Homemade Bear-proof Cannisters

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Question:

Someone at A-16 told me that you could make a bear-proof cannister out of PVC pipe. Has anybody ever tried this? Karen

Response:

I believe that the commercial ones are made out of a carbon composite similar to that used in stealth airplane construction.

Where did you hear this? I’m surprised that Garcia Products doesn’t get more advertising mileage out of this if it’s true – they certainly don’t mention it on the package. As long as we’re speculating, it looks to me like they’re made out of a length of ordinary ABS (not PVC) pipe, with a custom molded cap glued onto each end. The whole thing is then machined to smooth over the glue joints. Perhaps the reason they cost so much it that they have to hire union plumbers to glue the caps on. ;^) -Joe

Response:

Someone at A-16 told me that you could make a bear-proof cannister out of PVC pipe. Has anybody ever tried this? Karen

Based on what I know about PVC pipe and what I’ve seen bears are able to do (like peal away the top portion of a car door to get at a cooler inside), I wouldn’t think that a PVC bear cannister would hold up very well. I believe that the commercial ones are made out of a carbon composite similar to that used in stealth airplane construction.

Response:

Someone at A-16 told me that you could make a bear-proof cannister out of PVC pipe. Has anybody ever tried this? Karen Based on what I know about PVC pipe and what I’ve seen bears are able to do (like peal away the top portion of a car door to get at a cooler inside), I wouldn’t think that a PVC bear cannister would hold up very well. I believe that the commercial ones are made out of a carbon composite similar to that used in stealth airplane construction.

Response:

NOPE! They’re made out of ABS plastic. The trick is, they’re large enough and smooth enough that the bear can’t get any grip, claw-hold, or tooth-hold on them. If they were any smaller in diameter you’d be right though. The bear could crush them with his jaws, and if they had seams or lips, he could indeed peel them open. Woody Schlom

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Someone at A-16 told me that you could make a bear-proof cannister out of PVC pipe. Has anybody ever tried this? Karen Based on what I know about PVC pipe and what I’ve seen bears are able to do (like peal away the top portion of a car door to get at a cooler inside), I wouldn’t think that a PVC bear cannister would hold up very well. I believe that the commercial ones are made out of a carbon composite similar to that used in stealth airplane construction. NOPE! They’re made out of ABS plastic. The trick is, they’re large enough and smooth enough that the bear can’t get any grip, claw-hold, or tooth-hold on them. If they were any smaller in diameter you’d be right though. The bear could crush them with his jaws, and if they had seams or lips, he could indeed peel them open. Woody Schlom

– After admiring a hiking partners bear canister, we all agreed that not only could it be a chair, but also one could pull the food out, slip a porta-potty bag in, and use it as a toilet. Must remember to pull the bag out when your done, before you put your food back in, though. /|// (o o) ~~~oOOo~~~(_)~~~oOOo~~~ . . . . . Is There A Difference Between . . Your Worst Friend & Your Best enemy? . . . . (:-) (:-p) (:-b) (;-/) (:-8) . . . . … never trust an extremist … . . … keep things in balance … . . .

Response:

I’ve rented, not purchased, cannisters and so have never read any product infomation on their construction. They were black, with formed bottoms and flush lids that pivoted out and locked with a coin slotted twist latch. The black color, construction, and lack of any pipe artifacts (threads, adapted fittings, etc.) led me to believe that they were specially constructed of material stronger than PVC. I guess they could be ABS. Is ABS resistant to tooth gouging? One of the cannisters I rented had scratches where it had been gnawed, but the impact on the surface of the container was minimal.

Response:

I know a couple of people who use the 6" (?) diameter PVC pipe for food drops. The trick may be that it’s sealed so tight so that the food odors are not strong enough to attract a bear from any distance, but more likely the bears haven’t learned to associate them with food yet. The pipes for the drops run about 4 to 6 feet long,(not too practical for backpacking) and they aren’t easy to pack. A small one for a pack wouldn’t hold much, I’d guess.

Response:

I haven’t used a bear container in a couple of years, but I don’t think they have changed…and the ones that I used were just large PVC (or something similar…not carbon fiber). They work because their diamter is to large for the bear to bite or pick up. A bear could probably get in by I know a couple of people who use the 6" (?) diameter PVC pipe for food drops. The trick may be that it’s sealed so tight so that the food odors are not strong enough to attract a bear from any distance, but more likely the bears haven’t learned to associate them with food yet. The pipes for the drops run about 4 to 6 feet long,(not too practical for backpacking) and they aren’t easy to pack. A small one for a pack wouldn’t hold much, I’d guess.

When I’ve rented cannisters which were *not* air tight, I was surprised that they were not disturbed in the slightest, while any food or garbage that was hung, was brought down. So, I think the lack of association may be a key thing. Joe Petrolino has also posted: If you look closely inside you can see a bead of glue where the top and bottom piece have been attached to the straight pipe. You can’t see any seams on the outside because they’ve ground the whole thing down (maybe on a lathe) to make it smooth. So I think that the *good* news from this thread is…. measure the diameter of a comercial cannister, use heavy ABS (not PVC) pipe of similar (or larger) diameter, use the right glue, minimize seams at the ends (I’m going to see what kinds of flush end closures I can come up with that allow me to also round the cannister at the ends.)…. and you *can* construct your own bear cannisters. Could save a lot of $!

Response:

After admiring a hiking partners bear canister, we all agreed that not only could it be a chair, but also one could pull the food out, slip a porta-potty bag in, and use it as a toilet. Must remember to pull the bag out when your done, before you put your food back in, though.

I’ve used mine as a camp stool many times, but I guess my imagination isn’t as good as yours. I never quite made the next logical step. What an "original" idea. And I’ll try to remember your last helpful hint. Gotta say, this is the funniest post I’ve read today! Woody Schlom

Response:

Someone at A-16 told me that you could make a bear-proof cannister out of PVC pipe. Has anybody ever tried this? Karen Great idea,

I’m sitting here now thinking of the possibilities. Marty described the containers that Denali Park mandates that all hikers use while in the backcountry. They do as some other posts say make great seats although for practical reasons, their hell to carry. They take up a lot of room in a backpack, although are not very heavy. Some one could probably make a container with a similar design with pvc although would be sacrifising the less weight which to me matters significantly. Three important factors in making one. 1) allows minimal scent to escape. 2) light weight. 3) fits in a pack. If you design one that works great, let me know. One thing is for certain, You’ll save a bundle of money because those other canisters cost a bundle. Good Luck Joe

Response:

Joe, Unfortunately the canister’s size is part of it’s function. You can’t make them any smaller because then the bear could get it’s jaws around it and crush it. It works because the diameter is so large that the bear can’t get a grip on it. Also note that it’s not important for the container to be odor-proof. It’s bear-proof. Even if the bear smells food inside, he/she can’t get to it. Bears are quite smart and are quickly learning that they can’t get into these things, so they aren’t even trying now. Even though I’ve camped in bear country many times with mine, it’s never been bitten or even knocked over. They don’t waste their time with it. You must be an external pack user, because the canisters fit fine in the larger compartments of internal packs. Woody Schlom

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Someone at A-16 told me that you could make a bear-proof cannister out of PVC pipe. Has anybody ever tried this? Karen Great idea, I’m sitting here now thinking of the possibilities. Marty described the containers that Denali Park mandates that all hikers use while in the backcountry. They do as some other posts say make great seats although for practical reasons, their hell to carry. They take up a lot of room in a backpack, although are not very heavy. Some one could probably make a container with a similar design with pvc although would be sacrifising the less weight which to me matters significantly. Three important factors in making one. 1) allows minimal scent to escape. 2) light weight. 3) fits in a pack. If you design one that works great, let me know. One thing is for certain, You’ll save a bundle of money because those other canisters cost a bundle. Good Luck Joe

– I stopped in the local home store over the weekend (y’know the kind that is 3 city blocks and carries everything…) All I culd find was 4" PVC pipe – It lloks indestructble, but too small for food. Also I priced out that it wuld cost about $15 to make one that was around 18" long. Of course, price will vary if you can find wider pipe – Probably something with industrial applications.

Response:

Are the commercial anti-bear food containers actually strong enough to allow a bear to bat them around and not break open?

The rumor mill says that the Garcias were tested by filling one full of fish and throwing it into the polar bear pit at a zoo (Fresno?). The bears worked on it for hours, but couldn’t get it open. As has been pointed out previously in this thread, the diameter is too great for the bears to get their jaws around the container, so they can’t appply much force to it. And they are thick enough so that I suspect a 20 foot fall wouldn’t hurt them. They’re a pain; they’re too heavy and don’t hold enough; but in places with educated bears, they’re the only sure way to protect your food (and your pack…). R

Response:

says… Someone at A-16 told me that you could make a bear-proof cannister out of PVC pipe. Has anybody ever tried this?

There are container used in white water rafting that have a screw top, about 5 gal in volume. They are available thru Northwest River Supplies in Moscow. Low cost, because they are recycled olive and olive oil container. They are alwo light weight with a rubber seal to contain teh food smell. We always attach a strap so they can be hung to keep marmonts, coons and mice out of the food supplies on river trips. I’m assuming you are just trying to keep the bears from being attracted. I don’t see how one can carry on a backpacking trip a container strong enough to keep a determined bear out of the food store. Are the commercial anti-bear food containers actually strong enough to allow a bear to bat them around and not break open? — # Jerry B. Trottmann

Response:

I use a bucket like this for brewing beer, and a lot of our lab reagents come in the same type of bucket. I estimate that a bear could break it open in about 15 seconds. That number is for a black bear, and assumes that he’s really tired. A hungry grizzly probably wouldn’t notice that there was a container between him and the food. –Alan Alan Dove N3IMU http://hs1304silver1.cpmc.columbia.edu/Alan_Dove/Alan.html

Response:

<snip accomidates the cannister although I believe a better, or at least as good of a container could be made using pvc for a fraction of the cost. If you would, could you post the cost of one of the containers that you use. I may be wrong. Take it easy, Joe

Campmor carries them for about $80. You should price 8" diameter PVC pipe, then note that these things are not PVC, but ABS, I think (someone posted this, but I forgot). Small-diameter PVC is pretty cheap, but the thick, large-diameter stuff is definitely not. Add the cost of an effective end-cap with some kind of clasp, and you might be surprised at the cost. On the other hand, I’m basing this on NYC hardware stores’ prices, so you might be able to do it for less. –Alan Alan Dove N3IMU http://hs1304silver1.cpmc.columbia.edu/Alan_Dove/Alan.html

Response:

<snip As has been pointed out previously in this thread, the diameter is too great for the bears to get their jaws around the container, so they can’t appply much force to it. There’s been plenty of talk about these things being too big for the bears’ jaws, but no one’s actually stated what the dimensions are. Can someone please post the dimensions of these things?

There’s more than one size. The one I’ve got (probably the smallest, for me only) is 8 1/4" outer diameter, 12" high. R

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m sitting here now thinking of the possibilities. Marty described the containers that Denali Park mandates that all hikers use while in the backcountry. They do as some other posts say make great seats although for practical reasons, their hell to carry. They take up a lot of room in a backpack, although are not very heavy. Some one could probably make a container with a similar design with pvc although would be sacrifising the less weight which to me matters significantly. Three important factors in making one. 1) allows minimal scent to escape. 2) light weight. 3) fits in a pack. If you design one that works great, let me know. One thing is for certain, You’ll save a bundle of money because those other canisters cost a bundle. Good Luck Joe Joe, Unfortunately the canister’s size is part of it’s function. You can’t make them any smaller because then the bear could get it’s jaws around it and crush it. It works because the diameter is so large that the bear can’t get a grip on it. Also note that it’s not important for the container to be odor-proof. It’s bear-proof. Even if the bear smells food inside, he/she can’t get to it. Bears are quite smart and are quickly learning that they can’t get into these things, so they aren’t even trying now. Even though I’ve camped in bear country many times with mine, it’s never been bitten or even knocked over. They don’t waste their time with it. You must be an external pack user, because the canisters fit fine in the larger compartments of internal packs. Woody SchlomHey Woody,

Yeah, I understand the purpose of the design for the bear proof container, although I cannot understand paying about $100. for small container that holds food for about two days. When my wife and I go backpacking we usually spend at least four to five days in the backcountry. I’m not sure if we are talking about the same containers or not, but the one I’m talking about has a hinged lid that is held shut by two clasps that require a coin or screwdriver to open. It’s black and about 1 1/2′ tall and has a radius of about 4" wide. If it is the same one where talking about I’ll be suprised because you claim yours to be smell proof. The one that I carried was anything but smellproof. Also to let you know, I carry an internal frame Dana Design pack which can also accomidates the cannister although I believe a better, or at least as good of a container could be made using pvc for a fraction of the cost. If you would, could you post the cost of one of the containers that you use. I may be wrong. Take it easy, Joe

Response:

<snip As has been pointed out previously in this thread, the diameter is too great for the bears to get their jaws around the container, so they can’t appply much force to it.

There’s been plenty of talk about these things being too big for the bears’ jaws, but no one’s actually stated what the dimensions are. Can someone please post the dimensions of these things?

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