Letterboxing USA - Yahoo Groups Archive

Fake Rock Makers

3 messages in this thread | Started on 2003-04-17

Fake Rock Makers

From: Dog Scouts Troop (DogScouts@hotmail.com) | Date: 2003-04-17 19:47:01 UTC-04:00
I thought of doing a similar thing with Styrofoam. Just chunking it off
around the edges, carving a spot for the container and spraying it with the
"fake rock" paint that is available at the craft store. I just haven't had a
moment to try this though. I don't know if it would look 'real' enough to
pass for a rock out in the wild or if it would stick out like a fake rock
:-) If I get a chance to try it, I'll definitely share how it works out. I
know someone else posted (sorry don't recall your name) about a lightweight
landscaping rock that is easy to carve. I think it's called feather rock? or
something like that. I was going to try that if my Styrofoam didn't work.

I'd love to see pictures of your fake rocks when they are done.
Scoutdogs


Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 16:21:43 -0000
From: "Sir Balthazar"
Subject: Fake Rock Makers?

Hi from Central Coast of CA (Region 6),

I have had some problems finding nice safe places to put my
letterboxes so I thought why not make fake rocks?

I got some material kind of like papermache' but with a plaster base.
2 parts dry for one part water got it kind of goopy. I then lavished
it over three film cannisters and one small tuppertype container. The
four are drying now. Their openings are on the bottoms and yes, I did
make sure the lids could come off and go back on.

Next comes the painting. I am spray painting them first with a dark
granite spackly paint and, after that dries, a clear sealing coat.
Once they are ready, I will take pics and send them to anyone
interested. Let me know.

I am also considering boring holes in drift-type wood but might be
disuaded if the wood might be in a place for a bonfire. We are on the
beach, afterall.

Anyway, anybody else out there making rocks for boxes? What do you
use? How well have they lasted?

Rocking and boxing,
Sir Balthazar of 100**100D (Googled)

Fake Rock Makers

From: Dog Scouts Troop (DogScouts@hotmail.com) | Date: 2003-04-17 21:21:58 UTC-04:00
I hate to lug them from a far away stream (looks a bit suspicious carrying a
rock down the trail :-), then I'd need to dig a spot in the dirt for the box
to hide under the rock (which means I'd also have to carry something to dig
with). So if I can make a convincing replica out of styrofoam, it will be
much lighter and the box will fit inside of it, so no digging required, just
plop it down in the chosen spot (& much lighter in the pack). I wonder if
woodland creatures would like the taste of styrofoam as much as they like
plastic? Hmmm. Teeth marks might give it away, ya think? :-)

Scoutdogs



Why not use the real ones?

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/letterbox-usa/files/az89a/dead%20drop%
201.jpg

If I'm not mistaken, this one is right in your neighborhood (the
Ennisbrook series) ...if you want to check it out firsthand/lug it
home.

legerdemaine



Re: Fake Rock Makers

From: SpringChick (letterbox@attbi.com) | Date: 2003-04-18 10:14:46 UTC
Not to be a stick-in-the-mud, but I'm wondering how environmentally
conscious styrofoam is? With all the hype about styrofoam fast food
containers littering the roadsides and parks, it seems a bit ironic
to intentionally use the culprit material in this way, not to mention
styrofoam can create intestinal problems for animals when eaten.

SpringChick


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Dog Scouts Troop"
wrote:
> I hate to lug them from a far away stream (looks a bit suspicious
carrying a
> rock down the trail :-), then I'd need to dig a spot in the dirt
for the box
> to hide under the rock (which means I'd also have to carry
something to dig
> with). So if I can make a convincing replica out of styrofoam, it
will be
> much lighter and the box will fit inside of it, so no digging
required, just
> plop it down in the chosen spot (& much lighter in the pack). I
wonder if
> woodland creatures would like the taste of styrofoam as much as
they like
> plastic? Hmmm. Teeth marks might give it away, ya think? :-)
>
> Scoutdogs
>
>
>
> Why not use the real ones?
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/letterbox-usa/files/az89a/dead%20drop%
> 201.jpg
>
> If I'm not mistaken, this one is right in your neighborhood (the
> Ennisbrook series) ...if you want to check it out firsthand/lug it
> home.
>
> legerdemaine