Letterboxing USA - Yahoo Groups Archive

Containers/Log book

7 messages in this thread | Started on 1999-03-22

[L-USA] Re: Containers/Log book

From: Daniel Servatius (elf@pclink.com) | Date: 1999-03-22 20:26:07 UTC-06:00
Linda Aplin wrote:
> Thanks Daniel for sending the container. I'm going to carve and
> stamp, and see if I can fit all the necessary goodies into the jar.
> It seems a bit small, but perhaps I need to think smaller!

Well, maybe its not the right one. I've checked on some more
containers and found that they come in polystyrene, polypropylene,
and polyethylene. They come in clear, opaque and translucent with
metal or plastic lids with varying threads. Some have a neck-down
at the opening, some do not. The ones that I think would be usable
for letterboxing vary in size from 3 1/8 X 4" through 5 1/16 X 4 3/8".
Some materials are more durable than others. I'm going to check
further into it. Oh, BTW prices are from about 50 cents to 107 cents
depending on size. The 5 1/16 X 4 3/8" container is 107 cents (sorry
Graham, guess you will not be interested cuz they're more than
50 cents! ). Anyway, somebody should try a few of these and see
if any of them get good reviews.

> I received a waterproof pad from Write in the Rain. When I stamped
> on the paper, the ink seemed to not want to dry and got really
> smudgy. Has anyone else had this problem? Maybe its the type of
> inkpad I'm using.

I've had that happen on ordinary paper, but I'd be interested in
knowing if there is something peculiar to the treatment on Rite in
the Rain paper that causes this. If so, we are probably barking up
the wrong tree and would be better off to concentrate on well sealing
containers and ziplock bags. BTW, I think the degrading ziplock bag
someone spoke of probably was years old. I don't see one of those
going bad in a shorter period of time than that. They have unearthed
those styrofoam McDonald's hamburger containers that have been in
the ground for 15 years and they are still intact.

> Daniel, if the jar works out, would you be interested in selling
> a few to me?

I'll give 'em to ya if its not more than about half a dozen. I like
ya'll, so that holds true for anyone else out there who wants to try
these. I have about 70 of them left. I plan to get some other
containers and try them too, so at the time some of you may want to
inquire. I'm thinking of ordering a bunch of the larger size that
both Erik and Graham suggested may be best. I think there is a
benefit to a circular screw on lid in that there is less chance of
breaking the seal due to pressure against the lid and the fact that
the perimeter is less (thus less opportunity of a place for the seal
to be broken). Though rubbermaid is what I used on my first letter-
box which BTW I have not checked since last Aug. when I placed it.

Dan'l

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[L-USA] Re: Containers/Log book

From: (HoofBeads@aol.com) | Date: 1999-03-23 10:45:18 UTC-05:00

In a message dated 3/22/99 7:31:15 PM, elf@pclink.com writes:

>I've had that happen on ordinary paper, but I'd be interested in
>knowing if there is something peculiar to the treatment on Rite in
>the Rain paper that causes this.

I'm guessing it's not organic material. The pulp
is probably nylon or some other sort of plastic
that's hot pressed. If that's the case, water based
inks may not ever adhere to it.

Michelle
hoofbeads@aol.com

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[L-USA] Re: Containers/Log book

From: (HoofBeads@aol.com) | Date: 1999-03-23 10:49:58 UTC-05:00

In a message dated 3/22/99 7:31:15 PM, elf@pclink.com writes:

>BTW, I think the degrading ziplock bag
>someone spoke of probably was years old.

Actually, no. A few months. But the ones I
use are thinner ply than the regular food-storage
ziplocks. I store glass beads in them, and they
decompose within a couple of months. That
MAY have something to do with the glass... and
some glass beads are surface treated with acid
to etch them, so that may also be the problem.
In any case, they are used continually over that
period, so handling may also contribute to the
rate of decomposition. I'll do some field testing
and report back.

Michelle
hoofbeads@aol.com

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[L-USA] Re: Containers/Log book

From: Thom Cheney (tcgrafx@imagina.com) | Date: 1999-03-23 08:04:28 UTC-08:00
HoofBeads@aol.com wrote:
>
> I'm guessing it's not organic material. The pulp
> is probably nylon or some other sort of plastic
> that's hot pressed. If that's the case, water based
> inks may not ever adhere to it.

It appears to be just like regular paper. My vote is that it is coated.
Since the coating is designed to repel water, water based ink will not
adhere. That, after all, is its job!!

--
Thom Cheney
tcgrafx... among other things

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[L-USA] Re: Containers/Log book

From: (Letterboxr@aol.com) | Date: 1999-03-24 04:00:53 UTC-05:00
In a message dated 3/22/99 6:31:15 PM Pacific Standard Time, elf@pclink.com
writes:

> > I received a waterproof pad from Write in the Rain. When I stamped
> > on the paper, the ink seemed to not want to dry and got really
> > smudgy. Has anyone else had this problem? Maybe its the type of
> > inkpad I'm using.
>
> I've had that happen on ordinary paper, but I'd be interested in
> knowing if there is something peculiar to the treatment on Rite in
> the Rain paper that causes this

I tried out the Rite in the Rain paper as well, using a standard Carters stamp
pad from an office supply store. I also found that the ink smears much worse
than on regular paper, even hours after the imprint has been made.

Though its not this bad, Dan mentions that ordinary paper has a tendency to
smear, also. I thought this was as good a time as any to put in a plug for my
favorite pad to use for a log book. Erik Davis recommended Strathmore Sketch
pads to me long ago, and I love them. They come in a 3 1/2 x 5 inch size
(another company also makes a 3" x 5" book) that fits nicely in a Rubbermaid
container. It is nice heavy (50 lb.) paper. And with 100 sheets per pad, it
should last a long time. Whether you get the regular or recycled pads, the
paper has no annoying rule lines on it, and has a nice absorbent "tooth" to it
that accepts ink rapidly and reduces smearing. I get them at my nearby
Michael's craft store for under 3 bucks.

In one particular instance, a youngster visited one of my letterboxes during
the local rainy season, and failed to put the book back in the ziplock bag I
had provided. They also failed to reseal the Rubbermaid container properly.
It was in a covered area, so did not get soaked, but was exposed to high
humidity for well over a week before I checked on it. I'm not saying this
stuff is waterproof, by any means, but it recovered quickly without wrinkling
or having the pages stick together. The ink did not smear, either.

Somebody also mentioned the idea of putting ink pads in the box. I've heard
that in the case of accidental water intake, this can make one hell of a mess.

Just some observations...
Der Mad Stamper

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[L-USA] Re: Containers/Log book

From: (jdewolf@mail.icrsurvey.com) | Date: 1999-04-06 15:10:59 UTC
Mitch wrote:

> I thought this was as good a time as any to put in a plug for my
> favorite pad to use for a log book. Erik Davis recommended Strathmore Sketch
> pads to me long ago, and I love them. They come in a 3 1/2 x 5 inch size
> (another company also makes a 3" x 5" book) that fits nicely in a Rubbermaid
> container. It is nice heavy (50 lb.) paper. And with 100 sheets per pad, it
> should last a long time. Whether you get the regular or recycled pads, the
> paper has no annoying rule lines on it, and has a nice absorbent "tooth" to it
> that accepts ink rapidly and reduces smearing. I get them at my nearby
> Michael's craft store for under 3 bucks.
>

This is the pad I also have been using both as my personal pad and in the boxes. I like it as much as Mitch. Would highly recommend it, although it is a bit more expensive (I've found it for less than $2.50).

JDW

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[L-USA] Re: Containers/Log book

From: Thom Cheney (tcgrafx@imagina.com) | Date: 1999-04-06 08:20:36 UTC-07:00
jdewolf@mail.icrsurvey.com wrote:
>
> Mitch wrote:
I get them at my nearby
> > Michael's craft store for under 3 bucks.
> >
>
> This is the pad I also have been using both as my personal pad and in the boxes. I like it as much as Mitch. Would highly recommend it, although it is a bit more expensive (I've found it for less than $2.50)

see me hovering near Michael's with their famous 50% off coupons...

--
Thom Cheney
tcgrafx... among other things

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