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Post by Tom on Jul 12, 2021 8:47:56 GMT 10
I have noticed that old termite mounds with broken tops, though hard on the outside, have centers that are super easy to dig deep down into. Has anyone experimented putting a cache into one? I imagine it would make the cache easily found given a couple of other landmarks, like strategically positioned logs nearby, or a mound at a precise distance off a fence line or track? I converted one into a BBQ, that's where I got the idea.
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Beno
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Post by Beno on Jul 12, 2021 12:13:13 GMT 10
Sounds like it could work and a good idea. waterproofing might be a bit of an issue. Maybe turn the dug out material into a bit of a slurry/mash that could harden like the outside material?
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Post by Joey on Jul 12, 2021 16:12:10 GMT 10
Sounds like it could work and a good idea. waterproofing might be a bit of an issue. Maybe turn the dug out material into a bit of a slurry/mash that could harden like the outside material? For this you could use a sealed screw top bucket, kind of like a kayak tub for the waterproofness', then cap the mound again, possibly if you're careful enough and can cut the cap off the mound with a saw you can place it back on so it's natural looking and use some of the inners you gutted out to make a mortar to secure the top back on. It would be best to utilise this cache method if it's in an area you frequent often enough to justify placing the cache in a rural type area with termite mounds. |
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Beno
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Post by Beno on Jul 12, 2021 16:56:22 GMT 10
Spot on Joey that would work well.
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Tri-Polar
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Post by Tri-Polar on Jul 12, 2021 18:36:24 GMT 10
Careful when digging them out, especially the ones that are dressed. For a very long time now, i suspect the termite mounds are dressed in the clothing of the dead people buried under them from a roving serial killer. |
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Post by spinifex on Jul 12, 2021 19:45:56 GMT 10
Use metal containers.
Termites can and will eat through plastics. We have a problem here with them chewing holes is poly pipe.
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Post by Tom on Jul 12, 2021 21:17:45 GMT 10
I didn't know that spinifex, I was thinking of polly but also I intend to spray the hole with a termicide. It's the old Chlorpyrifos, banned from sale now, but very long lasting. I have used it over the years and it's quite effective, especially on cockroaches, I inject it into the lower wall cavities etc, you only have to do it once. It would pay to cover the cache with plastic after though, to ensure the poison doesn't leech away over the years with successive rain events.
I can't recall ever seeing a waterproof metal container in my travels, sounds expensive, where do you get them? I used a large SS thermos once, used a little rubber grease on the ring too and it still took in ground water. Not surprising since they are designed to keep liquids in. Not out.
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Post by spinifex on Jul 13, 2021 8:39:05 GMT 10
Id put waterproof plastic containers inside a 20l lard drum. Lard drums can be acquired from eateries that use a deep fryer. They come with steel lids that clamp down really well.
big old paint tins work too. you can pick up 4, 6 and 10l tins really cheap sometimes. Pour the paint into lidded plastic buckets if you want to use it later and then just give the tins a good clean and they are ready for use. Probably if you searched the web for packaging suppliers you might even pick these items up new.
Perhaps an easier option is to make pvc pipe canisters. While termites eat through softer plastics like poly ... I've yet to see them put holes in pvc pipe.
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Post by Tom on Jul 14, 2021 5:30:20 GMT 10
Perhaps an easier option is to make pvc pipe canisters. While termites eat through softer plastics like poly ... I've yet to see them put holes in pvc pipe. Yes that is easier, I had never made a distinction but I have noticed that down-pipe is now a lot softer and more flexible than the pipe we used years ago. I wonder if the older pipe was PVC? Putting caches in the ground is quite a job sometimes and the exclusion of water is essential unless you are storing live goldfish. With a vertical PVC pipe in a termite mound, the screw-cap end, if you choose to use one, can be left above ground level, I like the idea of that. I also like the fact that a simple posthole shovel breezes through it, though a 2-stroke auger is easier still.
Part of me spinifex, the lazy part, says why bother with all this cloak and dagger stuff. But the more rational part looks around at the changes in our culture and government and says "By all means, do it yesterday" I can still remember a time when a person could walk into a bank and open an account with cash and a name on a form, no 100 ID points, no TFN. |
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Post by spinifex on Jul 14, 2021 8:43:36 GMT 10
Yeah. The bank situation is interesting hey! Control a persons money and you control the person. More than that ... data can be gathered on them. Lots of data.
I see that access to pre-paid visa cards is getting controlled too. These used to be the only truly anonymous way to purchase things online.
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Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Jul 17, 2021 4:42:06 GMT 10
I have an ammo can "test" cache strapped to a pine tree high enough to not be inaccessible in the dead of winter here in the far north.. I need to get that down and see how things went and make a report.. Next step up I have considered experimenting with is an old upright freezer.. Secured to a pallet or skid of some kind.. This for stability, still moveable with the tractor, minimal work to "dig out" in winter.. More capacity than ammo cans.. Maybe compatible with ammo cans for different items.. Easily secured with a couple ratchet straps to be bear resistant.. Small shipping container.. I have been thinking about them a lot for a while... I see where 2 containers at 40 feet long, spaced apart with a roof over both make a quick, easy machine shed and the like.. Even a small container set aside for "prep" item storage is not a bad idea.. Container and freezer could be painted to blend in as needed or as well as can be.. Problem here is..... With the price of lumber, the not available of sheds, garage, kits or materials, shipping containers have about doubled in price.. And are starting to get scarce.. Many options but will take some creative thinking to be max usage.. But then, that is the challenge....  |
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Jul 17, 2021 8:16:20 GMT 10
Quote: 'Small shipping container.. I have been thinking about them a lot for a while... I see where 2 containers at 40 feet long, spaced apart with a roof over both make a quick, easy machine shed and the like.' Like this one I prepared earlier: ![]() ![]()  |
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Post by Tom on Jul 23, 2021 16:37:31 GMT 10
Quote: 'Small shipping container.. I have been thinking about them a lot for a while... I see where 2 containers at 40 feet long, spaced apart with a roof over both make a quick, easy machine shed and the like.' Like this one I prepared earlier: ![]() ![]() |
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Post by Tom on Jul 23, 2021 16:48:35 GMT 10
Nice setup fb, I see you have the lock-boxes on them, very important that. I won't ask what the roof cost, looks like more than the two containers put together lol. It's a simple matter to hang sheets of silver sarking internally on the sunward faces, held on by small neo magnets if heat build up an issue. It really pushes the heat back out, and up! Muffin fans in the vents up top can pull all that out though. They get so stuffy those containers so I put a floor vent in with fine SS mesh and a dedicated fan to run 24/7 on one vent just to stop any build up of toxic gasses.
Did you kit either of them out with some shelving? I got onto some cheap pallet racking, 800mm bays and 1200mm, both 3m in length. Left about a meter to walk up between. Great to get all the little bits off the floor.
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Jul 23, 2021 17:59:21 GMT 10
It was about $11k for both containers. One of them has a PA door and a sliding window, and that put the price up a lot. The roof I built myself. One container has a store room and bathroom, the other a workshop and bunkhouse. The lockboxes are show only. You can cut through them in minutes with a battery powered grinder.  |
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Beno
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Post by Beno on Jul 23, 2021 19:11:16 GMT 10
Another option is to swap out the containers for a couple of dongas. One that has up to 4 rooms and another bathroom/small kitchen setup. It’s a cheap way to house extra hands comfortably. It’s also a classic northern remote station setup, nearly bomb proof and substantially relocatable.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Jul 23, 2021 19:15:53 GMT 10
We use dongas extensively here for the kids accommodations. Easy to move, reasonably cheap and robust.
Dogs come when called, cats have answering services.
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Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Jul 24, 2021 3:30:15 GMT 10
We use dongas extensively here
+++ +++
What is a "dongas" ?? You will need to explain, post a picture for me...
_ _ _
I need some help here... Maybe a little over a year ago now I posted something about a "Test Cache" An ammo can strapped to a tree as a test.. The thinking it would be accessible with 2 meters of snow over 2 meters of ground frost.. Now I can't find the thread...
I'm ready to open it and see how everything survived.. And would like to add this info as a follow up on the original thread...
Any help finding this will be appreciated..
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Beno
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Post by Beno on Jul 24, 2021 7:45:55 GMT 10
We use dongas extensively here +++ +++ What is a "dongas" ?? You will need to explain, post a picture for me... _ _ _ I need some help here... Maybe a little over a year ago now I posted something about a "Test Cache" An ammo can strapped to a tree as a test.. The thinking it would be accessible with 2 meters of snow over 2 meters of ground frost.. Now I can't find the thread... I'm ready to open it and see how everything survived.. And would like to add this info as a follow up on the original thread... Any help finding this will be appreciated..  Also called ATCO huts. |
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Beno
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Post by Beno on Jul 24, 2021 7:47:33 GMT 10
This one is on ebay.  |
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