes in a multitude of colors and above all now has some really striking textures to choose from. Let's start with the basics; colors.

One of the first things you need to consider is of course cache placement. Ask yourself, where is the cache going to be hidden and what color should I use? If it is in a wooded area your first reaction may be to use green. Well duh, but is that actually the correct answer? Consider the following:

• Is your cache area always the same color all year round? Are seasons a factor?
  


• Is there other objects nearby that may be of other colors your cache should include?



• What is the shade of color that will hide your cache best when people walk by?
  

Lets go with some basic colors like green and brown for a moment. I have walked many wooded areas and depending on the terrain green can fluctuate from an almost neon (swampy areas), to a rich emerald mixed with all sorts of browns. In North Carolina we have a ton of pine trees and that means the floor is covered with dark brown pine needles and a lot less actual green. Now what? I highly suggest blending a series of colors to match the surroundings. The examples to the left show a series of ammo boxes with the initial spraying of a green background with brown overtones. I used a basic non-glossy Krylon spray paint to accomplish this. When properly dry another blending coat of green and brown softened the harsh lines.

The same principle can work with urban caches. In those cases I have seen many more rust or brick colors mixed with shades of brown. You can also experiment with metallic colors such as silvers and greys. Urban caches tend to be much more of a challenge having to hide the caches much more frequently "in plain sight".

What about textures? Oh there are some really cool textured paints out there. Want your Lock'nLock to look like part of a stone, no problem. How about a 35mm to match some rusty metal, can do. What about an ammo box to look like part of a brick wall? Check out the photo to to the left. This cache was extremely well done and overlooked for about an hour before I made the connection. It was positioned just right to look as if it was part of the wall. This is one of my absolute favorites.

So there you have it, would you like to find that plain 'ole clear white plastic or make something truly ingenious for your fellow cachers to find? Your choice but I would hazard to guess the resulting logs will be much more lengthier and more appreciative.

These of course are some very basic considerations for creative caches. You may have much more to add to this discussion. Please send your ideas and comments to mailto:cacheinventor@gmail.com.

Welcome ALL Ingenious Cache Inventors!!!

Release the Geocache Mad Scientist in all of us!

Geocaching is a very addictive game where you use a GPS unit and a multimillion dollar satellite floating around in outer space to find creatively designed containers or “caches” hidden all around our planet.

This blog is dedicated to all the Ingenious Cache Inventors out there who love making these wonder boxes almost as much as they do finding them. So whether you spend countless hours with pvc pipe, pinecones and waterproof glue or just appreciate the effort. Read through this collection of photographs, how to tutorials and good old fashion discussions on our favorite subject – unique and imaginative geocaches.

Please feel free to send any and all submissions (include photos when possible) about your inventive caches to cacheinventor@gmail.com.

This cache is a spin-off from HeadHardHat’s frequently visited geocaching based blog: “GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?”. Be sure to stop on by and read more about the ongoing adventures of HeadHardHat.