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#204677 - 08/17/20 12:48 PM diy bear canisters?
Monica Heel Offline
newbie

Registered: 08/17/20
Posts: 2
Loc: San Francisco
I was thinking I should add a bear canister to my gear. Quick look at prices got me thinking.How would pvc pipe work as a bear canister? Pvc pipe with a cap and screw on lid. Maybe a smaller one to carry in pack. And a larger one to leave at camp. Pvc drain pipes come in large enough sizes.
Is pvc strong enough? Does a bear canister have to be odor proof? Will be adding loops for ease of hanging away from camp regardless. Any other possible ideas for a diy canister?
Thanks.

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#204678 - 08/17/20 01:37 PM Re: diy bear canisters? [Re: Monica Heel]
aimless Online   content
Moderator

Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 3292
Loc: Portland, OR
A DIY bear canister out of pvc pipe will only work if a bear never tests it out. In other words, the moment a bear lays paws on it, but especially jaws on it, it will fail. Not fail just a little, but completely. If you have the wherewithal to make a steel bear canister at home, it would probably work, but it would be much heavier than the commercial canisters.

There is a good reason why the commercial canisters are expensive and DIY canisters are for all practical purposes non-existent. Bears are extremely strong, highly motivated and very smart. Commercial canisters are tested by filling them with tempting food and giving them to a grizzly to play with. It is a hard test to pass. grin

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#204679 - 08/17/20 02:14 PM Re: diy bear canisters? [Re: aimless]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
Bear canisters have to go through a testing and approval process, so a DIY canister would be illegal.
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#204680 - 08/17/20 02:58 PM Re: diy bear canisters? [Re: OregonMouse]
balzaccom Online   content
member

Registered: 04/06/09
Posts: 2232
Loc: Napa, CA
Biggest problem with PVC pipe is that it is too small in diameter--bears can get a 6 inch pipe into their jaws. And once that happens, it's over.
_________________________
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/

Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

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#204683 - 08/18/20 09:28 AM Re: diy bear canisters? [Re: Monica Heel]
BZH Offline
member

Registered: 01/26/11
Posts: 1189
Loc: Madison, AL
I agree with all of the above. This is a bad idea. To answer some of you specific questions:

Originally Posted By Monica Heel
...How would pvc pipe work as a bear canister?


Terribly

Originally Posted By Monica Heel
...Is pvc strong enough?


Not if it is a small diameter and if it is a large diameter then end caps will not be strong enough

Originally Posted By Monica Heel
...Does a bear canister have to be odor proof?


No. A bears sense of smell is greater than a blood hounds. Hiding the smell of food from a bear is like hiding the smell of drugs from the TSA dogs on the border. It doesn't work.

Originally Posted By Monica Heel
...Any other possible ideas for a diy canister?
Thanks.


As others mentioned DIY most likely will be heavier than commercial products; it probably won't work; and it will not be compliant with regulations. If bear bag hanging is legal where you hike, you can do that DIY.

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#204684 - 08/18/20 03:01 PM Re: diy bear canisters? [Re: Monica Heel]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
ABS in a large enough diameter that Mr/Ms bear can't get their jaws around, and end caps equally sturdy that cannot be gnawed off, might possibly work or more to the point, for bears that recognize and ignore canisters might dissuade them from trying.

But I'd stress out myself worrying and in required areas it would not be regulation-compliant.

OTOH for places where other, smaller critters are a problem it would be just fine. Plenty of folks lose food to squirrels, raccoons and the like.

Cheers,


Edited by Rick_D (08/18/20 03:01 PM)
_________________________
--Rick

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#204686 - 08/18/20 03:18 PM Re: diy bear canisters? [Re: Rick_D]
4evrplan Offline
member

Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
I like the way Rick is thinking about this. Don't use it in required areas, and only use it for mini bears.

What do y'all think about 3d printing one in ABS?
_________________________
The journey is more important than the destination.

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#204687 - 08/18/20 08:00 PM Re: diy bear canisters? [Re: 4evrplan]
balzaccom Online   content
member

Registered: 04/06/09
Posts: 2232
Loc: Napa, CA
The other issue with PVC is how you open and close it. If you don't glue it shut, the bears can open it easier then you can. If you do glue it shut...well...
_________________________
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/

Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

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#204689 - 08/19/20 09:28 AM Re: diy bear canisters? [Re: 4evrplan]
BZH Offline
member

Registered: 01/26/11
Posts: 1189
Loc: Madison, AL
Originally Posted By 4evrplan
I like the way Rick is thinking about this. Don't use it in required areas, and only use it for mini bears.

What do y'all think about 3d printing one in ABS?


3d printed container for minibears might work out nicely, but there are a lot of cheap repurposed items that fill that niche. Paying someone else to print it would be expensive, but if you have the printer and the requisite CAD skills you could probably come up with some neat ideas.

One issue could be that most 3d printed objects come out opaque. I like the transparency of my BearVault when looking for snacks at the bottom.

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