--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Gordon Saunders"
wrote:

> Question ... Is it standard fare for the person searching for the LB
to bring their own Inked Stamp Pad? I don't think a pad would hold up
very well with the cold weather we are in right now in the box I plan
to put out. Your thoughts please ....


Hi Gordon-
I'll tell you that I've stopped putting ink pads into the boxes I
place for numerous reasons, mostly because I live in Maine and it's
wicked cold! Ink pads are expensive and they also make a really icky
mess if they're not put back in a different bag from the logbook. I
think you're better off not putting one in with the box but if you're
really considerate you can suggest that the finder bring their own.
Nautilus is usually very nice that way - people get to know that none
of my boxes have ink anymore.

Cheers,
Phyto

-----Original Message-----
From: Gordon Saunders [mailto:kw4cz@triad.rr.com]

Question ... Is it standard fare for the person searching for the LB to
bring their own Inked Stamp Pad? I don't think a pad would hold up very well
with the cold weather we are in right now in the box I plan to put out.
Your thoughts please ....


In Wisconsin I think everyone assumes there will NOT be a stamp pad in the
box. We've found some markers in an indoor box, and I think one outdoor
box. I also heard that there was a box in the area that had an orange ink
pad, but the combination of water & ink followed by cold temperatures turned
the inside of the box into an orange popsicle! Since it is standard to not
have ink in the boxes around here, no one bothers to mention it in their
clues. We all carry around our own pads and markers as standard operating
procedure. However the conventions in NC may be different...

Wisconsin Hiker


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

No.It is common for people to bring there own ink pads. Thats what I do,
anyways. well happy boxing~!

-Friend Fish Out


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have checked out boxs in Vt., Ct., N.H. & N.Y. and the ones I came accross
all had stamps except for the HH's.

STAR:W+S=DRR


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have found boxes in about 10 different states (not all that impressive I
know) and the majority of them do not have their own ink pads. The ones
that did, the pads were almost always in poor shape. They just don't hold
up under wet or cold conditions. Heck, I went boxing last month and MY ink
pads were freezing on the short hikes!! (I finally started keeping one
under my coat, lol)

One placer in our area has started putting color suggestions in her clues.
I really like that alternative!

Mama Stork
aka Pam in Cinci

>
> Question ... Is it standard fare for the person searching for the LB to
> bring their own Inked Stamp Pad?

I know in some areas it is more standard to always include a pad, and
I have heard a couple people complain about not being warned to bring
stamp pads. Out here though, there are only a couple boxes I can
think of that have stamp pads--my earliest ones from the days that I
was determined to have everything possible to make a perfect
letterbox. I soon learned that just the notepads and rubbermaid I
liked were costing a lot of money since I like to carve stamps for
planting. I also didn't like dealing with ink in freezing cold temps
that we have here for the majority of the year. I soon gave stamp
pads up after realizing that nobody in this area includes them.

I stopped warning people to bring pads after a while too for the same
reason. I always carry ink pads, others can do the same. I don't
think we should assume there will always be ink for us. Even if
there is, it is so often dried up.

Cadenza

I always thought that keeping the inkpads under the coats would be a
great way to keep them from freezing up. I ahve not yet tried it,
but thanks for field testing!

LB

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "pkleingers" wrote:
> I have found boxes in about 10 different states (not all that
impressive I
> know) and the majority of them do not have their own ink pads.
The ones
> that did, the pads were almost always in poor shape. They just
don't hold
> up under wet or cold conditions. Heck, I went boxing last month
and MY ink
> pads were freezing on the short hikes!! (I finally started
keeping one
> under my coat, lol)
>
> One placer in our area has started putting color suggestions in
her clues.
> I really like that alternative!
>
> Mama Stork
> aka Pam in Cinci
>
> >
> > Question ... Is it standard fare for the person searching for
the LB to
> > bring their own Inked Stamp Pad?

Except then you have to open the coat somewhat to get the pad out, letting
in arctic air!! And stamping in with frozen fingers was not a thrill
either, lol. Can we say obsessed??

Mama Stork
aka Pam in Cinci

>
>
>
> I always thought that keeping the inkpads under the coats would be a
> great way to keep them from freezing up. I ahve not yet tried it,
> but thanks for field testing!
>
> LB
>

Another quirk that I have found along these lines of "cold fingers" ...
Sporting Goods type store usually carry one-time use - disposable Hand Warmers.
Chemical base heat activation .. once opened from the sealed package and exposed to air .. it starts to heat up. Lasts up to 4 - 6 hours ... your mileage may vary.
Being an avid GeoCacher .. getting my feet wet in LB'ing .. I can say from personal use that they do work and are very helpful on cold, windy days. Especially since you most likley will have your gloves off during the log / stampimg process. Put your hands back in the coat pocket with the Hand Warmer in place .. nice finger warm up. Has worked for me in some of the North Carolina "cool days" recently.

My $0.02 worth of Hi-tech :-)

GeoGordie in Greensboro
----- Original Message -----
From: pkleingers
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 5:50 PM
Subject: RE: [LbNA] Newbie Question Please .....


Except then you have to open the coat somewhat to get the pad out, letting
in arctic air!! And stamping in with frozen fingers was not a thrill
either, lol. Can we say obsessed??

Mama Stork
aka Pam in Cinci

>
>
>
> I always thought that keeping the inkpads under the coats would be a
> great way to keep them from freezing up. I ahve not yet tried it,
> but thanks for field testing!
>
> LB
>




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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

As I read this thread, I realized that not only are
stamp pads not very durable in extreme conditions, but
a reasonably good stamp pad is usually also the most
expensive piece in the box. I would much rather spend
my money stocking my backpack with a few nicer stamp
pads and markers to use for my personal stamp AND the
box stamp, than putting a decent stamp pad in a box
and having it ruined by the elements and useless for
myself and anyone who finds the box.

Tell me again why I have been putting ink pads in my
boxes???

Lucy



--- pkleingers wrote:

> I have found boxes in about 10 different states (not
> all that impressive I
> know) and the majority of them do not have their own
> ink pads. The ones
> that did, the pads were almost always in poor shape.


__________________________________________________
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I actually carry the ink pad inside my down mittens when it's really cold.
Keeps the ink the warmest and I need to take the mittens off anyway to stamp
in. (Yes, we can say we're obsessed!)

Wisconsin Hiker

-----Original Message-----
From: pkleingers [mailto:pam@kleingers.net]


Except then you have to open the coat somewhat to get the pad out, letting
in arctic air!! And stamping in with frozen fingers was not a thrill
either, lol. Can we say obsessed??

Mama Stork
aka Pam in Cinci

>
> I always thought that keeping the inkpads under the coats would be a
> great way to keep them from freezing up. I ahve not yet tried it,
> but thanks for field testing!
>
> LB
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]