I have watched several of your videos in utter amazement! Those caches are gorgeous! Also, your visitor numbers are baffling! I guess they definitely make it worth the effort of building those beautiful contraptions. Please allow me to take you on an amateur-math trip, because it might result in a "new" type of lock that you can use. You mentioned that having to pull 2 of the 7 rings at the same time to unlock the cache would result in hundreds of different combinations, but that's not the case. The amount of tries and time needed would actually be quite reasonable. Someone could probably crack that Rings box in 5 minutes or so, if it had that type of lock. Which, in my view, would be a perfect challenge for a gadget cache. If you would have to pull 2 rings at the same time to unlock the cache, and they would have to be pulled in a *specific* order (for example first nr 5, then nr 3), and there's 7 rings total, then there's a total of 7x6=42 combinations possible. However, if there is *no specific* order, then that cuts the amount of needed attempts down considerably. (After all, if the code was the 5 and the 3, then that person would hit it on the 3+5 attempt as well). Each attempt at a possible combination represents pulling 1 ring and then the 6 other rings. At an easy pace, it would probably take about 15 seconds to try a single combination. 15 seconds multiplied by 42 possible combinations adds up to a total of 630 seconds, which is just over 10 minutes. And that's in a worst case scenario, when hitting the code on the very last try, in a specific order. However, when there is no specific order needed, people will hit the right combination a lot sooner than that. Especially because you need to set a code somewhere in "the middle". A "low" code like 1+5 would be no good when starting from one side, but a "high" code like 7+6 isn't good either when starting from the other side. People could hit those on their first try. The best codes would be something like 3+4 or 4+5, and those can be cracked within 5 minutes when people work methodically (no matter from which side they start). -edit. Having said all that, I just realized that I have no idea how a lock like that would have to work internally. Not only would a hatch have to be released on pulling 2 different rings, but you would also somehow have to prevent people from brute forcing this by pulling *all* rings at the same time. I have no clue how any of that would have to work tbh. :) I hope all of this can be useful for you some day, and I also hope I didn't overdo my explanation and ramble too much. :) Keep up the good work sir!
I built a gadget cache using that same release mechanism that I constructed from your instructional video. Answering some questions on the cache page gives a combination for a lock which opens the front of the cache, but does not reveal the log. Inside with the swag container is a thin metal rod attached via a magnet, which when inserted into a tiny hole in the front of the cache just below the fake bird house "hole", releases the log tube. It works well and gets lots of favorites. Thanks heaps.
I am so happy you are back making new cache videos! Hope you are doing well!! I wish to come to Berkeley County someday to find your amazing caches. I am working on the lego gadget cache at the moment ;D
I remember this one well. Took us quite awhile but finally found the right ring. Jiggs11 and I have completed all of WVTIMS gadget caches that were inplace as of the last big event. These caches along with all the others in Berkeley County make this trip well worth it.
I found this cache as a new cacher and had no clue what I was doing. I looked like an idiot pulling combinations of rings. I definitely will go for this next year. Loved the outhouse cache in this same area.
I had a lot of fun doing these caches in 2015. I hope you continue to make these caches as each year they seem to get harder and harder to solve as well as more clever.
I have quickly become a fan of you sir. I just kicked up Geocaching last year and I plan to make your marble cashe birdhouse as my geocache hide. Thank you for sharing your passion with us all. God bless!
I seriously want to drive all the way to Berkeley County from California just to be able to do your geotour! Maybe after all the quarantines are over I'll plan a vacation there.
Hi Tim, I like your idea. I will build it too. I will use a mtb break cable instead if the big pipes. This should work better and should be easier to install Stay healthy!
hi tim. could you make a video about how you weatherproof your caches. you already talked about using some kind of sealant on the joints. but what kind of paint do you use? do you use special weather proof varnish or is acrylic paint enough? I would like to draw on my wooden box with acrylic paint but im not sure if it would stand the weather over a longer period of time. maybe a clear coat of varnish at the end would be good?
Great video and a great cache. I have not been lucky enough to find any of your caches yet, (that I'm aware of). I certainly hope to get the chance to someday soon. Thanks for all you do for the geocaching community, your reputation precedes you.
It is unlikely that I will ever get around to all your caches. I have been able to get to several inspired (copied) by you, but for the most part I love watching your videos because it really helps me level up my geosense. Now if only you could help me with puzzles and codes... Stay safe!
Ok so I made this cache from your video and it came out awesome! Just waiting for some airbrush paint to come in to paint “true fire” on it. It’s going to be called “Jonny cache” ring of fire.
Hi Tim. Another great cache and thanks for the video. A couple questions if you don't mind. 1) You mount a lot of your caches to 4x4 posts. What is your method for securing the post into the ground? 2) How do you go about "cold calling" the property owners to get permission to place the caches? I'd love to see a "fake" video of you asking permission. 3) What is your opinion on using MDO (not MDF) plywood for your boxes? Thanks! -- TeamMonroes
1. I just take a post hole digger and dig a hole and tamp it tight with dirt that came out of the hole. 2. I take my cache when I ask for permission, tell them about geocaching and explain to them that a good geocache that I maintain and take care of will bring people to there business. 3. Using exterior plywood "appears" to be a good solution, but I don't care how many coats of primer and paint you put on the cache, it will go bad. I have NEVER had a bird house made of exterior plywood every last more than a couple years. I always use one inch normal wood primed and painted. hope that helps. Tim
Hi Tim, I love your cache videos and I'm planning to make this cache for my area (Victoria, Australia). I have made the cache release mechanism, but do you have any dimensions for the box in which the cache sits?
Hey Tim I am building a cache, and I want to put information on it similar to the way you did as well (seen at the 1:30 mark), but I was curious in your opinion what the best method for doing this was. I was thinking of getting something laminated then gluing it on, but yours almost looks like its stamped on. You've done more of these than I have so I just thought I'd pick your mind. Thanks!
Hello Tim I was hoping to talk to you about brainstorming some cool cache ideas specifically designed for handicapped Geocachers. I had a young man with a disability cross my path in life and I feel inspired to help him and the disabled geocaching players. If you any ideas or thoughts I would love to hear from you. Murf
What a great idea, such a good way to give back to the handicap community. I can't think of any specific idea.... but many of these caches can be "adjusted" to make them handicap accessible. This cache for example, can be placed on a 4x4 post lower than usual so the handicap person can reach the rings on the cache as well as access the ring on the bottom. Many of my ideas here on youtube could be made handicap accessible. That will be the easy part, the harder part will be finding a location for the gadget cache that doesn't require the cacher to have to cross a berm. You could of course place the post right behind the berm so the wheelchair could still access the cache. My email address is on my profile page if you would like to talk further. Good luck.
My first instinct would've been to jerry rig a way to pull all rings at once. My second, to fiddle with all the rings in the wood grain, which I guess may have accidentally led to discovering the functioning ring. What's the motivation for the pipe in the post channel? Does the cable catch or tear without, or something else entirely? I admit to a knee-jerk reaction upon hearing the words "red herring", but I get cachers are very familiar with looking for interesting things in tiny holes. Have there been people getting there and leaving stumped?
I really design my caches to be as maintenance free as possible, thus the plastic tube for the stranded cable to work in. The pipe ( or cache release mechanism) is just a simple way to build a very durable cache release. Yes, several people get stumped, but the Welcome center gives out hints as do I.
You have a gift with making memorable adventures in your geocaches. I'm happy you're sharing these skills with a larger audience again.
thank you
I have watched several of your videos in utter amazement! Those caches are gorgeous!
Also, your visitor numbers are baffling! I guess they definitely make it worth the effort of building those beautiful contraptions.
Please allow me to take you on an amateur-math trip, because it might result in a "new" type of lock that you can use.
You mentioned that having to pull 2 of the 7 rings at the same time to unlock the cache would result in hundreds of different combinations, but that's not the case. The amount of tries and time needed would actually be quite reasonable. Someone could probably crack that Rings box in 5 minutes or so, if it had that type of lock. Which, in my view, would be a perfect challenge for a gadget cache.
If you would have to pull 2 rings at the same time to unlock the cache, and they would have to be pulled in a *specific* order (for example first nr 5, then nr 3), and there's 7 rings total, then there's a total of 7x6=42 combinations possible.
However, if there is *no specific* order, then that cuts the amount of needed attempts down considerably. (After all, if the code was the 5 and the 3, then that person would hit it on the 3+5 attempt as well).
Each attempt at a possible combination represents pulling 1 ring and then the 6 other rings. At an easy pace, it would probably take about 15 seconds to try a single combination. 15 seconds multiplied by 42 possible combinations adds up to a total of 630 seconds, which is just over 10 minutes. And that's in a worst case scenario, when hitting the code on the very last try, in a specific order.
However, when there is no specific order needed, people will hit the right combination a lot sooner than that. Especially because you need to set a code somewhere in "the middle". A "low" code like 1+5 would be no good when starting from one side, but a "high" code like 7+6 isn't good either when starting from the other side. People could hit those on their first try. The best codes would be something like 3+4 or 4+5, and those can be cracked within 5 minutes when people work methodically (no matter from which side they start).
-edit. Having said all that, I just realized that I have no idea how a lock like that would have to work internally. Not only would a hatch have to be released on pulling 2 different rings, but you would also somehow have to prevent people from brute forcing this by pulling *all* rings at the same time. I have no clue how any of that would have to work tbh. :)
I hope all of this can be useful for you some day, and I also hope I didn't overdo my explanation and ramble too much. :)
Keep up the good work sir!
I built a gadget cache using that same release mechanism that I constructed from your instructional video. Answering some questions on the cache page gives a combination for a lock which opens the front of the cache, but does not reveal the log. Inside with the swag container is a thin metal rod attached via a magnet, which when inserted into a tiny hole in the front of the cache just below the fake bird house "hole", releases the log tube. It works well and gets lots of favorites. Thanks heaps.
Thats a great idea. Sounds like a great cache. Thanks for sharing your concept. Sounds like a great cache. Congratulations.
You are a master at these gadget caches and they are all awesome ideas!
I am so happy you are back making new cache videos! Hope you are doing well!! I wish to come to Berkeley County someday to find your amazing caches. I am working on the lego gadget cache at the moment ;D
Thank you for the encouragement! Good luck on your build
I remember this one well. Took us quite awhile but finally found the right ring.
Jiggs11 and I have completed all of WVTIMS gadget caches that were inplace as of the last big event.
These caches along with all the others in Berkeley County make this trip well worth it.
Love it, like all the caches I've seen built. Some day I will get back east and grab these amazing hides! Thanks Tim.
I found this cache as a new cacher and had no clue what I was doing. I looked like an idiot pulling combinations of rings. I definitely will go for this next year. Loved the outhouse cache in this same area.
Great to See you and your great caches back in youtube. You are still a big inspiration.
Great to see you posting again Tim! 🤓 Wonderfully deceptive, good fun! Would like to return to WV one day
I had a lot of fun doing these caches in 2015. I hope you continue to make these caches as each year they seem to get harder and harder to solve as well as more clever.
I want to put a favorite point even if I have not found it! Congratulations it's very ingenious!
I know, right?
Thanks for sharing this gadget cache with us Tim! Will make one like this next payday :)
I have quickly become a fan of you sir. I just kicked up Geocaching last year and I plan to make your marble cashe birdhouse as my geocache hide. Thank you for sharing your passion with us all.
God bless!
I love your caches. I will certainly make one.
Great cache...clever!! You must have too much time on your hands ;)
I seriously want to drive all the way to Berkeley County from California just to be able to do your geotour! Maybe after all the quarantines are over I'll plan a vacation there.
Thank you, its a great tour but not sure its that good. : ) Thats a long drive for a geocache. There are lots of great cache builders out there.
Great cache. One day we would love to do the geotour. Thanks for this interesting video.
very cool idea Tim
Awesome gadget cache. I love all of ours. I have gotten some inspiration from you and madebsome myself. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Tim, I like your idea. I will build it too. I will use a mtb break cable instead if the big pipes. This should work better and should be easier to install
Stay healthy!
This one cracked me up! Its very likely that i would have run through all "7!" combinations. I just signed up and rang the bell. ;-)
hi tim. could you make a video about how you weatherproof your caches. you already talked about using some kind of sealant on the joints. but what kind of paint do you use? do you use special weather proof varnish or is acrylic paint enough? I would like to draw on my wooden box with acrylic paint but im not sure if it would stand the weather over a longer period of time. maybe a clear coat of varnish at the end would be good?
Great video and a great cache. I have not been lucky enough to find any of your caches yet, (that I'm aware of). I certainly hope to get the chance to someday soon. Thanks for all you do for the geocaching community, your reputation precedes you.
It’s a great cache!!! And a very nice video too!!!
Good job!!!
Really great idea, thanks for the video! Inspiring!
It is unlikely that I will ever get around to all your caches. I have been able to get to several inspired (copied) by you, but for the most part I love watching your videos because it really helps me level up my geosense. Now if only you could help me with puzzles and codes...
Stay safe!
Ok so I made this cache from your video and it came out awesome! Just waiting for some airbrush paint to come in to paint “true fire” on it. It’s going to be called “Jonny cache” ring of fire.
I used some of your creations as insperation
This is awesome! I haven't seen anything like this in California. Is the post cemented into the ground?
again Tim......nice nice .....
Hi Tim. Another great cache and thanks for the video. A couple questions if you don't mind. 1) You mount a lot of your caches to 4x4 posts. What is your method for securing the post into the ground? 2) How do you go about "cold calling" the property owners to get permission to place the caches? I'd love to see a "fake" video of you asking permission. 3) What is your opinion on using MDO (not MDF) plywood for your boxes? Thanks! -- TeamMonroes
1. I just take a post hole digger and dig a hole and tamp it tight with dirt that came out of the hole. 2. I take my cache when I ask for permission, tell them about geocaching and explain to them that a good geocache that I maintain and take care of will bring people to there business. 3. Using exterior plywood "appears" to be a good solution, but I don't care how many coats of primer and paint you put on the cache, it will go bad. I have NEVER had a bird house made of exterior plywood every last more than a couple years. I always use one inch normal wood primed and painted. hope that helps. Tim
Awesome! Good work!!!!
Thanks for giving me another idea! My new one won’t be like this one but it’s definitely gonna have one of those fake loops!
Go for it!
Thank you again for the concept. And yes I will make one of these for my area geocachers.
Please do!
The cache are amazing! I hope that you came back :)
Thank you for sharing!
Of course!
Hi Tim, I love your cache videos and I'm planning to make this cache for my area (Victoria, Australia). I have made the cache release mechanism, but do you have any dimensions for the box in which the cache sits?
Just got into your channel. You're a genius. I bet you'd make an amazing escape room if you wanted to👍🏼
Welcome aboard!
Hey Tim I am building a cache, and I want to put information on it similar to the way you did as well (seen at the 1:30 mark), but I was curious in your opinion what the best method for doing this was. I was thinking of getting something laminated then gluing it on, but yours almost looks like its stamped on. You've done more of these than I have so I just thought I'd pick your mind. Thanks!
How do you even begin to come up with these ideas?!
well now i know what i am doing today lol
Love it.
Hello Tim I was hoping to talk to you about brainstorming some cool cache ideas specifically designed for handicapped Geocachers. I had a young man with a disability cross my path in life and I feel inspired to help him and the disabled geocaching players. If you any ideas or thoughts I would love to hear from you.
Murf
What a great idea, such a good way to give back to the handicap community. I can't think of any specific idea.... but many of these caches can be "adjusted" to make them handicap accessible. This cache for example, can be placed on a 4x4 post lower than usual so the handicap person can reach the rings on the cache as well as access the ring on the bottom. Many of my ideas here on youtube could be made handicap accessible. That will be the easy part, the harder part will be finding a location for the gadget cache that doesn't require the cacher to have to cross a berm. You could of course place the post right behind the berm so the wheelchair could still access the cache. My email address is on my profile page if you would like to talk further. Good luck.
Where is the link to the construction of the cache mechanism? What did you use for the release? Looks like a child safety latch for a cabinet (?)
Look in my videos.... video title is
Building a Cache Release Mechanism
What are the coordinates or geo code so I can put in my phone?
My first instinct would've been to jerry rig a way to pull all rings at once. My second, to fiddle with all the rings in the wood grain, which I guess may have accidentally led to discovering the functioning ring.
What's the motivation for the pipe in the post channel? Does the cable catch or tear without, or something else entirely?
I admit to a knee-jerk reaction upon hearing the words "red herring", but I get cachers are very familiar with looking for interesting things in tiny holes. Have there been people getting there and leaving stumped?
I really design my caches to be as maintenance free as possible, thus the plastic tube for the stranded cable to work in. The pipe ( or cache release mechanism) is just a simple way to build a very durable cache release. Yes, several people get stumped, but the Welcome center gives out hints as do I.
Do you have any that dispenses one coin at a time?
Not sure what you mean..... one COIN at a time?
How do you get the cache back UP the tube ?
Julie Green the video illustrates that. Just a simple push up?
Am in Charles town now