Altoid Alternates

G

gadgetgeek

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May 19, 2007
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Pardon if this has been tossed around to death already, but I'm wondering what other small tins and containers are PSK worthy.
a few I've found

Burt's Bees hand salve, as well as Badger balm (Lee valley tools)
Round tins, larger than dip tins, mine seal pretty well, but can be challenging with cold hands.
Burt's bees lip balm, in the round tin, I'm thinking it could make a good one shot fire capsule when it finished, maybe wax and wood chips with a magnesium/PJB starter 1 1/2 x 3/8 inch

OralFixation candy, about the size of a credit card and about 1/4inch thick. the two halves slide apart, not terribly sturdy in and of its self, but good for things that shouldn't be bent

WarpedT mints, small shoe polish can sized, same style of opener, not too bad, but like polish cans, the opener loosens with time and gets harder to use.

I've also thought about hitting discount stores for holiday candy tins, should make pretty good emergency candles, due to the large size and lid.

So, what other product containers do you scavenge to add to your PSK collections?
 
Jesus, I should try to photograph my girlfriend's tin collection. There is no tin that could fit in a pocket that she does not own.

I wouldn't go with the burt's bees ones personally though as I can barely get them open normally, let alone with cold hands. I think they are designed for people with hands like vietnamese five-year-olds.

Incidentally those are probably the same people responsible for tent capacity ratings.
 
Caffeinated Penguin Mints tins. Come in standard Altoid size (1.75 oz) and in a mini size (.5 oz). Since I work nights and take care of my kids during the day I need lots of caffeine, and I buy the Penguin Mints by the case.

I carry one of the standard sized Penguin Mints full of EDC goodies all the time, I keep a section of bike inner tube around it to keep it secure, even though it stays shut pretty well on its own.
 
Misanthropist...... thanks..... I'll be smellin' coffee all day now.... sniff, snort........


Funny shite....
 
There are some nice little cases that I use for Kayaking, which would work for a psk. They are fairly small, made of tough plastic, and are waterproof. They come in various sizes. Just check out a local store or some place like REI or campmor should have some.
 
if you live outside the US you might be familiar with "kinder eggs"-chocolate shells with small plastic toys inside. the little capsule inside the egg that holds the toy is a good container for PJCB or meds, and can be opened with one hand if you have a good pinch.

my aunt brings some to use every once in a while when she goes to austria, so i have probably 100 of the little capsules floating around from the last 8 or so years.
 
Ever tried this site?

http://www.specialtybottle.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=33

If you have access to an Asian grocery store or restaurant supply house, look for varying-sized mess-tins that they carry. These are stainless and based on old WWII mess-tins complete with fold-out handle. $3-6 depending on size. These are pretty much the same thing that BCB sells @ $20-30 for their survival kits.
 
siguy said:
if you live outside the US you might be familiar with "kinder eggs"-chocolate shells with small plastic toys inside. the little capsule inside the egg that holds the toy is a good container for PJCB or meds, and can be opened with one hand if you have a good pinch.

my aunt brings some to use every once in a while when she goes to austria, so i have probably 100 of the little capsules floating around from the last 8 or so years.
Click to expand...

Man,that is a great idea !!!
I haven't thought of that!
I'm gonna buy some Kinder Eggs - they're pretty tasty too ;)
 
CWL said:
Ever tried this site?

http://www.specialtybottle.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=33
Click to expand...



Uhhhhhhh..... yep..... I got the handy little screwtop tins. You can look into tins on the muzzleloading sites too....


IMG_0011-3.jpg

3pocketpouch.jpg

hardshellpouch.jpg
 
Magnusen,

WOW! I am so jealous. I am such a container nut.

Love that drawer of flint. :-)

I've gotta break down and get me some good black flint one of these days.

Love your pouches.

Charlie
 
Empty shoe polish cans are good. The twist-off latch is a nice touch. Also, look at Target in the travel section for the Johnson & Johnson first aid kit. A dollar doesn't go far here, but the plastic box is a good size for a personal kit.
 
I just finished sweatin some pipes, and the tins that Flux comes in would make neat PSK tins. Weird how even when doingplumbing work, I am thinkin kits. Probably shouldve been focused on the torch in my hand, but eh....
 
I like the Altoids SOURS tins
I use them a lot actually to store various items



img_sours.jpg


BTW...
The top picture is the 10 oz. size ;)
 
For "urban carry" I use the little plastic box that my maglite solitaire came in, it isn't intended for hard use but it's a discrete little pack with enough room to carry the essentials.

Jaime Orozco.
 
Magnussen said:
IMG_0011-3.jpg
Click to expand...

The top ones in Rick's photo above. I just special ordered 5000 in two sizes (5 mL and 20 mL capacity) for my laboratory so we have these things in high numbers. We use them to store tissue samples for organic pollutants (the sample can't come in contact with plastic and glass is a pita to freeze liquid containing samples in). I do find them useful for holding tinder.

Why the fascination with tins though? Is it because people really fancy the idea of cooking out of their altoids container??? They aren't particularly durable. They don't lock shut that well unless held with a ranger band. They corrode. They leak. The only think I think is really good about the Altoids tin as a micro-kit is that they have a nearly ideal size for pocket carry. Plus they look like an candy tin not a rambo-esque survival kit.

Going to a larger container, I tend to see water proofing taking precedence over having a metal skin. That's why I choose to go the tupperware (lock & lock) route for mine or see the merit in the Otter-Box or small pelican for the hard-on-your-stuff neanderthals out there like Bushman (:D).
 
Thos Ted Cash Company tins are HOT - but SO FRIGGIN' expensive. I must give a +1 to Specialty Bottle company - they shipped fast and accurate to me and I loved the tins. I made a bunch of tinder boxes out of them and used the rest for storage.

TF
 
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