A while back a discussion was going on about mini & micro boxes and it
involved Altioids tins. Well, I went out & purchased one, had my
tonsils blown off by the mints, and can't figure out what to do with
the tin to make it waterproof. Or did I just miss the point and the
thing was used as a hitchhiker? Also, how to get the smell out? :-)
catbead
How the heck do you water proof Altoids tins??
9 messages in this thread |
Started on 2003-07-30
How the heck do you water proof Altoids tins??
From: ehughes52 (libby@twcny.rr.com) |
Date: 2003-07-30 21:23:55 UTC
Re: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof Altoids tins??
From: Beth Houghtaling (JustBeth65@msn.com) |
Date: 2003-07-30 21:32:49 UTC
catbead,
I will tell you as a dental assistant, altoids will rot your teeth...worse
than any candy we have ever seen. Yes, I know off topic, but I feel a civic
responsibilty to preface any altoid discussion with that. I don't know if
there is a way to waterproof them however, washing them in bleach will cause
them to rust. I think I remember someone mentioning coating the inside with
clear nailpolish. However, unless they are protected from the elements I
can't imagine they would l hold up well.
Just my 2 cents......
~JustBeth the loneletterboxer
>From: "ehughes52"
>Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
>To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof Altoids tins??
>Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 21:23:55 -0000
>
>A while back a discussion was going on about mini & micro boxes and it
>involved Altioids tins. Well, I went out & purchased one, had my
>tonsils blown off by the mints, and can't figure out what to do with
>the tin to make it waterproof. Or did I just miss the point and the
>thing was used as a hitchhiker? Also, how to get the smell out? :-)
>catbead
>
>
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
_________________________________________________________________
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I will tell you as a dental assistant, altoids will rot your teeth...worse
than any candy we have ever seen. Yes, I know off topic, but I feel a civic
responsibilty to preface any altoid discussion with that. I don't know if
there is a way to waterproof them however, washing them in bleach will cause
them to rust. I think I remember someone mentioning coating the inside with
clear nailpolish. However, unless they are protected from the elements I
can't imagine they would l hold up well.
Just my 2 cents......
~JustBeth the loneletterboxer
>From: "ehughes52"
>Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
>To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof Altoids tins??
>Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 21:23:55 -0000
>
>A while back a discussion was going on about mini & micro boxes and it
>involved Altioids tins. Well, I went out & purchased one, had my
>tonsils blown off by the mints, and can't figure out what to do with
>the tin to make it waterproof. Or did I just miss the point and the
>thing was used as a hitchhiker? Also, how to get the smell out? :-)
>catbead
>
>
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
_________________________________________________________________
Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online
http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
Re: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof Altoids tins??
From: (motofranz@webtv.net) |
Date: 2003-07-30 17:50:05 UTC-04:00
Altoids Tins a neat but they are far from waterproof.You could try to
place your tin inside a ziploc....
I have experienced a Micro Geocache that was using a Altoids Tin and
every time I looked it was FULL of water.You might place it in its own
little shelter A tree hollow ?
JM2C's
P177F212X39E2PB10
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
place your tin inside a ziploc....
I have experienced a Micro Geocache that was using a Altoids Tin and
every time I looked it was FULL of water.You might place it in its own
little shelter A tree hollow ?
JM2C's
P177F212X39E2PB10
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof Altoids tins??
From: (californiabear@comcast.net) |
Date: 2003-07-30 22:20:11 UTC
A couple of ideas:
1) Try placing a piece of plastic inside the tin so that it over hangs the edges
of the lid. This might provide enough of a seal. Try this and drop it into a
bowl of water overnight and see what happens. If this works, you would have to
trust that the finders would put the plastic back into place when they are done
with it. I suppose duct tape around the lip of the lid might also provide a seal.
2) Don't use if someplace where it will be exposed to water. I have seen small
tins that weren't waterproof that were magnetically stuck to the underside of
various objects. Wedge it into a rock face high enough that the water level
won't reach it and it is protected from water coming from above.
1) Try placing a piece of plastic inside the tin so that it over hangs the edges
of the lid. This might provide enough of a seal. Try this and drop it into a
bowl of water overnight and see what happens. If this works, you would have to
trust that the finders would put the plastic back into place when they are done
with it. I suppose duct tape around the lip of the lid might also provide a seal.
2) Don't use if someplace where it will be exposed to water. I have seen small
tins that weren't waterproof that were magnetically stuck to the underside of
various objects. Wedge it into a rock face high enough that the water level
won't reach it and it is protected from water coming from above.
Re: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof Altoids tins??
From: (californiabear@comcast.net) |
Date: 2003-07-30 22:26:57 UTC
Be careful in choosing tree hollows. Rain sometimes blows sideways and tree
hollows can fill with water. The tree's natural density and/or sap production
can mean that the water sits in there for a long time and gets nice and ripe!
If there's one thing that is worse than a wet letterbox, it is a wet, STINKY
letterbox. : P
>I have experienced a Micro Geocache that was using a Altoids Tin and
>every time I looked it was FULL of water.You might place it in its own
>little shelter A tree hollow ?
hollows can fill with water. The tree's natural density and/or sap production
can mean that the water sits in there for a long time and gets nice and ripe!
If there's one thing that is worse than a wet letterbox, it is a wet, STINKY
letterbox. : P
>I have experienced a Micro Geocache that was using a Altoids Tin and
>every time I looked it was FULL of water.You might place it in its own
>little shelter A tree hollow ?
Re: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof Altoids tins??
From: Mike S (tehutika@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2003-07-30 16:26:52 UTC-07:00
Greetings,
> >From: "ehughes52"
> >Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> >To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof
> Altoids tins??
> >Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 21:23:55 -0000
> >
> >A while back a discussion was going on about mini &
> micro boxes and it
> >involved Altioids tins. Well, I went out &
> purchased one, had my
> >tonsils blown off by the mints, and can't figure
> out what to do with
> >the tin to make it waterproof. Or did I just miss
> the point and the
> >thing was used as a hitchhiker? Also, how to get
> the smell out? :-)
> >catbead
I'm no help for the waterproofing, but as for the
smell, give vinegar a try. Vinegar can be used to take
out the smell of urine, so maybe it can handle this,
too.
Mike S.
=====
What I hate is ignorance, smallness of imagination, the eye that sees no farther than it's own lashes. -- Egyptian Book of the Dead, Chapter 45
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
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> >From: "ehughes52"
> >Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> >To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof
> Altoids tins??
> >Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 21:23:55 -0000
> >
> >A while back a discussion was going on about mini &
> micro boxes and it
> >involved Altioids tins. Well, I went out &
> purchased one, had my
> >tonsils blown off by the mints, and can't figure
> out what to do with
> >the tin to make it waterproof. Or did I just miss
> the point and the
> >thing was used as a hitchhiker? Also, how to get
> the smell out? :-)
> >catbead
I'm no help for the waterproofing, but as for the
smell, give vinegar a try. Vinegar can be used to take
out the smell of urine, so maybe it can handle this,
too.
Mike S.
=====
What I hate is ignorance, smallness of imagination, the eye that sees no farther than it's own lashes. -- Egyptian Book of the Dead, Chapter 45
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
Re: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof Altoids tins??
From: ehughes52 (libby@twcny.rr.com) |
Date: 2003-07-30 23:32:32 UTC
Thanks for the plastic idea, it has me thinking that maybe I can come
up with some sort of rubbery/plastic seal around the (inside?) lid. We
have brutal winters here and I was thinking I could paint the exterior
with some sort of rust-oleum (sp) paint. It's such a neat little
container, although it may end up being better suited as a HH, but I'm
not sure how to get rid of the smell.
:-)
catbead
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, californiabear@c... wrote:
> A couple of ideas:
>
> 1) Try placing a piece of plastic inside the tin so that it over
hangs the edges
> of the lid. This might provide enough of a seal. Try this and drop
it into a
> bowl of water overnight and see what happens. If this works, you
would have to
> trust that the finders would put the plastic back into place when
they are done
> with it. I suppose duct tape around the lip of the lid might also
provide a seal.
>
> 2) Don't use if someplace where it will be exposed to water. I
have seen small
> tins that weren't waterproof that were magnetically stuck to the
underside of
> various objects. Wedge it into a rock face high enough that the
water level
> won't reach it and it is protected from water coming from above.
up with some sort of rubbery/plastic seal around the (inside?) lid. We
have brutal winters here and I was thinking I could paint the exterior
with some sort of rust-oleum (sp) paint. It's such a neat little
container, although it may end up being better suited as a HH, but I'm
not sure how to get rid of the smell.
:-)
catbead
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, californiabear@c... wrote:
> A couple of ideas:
>
> 1) Try placing a piece of plastic inside the tin so that it over
hangs the edges
> of the lid. This might provide enough of a seal. Try this and drop
it into a
> bowl of water overnight and see what happens. If this works, you
would have to
> trust that the finders would put the plastic back into place when
they are done
> with it. I suppose duct tape around the lip of the lid might also
provide a seal.
>
> 2) Don't use if someplace where it will be exposed to water. I
have seen small
> tins that weren't waterproof that were magnetically stuck to the
underside of
> various objects. Wedge it into a rock face high enough that the
water level
> won't reach it and it is protected from water coming from above.
Re: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof Altoids tins??
From: ehughes52 (libby@twcny.rr.com) |
Date: 2003-07-30 23:40:27 UTC
Aah, vinegar! I'll try it, thanks.
:-)
catbead
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Mike S wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> > >From: "ehughes52"
> > >Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> > >To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> > >Subject: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof
> > Altoids tins??
> > >Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 21:23:55 -0000
> > >
> > >A while back a discussion was going on about mini &
> > micro boxes and it
> > >involved Altioids tins. Well, I went out &
> > purchased one, had my
> > >tonsils blown off by the mints, and can't figure
> > out what to do with
> > >the tin to make it waterproof. Or did I just miss
> > the point and the
> > >thing was used as a hitchhiker? Also, how to get
> > the smell out? :-)
> > >catbead
>
> I'm no help for the waterproofing, but as for the
> smell, give vinegar a try. Vinegar can be used to take
> out the smell of urine, so maybe it can handle this,
> too.
>
> Mike S.
>
> =====
> What I hate is ignorance, smallness of imagination, the eye that
sees no farther than it's own lashes. -- Egyptian Book of the Dead,
Chapter 45
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
> http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
:-)
catbead
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Mike S
> Greetings,
>
> > >From: "ehughes52"
> > >Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> > >To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> > >Subject: [LbNA] How the heck do you water proof
> > Altoids tins??
> > >Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 21:23:55 -0000
> > >
> > >A while back a discussion was going on about mini &
> > micro boxes and it
> > >involved Altioids tins. Well, I went out &
> > purchased one, had my
> > >tonsils blown off by the mints, and can't figure
> > out what to do with
> > >the tin to make it waterproof. Or did I just miss
> > the point and the
> > >thing was used as a hitchhiker? Also, how to get
> > the smell out? :-)
> > >catbead
>
> I'm no help for the waterproofing, but as for the
> smell, give vinegar a try. Vinegar can be used to take
> out the smell of urine, so maybe it can handle this,
> too.
>
> Mike S.
>
> =====
> What I hate is ignorance, smallness of imagination, the eye that
sees no farther than it's own lashes. -- Egyptian Book of the Dead,
Chapter 45
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
> http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
Re: How the heck do you water proof Altoids tins??
From: trey (ehkiii@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2003-07-31 20:30:56 UTC
For the Altoid tin letterboxes that I've seen (the latest being the
NPR letterbox in the Boston Public Gardens), no attempt was made to
waterproof the boxes. The rubberbanded NPR box was really just
protection for the doubled ziplock bags inside, and the contents
stayed dry though a very wet June. I don't know how the boxes will
last long-term--more waterproofing would certainly be better than
less.
Trey
p4 f26
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "ehughes52" wrote:
> A while back a discussion was going on about mini & micro boxes
and it
> involved Altioids tins. Well, I went out & purchased one, had my
> tonsils blown off by the mints, and can't figure out what to do
with
> the tin to make it waterproof. Or did I just miss the point and
the
> thing was used as a hitchhiker? Also, how to get the smell out? :-
)
> catbead
NPR letterbox in the Boston Public Gardens), no attempt was made to
waterproof the boxes. The rubberbanded NPR box was really just
protection for the doubled ziplock bags inside, and the contents
stayed dry though a very wet June. I don't know how the boxes will
last long-term--more waterproofing would certainly be better than
less.
Trey
p4 f26
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "ehughes52"
> A while back a discussion was going on about mini & micro boxes
and it
> involved Altioids tins. Well, I went out & purchased one, had my
> tonsils blown off by the mints, and can't figure out what to do
with
> the tin to make it waterproof. Or did I just miss the point and
the
> thing was used as a hitchhiker? Also, how to get the smell out? :-
)
> catbead