Micros: Film can Vs. matchstick holder

[Lostby7]

OK I’m getting a bit tired of reports than my film cans have wet logs and I hate that people have to carry spare logs to replace my wet ones. Those of you out there who have matchstick holders as your containers, are these substantially better than film cans?

…and yes I know film cans as general rule suck anyway, but they can’t all be full size.

[marc_54140]

Matchstick containers have O rings, which usually get lost fairly earlier in the history of the cache, and then the moisture starts getting in.

Better than film cans, but not by much…….

[rogheff]

@marc_54140 wrote:

Matchstick containers have O rings, which usually get lost fairly earlier in the history of the cache, and then the moisture starts getting in.

Better than film cans, but not by much…….

Not all match stick containers have the O-rings. The green containers with a hinged top that I can get at my neighborhood Gander Mountain for about a buck do not have an O-ring. The pretty bright orange container purchased form Walmart does have an O-ring.

I’ve used a fair number of the green containers from Gander Mountain. I don’t remember reports of wet logs, but then again, I don’t believe I have any out in extreme conditions. I dislike the orange containers because…..well, they’re orange.

[zuma]

@Lostby7 wrote:

OK I’m getting a bit tired of reports than my film cans have wet logs and I hate that people have to carry spare logs to replace my wet ones. Those of you out there who have matchstick holders as your containers, are these substantially better than film cans?

…and yes I know film cans as general rule suck anyway, but they can’t all be full size.

Yes, matchstick holders are substantially better than film cans.

I have used a lot of the orange matchstick containers from Walmart for 87 cents. None has leaked. I have only used a film can once (from a seed cache) and it leaked quickly, and I had to replace it with a matchstick holder. In caches that I have found, film cans work OK only if they are placed out of the weather. However any film can exposed to the elements will turn to junk very quickly, and the time and expense associated with doing maintenance on them makes them much more expensive in the long run, than using a decent container in the first place.

As to the washer issue that Marc mentions, I have not had a problem with mine at all, but I suppose it could be an issue. I do not even put a plastic baggie for the log in my orange matchstick containers, and they stay dry until the log is full.

I know that DB buys tighter, more water proof washers for his matchstick containers, which are cheap and available everywhere. I havent done this yet, but if you are concerned about the washer coming off, or leaking eventually, this would be another option.

Most people try to compensate for the lack of waterproofing in the film can by using a baggie. The baggie generally gets a hole in it by the 10th finder, so does not really help much at all.

zuma

[bandits]

I agree that matchstick containers are by far superior to film cans, but if you had to use a film can, I have found that the clear (OK, opaque) plastic cans on which the lid fits “inside” of the opening fare much better than the traditional film containers (the black ones with black or gray lids).

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

If the O-ring disappears, consider doubling over a rubber band a few times in the place where the O-ring was. This makes for a great watertight seal. It works great for pill bottles too.

[PCFrog]

I have three caches that uses the orange matchstick containers from Wal-Mart.

Zero water problems.

[Lostby7]

@PCFrog wrote:

I have three caches that uses the orange matchstick containers from Wal-Mart.

Zero water problems.

Of course the only bad part of this is that I’d have to shop at the evil empire 😕 I wonder if K-Mart has these as well….I sure do hate K-Mart…..

Thanks folks. I think I need to upgrade a bit.

[Team Deejay]

Film cans suck!!!!

Actually film cans work fine in the same places that other non-watertight containers work, that is, under benches, INSIDE trees, under lampost skirts, inside guardrails, under an antiaircraft gun, etc. It just needs to be sheltered from the weather

If you are nestling in a tree, hanging from a branch, sitting under a bush, sitting on top of an object, or anywhere within a foot of the ground, you need something better than a film can. Matchholders work great for these spots. Basically, they have them wherever you can shop for camping supplies, and they cost around $1. I will say, however, that you should stick with the plastic varieties with a regular screw top lid. The old fashioned metal ones do seal well, but, unfortunately, many geocachers cannot figure them out and end up breaking the mechanism. I had one of these at “Get Your Free Maps Here” which I had to eventually replace with a plastic type.

Listed from highest to lowest quality micro containers (with regard to durability and water resistance):
Bison Tubes (available on line, $3-8 )/ Pill cases (available at drugstores, about $1)
Nano containers (available at science stores/online, about $1)
Plastic match containers (available at sporting goods stores, about $1)
Old time film containers (internal plug seal)
Metal match containers
Plastic Mag Keyholders
New style film cans (external cap)
Breathstrip containers
Ziploc bags
Metal keyholders
Altoid tins
Lipstick tubes

[rogheff]

@Team Deejay wrote:

Film cans suck!!!!

Nano containers (available at science stores/online, about $1)
Plastic match containers (available at sporting goods stores, about $1)
Old time film containers (internal plug seal)
Metal match containers
Plastic Mag Keyholders
New style film cans (external cap)
Breathstrip containers
Ziploc bags
Metal keyholders
Altoid tins
Lipstick tubes

Awww gee, I was just thinking about placing a nice magnetic keyholder cache 😈 😈 😈

[cheezehead]

@rogheff wrote:

@Team Deejay wrote:

Film cans suck!!!!

Nano containers (available at science stores/online, about $1)
Plastic match containers (available at sporting goods stores, about $1)
Old time film containers (internal plug seal)
Metal match containers
Plastic Mag Keyholders
New style film cans (external cap)
Breathstrip containers
Ziploc bags
Metal keyholders
Altoid tins
Lipstick tubes

Awww gee, I was just thinking about placing a nice magnetic keyholder cache 😈 😈 😈

I have about a zillion pill bottles from the meds I have to take. I have used a few in some multis to hold cords. They have the tops that flip over to be so called “child proof” or just regular screw on. If you were to go ask your local druggist, I bet you can get them in an assortment of sizes at about 50 cents a crack or so. I got a couple that were about 3×1.
I cut a memo book down to about 1″ strips and they worked great.

[Team Deejay]

I forgot about pill bottles. They are a little better than the old style film cans, in that they stay dry at first, but leak after a while do to opening and closing (they are designed to be thrown away, after all.)

[rogheff]

@Team Deejay wrote:

I forgot about pill bottles. They are a little better than the old style film cans, in that they stay dry at first, but leak after a while do to opening and closing (they are designed to be thrown away, after all.)

Deejay, you’re killing me here.

I’m in the middle of making plans for my 200th cache hide. I wanted it to be something reeeeally special. It was either going to be a Pill Bottle or Magnetic Key holder 😈 😈 😈

Now what am I going to do?

[Sunshine34]

@Lostby7 wrote:

@PCFrog wrote:

I have three caches that uses the orange matchstick containers from Wal-Mart.

Zero water problems.

Of course the only bad part of this is that I’d have to shop at the evil empire 😕 I wonder if K-Mart has these as well….I sure do hate K-Mart…..

Thanks folks. I think I need to upgrade a bit.

I get my orange matchstick containers at Fleet Farm.

[Barry Butrymowicz]

Here is my opinion, ALL MICROS LEAK!

Nano, Bison, Film Can, Doesn’t Matter, They Leak.

Here is a idea, recycle all those small plastic containers, and go out and place a ammo box

Geocaching the northwoods 😀 where ammo boxes out number the micro

Barry and Valarie of Sweetlife

[Author]

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