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Read Thread: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?

How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Jul 5, 2017 9:02am
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I need to make a duct tape-covered pouch to hide a box-of-the-month. I've hunted for directions, but come up empty. I've seen really wonderful pouches made by applying duct tape to freezer bags, but am hoping someone has directions (or can point me to them) so that I make it as dry-dry-dry as possible.

Thanks so much for your help.
Chris
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #947908 by ReaderChris
Jul 5, 2017 9:37am
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I know I've seen them on here but can't find it right now. Probably in an old board post which I'm terrible at searching. I'll keep looking too. Basically you just cover a freezer bag with duct tape. Some people extend one side up to make a flap and add a tuck tab, which is actually nice.
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #947908 by ReaderChris
Jul 5, 2017 9:55am
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Go to the Glossary, under the Home tab, and click on the letter P. Look for "planter's pouch" and there is a link to show you how to make one.
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #947908 by ReaderChris
Jul 5, 2017 9:58am
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You don't, those things are always insect infested... :P
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #947908 by ReaderChris
Jul 5, 2017 9:59am
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It's in Help. Search for 'pouch' and you get MSTRWNDL's instructions, which are well illustrated and explained.
https://www.atlasquest.com/about/wiki/search.html?search=pouch

The flap is essential to keeping the zipper clean, and the belt is important for keeping the flap in place. Use a freezer quality bag instead of a thin sandwich quality bag. The quart size bag with a flap can fold in half with a stamp & logbook inside. I protect the logbook with another freezer bag. The pint size freezer bag doesn't usually doesn't fold in half well - it tends to unfold itself while you watch. I have also used jewelry size bags for indoor pouches, or use in dry places, like under bridges.
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #947908 by ReaderChris
Jul 5, 2017 11:11am
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I have yet to come across a pouch that was not wet, chewed, leaking, dirty, and full of bugs. So, if you must use a pouch because of some feature of the location, be sure to follow this advice:

I protect the logbook with another freezer bag.

I recently found two in Hawaii that were only salvageable because of the second baggie inside the pouch. It seems that many finders can't, or won't, re-seal the pouch properly before they put it back, but the untaped, inner baggie is easier to re-seal.
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #947908 by ReaderChris
Jul 5, 2017 2:32pm
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Use a box. The problem isn't not being taped well. Problem is seal not fully closed or dirty. The pouches end up wet and or buggy.
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #947908 by ReaderChris
Jul 5, 2017 6:24pm
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Get your baggies and duct tape together, watch a tutorial, think about the gas money and time you'll spend to go fix the gross, leaky pouch, put the duct tape away, and then go to the store and buy a proper water-tight container.
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #947917 by Wise Wanderer
Jul 5, 2017 8:53pm
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I have yet to come across a pouch that was not wet, chewed, leaking, dirty, and full of bugs.

I've found four pouches. Three were new plants so they hadn't been out long enough to count.

The second one was planted July 13, 2014. I found it April 18, 2017. It was raining when I found it; not pouring but not a shower either, just a regular rain. The pouch was under a rock in a low spot next to the road, and 20 feet uphill in the shallow channel leading to a pipe draining water to the stream on the other side of the road.

I took the pouch back to my car. It was totally dry inside the pouch. Even with this, the stamp and logbook were also inside plastic bags. After stamping in, I bagged everything back up and replaced it where I'd found it.

Four pouches isn't much of a count for comparison, but the one I found in the rain serves as a counter-example to your unfortunate experiences.
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #947908 by ReaderChris
Jul 6, 2017 3:54am
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the only dry pouch ive found was one that was inside a building....it was velcroed under a bench. even when we have made Velcro wallets, eventually all of the sticky parts start to eek out of the edges and your hands are always sticky. I love duck tape but not for everything.
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #947908 by ReaderChris
Jul 6, 2017 5:33am
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I appreciate all the helpful advice and info. I've been lucky enough to find a number of pouches, all so well-made that the contents were in pristine condition. This pouch will only be used for three weeks every once in a while to hold a box of the month that's too big for the box that will usually be used, so I'll be checking on it frequently. Again, thanks so much, everyone!
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #947908 by ReaderChris
Jul 30, 2017 8:20am
Thread (disabled) Board
I have found my share of gross pouches as well but the other day I found a very cool one. Granted, it was a new box and it was hanging but still it was a purchased pouch that had three zippers built-in and velcro and a flap and everything. The planter told me it was from Amazon so it was probably this one
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XXKT64Z/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1501427779&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=waterproof+zipper+pouch&dpPl=1&dpID=41vZUAnfxfL&ref=plSrch
$12 for three isn't much cheaper than a LNL.
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #949304 by MO UR4Me
Jul 30, 2017 9:26am
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$12 for three isn't much cheaper than a LNL.

It has triple zippers, but two pouches. Still, it is about the price of larger LnL.

I have found my share of gross pouches

I've had good experience with pouches. I'm thinking that pouches work better in dry climates. What do others think?
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #949307 by Oberon_Kenobi
Jul 30, 2017 9:47am
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Pouches are good to a point. Once they get a hole in them and get wet all bets are off. Recently, twice in the same trip, my letterboxing pal opened not one, but two pouches in the trunk of my car. Earwigs came out all over and scurried everywhere. Thankfully, I haven't seen them since.
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #949308 by Memere
Jul 30, 2017 10:18am
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Recently, twice in the same trip, my letterboxing pal opened not one, but two pouches in the trunk of my car. Earwigs came out all over and scurried everywhere.

I learned very early on to never open any boxes or pouches inside a vehicle. If it's cold or rainy, I will still open the box outside before bringing it into the vehicle.
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #949304 by MO UR4Me
Jul 30, 2017 3:25pm
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That pouch from Amazon says it has a lifetime
E guarantee. I wonder. Fairly large. 6x8. But gives one ideas
Pouch vs LnL
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #949307 by Oberon_Kenobi
Jul 30, 2017 5:46pm
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I've had good experience with pouches.

I had great experience with pouches recently in CO.
You would think the harsh winters would destroy them but apparently not.

On the other hand, I had terrible and discouraging experiences with pouches in my home state.
Every one I found when I started boxing here was ruined - Water-logged
It would be enough to put me off boxing, but I was helping a scout get a badge so fortunately I hung in there.

So far I have planted only LnL boxes due to this early experience.

Guess it pays to know your local environment.
Re: Pouch vs LnL
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #949342 by CorgiLover
Jul 30, 2017 6:34pm
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So far I have planted only LnL boxes due to this early experience.

I've only planted LnL or ammo cans for my letterboxes.

While I've had good experiences with finding pouches but I haven't planted them. The problem I see is that where I've even thought of planting pouches are in such public places. Still, I may do it some time in the future.
Re: How do you make a duct-tape covered pouch?
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #949329 by Baqash
Jul 31, 2017 1:05pm
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The one they actually used only had 1 compartment but still 3 zippers, so there are apparently different ones out there.