Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Burying the FPP Capped Stainless Steel Time Capsule

Burying Your Stainless Steel Time Capsule

Periodically, I receive questions from customers and would like to share those and the answers I give them. If anyone can add to the ideas, please post them here for all to benefit.

We are interested in buying a time capsule, probably one of the Burying Your Capped Stainless Steel Time Capsule. I read the description, and it said it is 'not intended for burial without protection and due diligence.' What does this mean? Can you provide us with kits to protect it in the ground, or instruct us on whom to contact.
                Thanks, -SW

Hi Mr. W,

We did not design it to be buried, but sometimes our customers do just that. Here are several ideas:
  1. I hope you follow common sense procedures (for instance, don’t bury it where it’s watered regularly – such as a garden or under grass). See more on our Tips Page
  2. We now include the 'wax sealant' kit 82042 for all of our capped cornerstone models. This will have instructions as well as the wax. 
  3. Place the time capsule with its cap on the top (don't lay it on its side).
  4. Seal the area above the capsule well. One option is to use a poured cement-over-plywood-base – see our Gallery, under the Ceremonies, and see the plaque installation towards the end of ‘Washington Mutual – Hollywood’. FPP The New Hollywood Time Capsule Placement.
  5. Whatever you do, don’t put it into a vault that HOLDS water to the time capsule, or wrap it in plastic because of the same problem. Eventually, if even a stainless steel time capsule is sitting in water, it will corrode. We still feel this is the best material for time capsules (304+) due to the longevity and sturdiness as well as how inert it is.

Here, Rancho Bernardo chose to bury their Capped Cornerstone Time Capsule.


Saturday, March 16, 2013

How Do Our Time Capsules Meet Your Conditions?

How Do Our Time Capsules Meet Your Conditions?

Whether you're in a hurry or on a strict budget, we probably have a time capsule for you. Consider our time capsule boxes as well as the affordable time capsule cylinders.
FPP Capped Stainless Steel Time Capsule

How Large is Your Project?

Small

Good choices for small budgets & projects include our cylinders.

Medium

Good choices for medium budgets & projects include cornerstone capped time capsules and smaller bolted models. 

Large

Good choices for large projects & budgets include bolted time capsules and many easy packages that include not only time capsule, but preservation kit and outdoor quality cast plaque, too.

And the Award Goes To:

Although not the same as Academy Awards, we've 'awarded' our capsules accordingly as follows:

Easiest to Use

1.    Bolted 3000 series
2.    Cylinder Time Capsules Mr. Future 08624 (08628) & Mrs. Future 08652 (08658)
3.    Capped Cornerstone 4200
4.    Cylinder Time Capsules  77590 Arnold Personal Time Capsule & 35120 Sally Personal Time Capsule

Most Affordable

1.    Clearance Cylinder Time Capsules "Seconds" or Refurbished Units (all new)
2.    Cylinder Time Capsules Mr. Future 08624 & Mrs. Future 08652
3.    Cylinder Time Capsules  77590 & 35120
4.    Capped Cornerstone 4200

Best for Outdoors Underground

1.    Bolted 3000 Time Capsules
2.    Capped Cornerstone 4200 can be buried using common sense placement guidelines
3.    Cylinder Time Capsules Mr. Future 08624 & Mrs. Future 08652 
4.    Clearance Cylinder Time Capsules "Seconds" are okay for burial, too.

Best for Indoors

1.    Cylinder Time Capsules Mr. Future 08624 & Mrs. Future 08652
2.    Cylinder Time Capsules 77590 & 35120, 35121
3.    Capped Cornerstone Time Capsule 4200

Most Easily Reusable

1.    Bolted 3000 Time Capsules
2.    Capped Cornerstone Time Capsules 4200
3.    Cylinder Time Capsules Mr. Future 08624 & Mrs. Future 08652 if sealant guidelines are followed properly

Lead Time for Making Your Time Capsule

1.    Capped Cornerstone Time Capsule 4200 (takes 3-4 weeks if not in stock)
2.    Bolted 3000 Time Capsule (takes 3-4 weeks if not in stock)

Longest Lasting Time Capsules

1.    Bolted 3000 Time Capsule - 100+ years
2.    Capped Cornerstone Time Capsule 4200 – 75+ years
3.    Cylinder Time Capsules Mr. Future 08624 & Mrs. Future 08652 – 50+ years
4.    Cylinder Time Capsules  77590 & 35120 – 25+ years


Choosing a Time Capsule Supplier

Why Choose Future Packaging & Preservation?

Who We Are

Future Packaging & Preservation is a small, experienced company that cares about quality, integrity, and honesty. Yes we have ethics.

We have provided time capsules to customers for over 25 years.

Future Packaging and Preservation: We're family owned and operated. We take a personal interest in each time capsule we sell. Even our employees are like family.

Our shipping person is also a retired quality aerospace engineer who inspects all items and they must meet 12 points of stringent quality standards before shipping to you. Sometimes we think he's too picky, but while we've had him, there's been no complaints about our quality (or our packing)!

Our Service

Our time capsules come with complete instructions, and you can call or email us directly for more info.
Each of our time capsule boxes (the bolted model and the capped cornerstone model) includes a limited warranty that covers workmanship, materials and more.
We listen to your comments and suggestions, and that's one reason we have  different kinds of time capsules. It's also why our preservation kits have changed over the years.

Time Capsule Materials and Designs 

Material

We use 304 stainless steel material for all the time capsules we make. Stainless steel makes a better time capsule than other materials. Aluminum is too soft. PVC and plastic material changes over time and becomes too brittle. Some of our competitors sell time capsules made of composite materials? Exactly what materials are in the composite?

Sealing

A note about bolted time capsules: If you choose any other time capsule that’s bolted, be sure to pay attention to how the other company's time capsule closes. Ours are painstakingly made with attention paid to details – including BLIND bolt holes that do not open into the capsule’s interior. To our knowledge, none of our competitors’ bolted capsules is designed in this way.

Questions to ask:

How does it seal? If the capsule has an O-ring or gasket, is it flat or round? Does the O-ring go into a machined groove specifically designed to fit it? What’s the material of the O-ring? We use silicone because it has the best aging properties and is inert. Do not use a time capsule that has a foam gasket or a plain rubber or 'butyl' gasket. That's where your time capsule will leak first.

Preservation Kits Assure Protection of Time Capsule Items Inside

We have developed our preservation enclosure kits using a variety of archival materials that should meet your needs in a sound, archival closed case storage environment. We purchase our supplies from archival suppliers. Be careful of materials you may purchase from suppliers that say 'acid free' but which are not and have not been tested. We know what conservation quality means. Enclosures that you use for photos should be safe and do no harm - the materials should have passed the PAT test for photo activity.

Compare Apples with Apples

Please compare apples with apples - in other words, compare stainless steel boxes with stainless steel boxes, not stainless steel boxes with aluminum boxes or cylinders and not stainless steel cylinders with PVC or composite cylinders. They are different materials and yes, you get what you pay for.

In the same vein, compare the marking methods fairly as to the materials used. Aluminum is a soft metal and it is cheaper to mark than stainless steel is.  Fancy sticky labels are just that - labels. They won't last very long after aging.

We have tried to keep our costs reasonable without loss of quality.

Choose Polishing (or not)

We asked, "What does polishing do to the longevity of a time capsule?" The answer was simply, "Nothing." Yet everyone knows that a polished piece is nice looking, so we offer that as an option for our box time capsules. The cylinder capsules were made all at once and we had them polished all at once, too. But let's talk about cosmetics. Cosmetics don't mean a lot in the long run when you bury a time capsule. What you want and need is a quality time capsule made well enough to protect the important stuff - your contents - over time. Polished time capsules are nice, but polishing does nothing to protect the metal over time. Polished time capsules are beautiful, and make a nice display time capsule. Add the option to your order for any of our time capsule boxes.

If cosmetics are important to you, choose to have us give your time capsule box a "mirror polish." It's beautiful. Ask for a quotation. But if you simply want a high quality container that will protect your contents and serve as a protective time capsule over time, you don't need the polishing option. All welds are shined, and the material we use for making the boxes is a satin polish finish.

These are just a few of the reasons we think you should choose our company. Thank you for considering us!

How to Choose a Time Capsule

How do I choose a time capsule container?

Over our 25+ years of service, we have had several styles of time capsules - not just one or two. That's because we serve different customers with different needs. Each style has unique advantages and disadvantages. Thinking first in terms of shape - it's either a cylinder or tube style or it's a time capsule box. We offer 4 sizes of cylinders or time capsule tubes, 18 sizes of the capped time capsule boxes, and 13 sizes of bolted time capsule boxes.

How you choose a time capsule depends on your needs.
  • Placement. Decide what you want to do with the time capsule. Will it be buried, and if so, for how long? Maybe you just wish to display it, or store it in an archives or library. Sometimes time capsules are placed under monuments and inside of the foundation (or cornerstone) of a building.
  • Length of storage. How long do you want the time capsule to lie undisturbed before it's opened up again?
  • Size. The best way to figure a size is to have your time capsule contents already, put them in a container, and buy one that is close to that size.
  • Budget. Do you have enough money? Don't skimp or gamble on a cheap container. You can opt for a less expensive container that assures your items will survive their intended life of interment. 

Cylinder Time Capsule Containers: "Future Line"

Are you on a tight budget? The cylindrical Future Line Time Capsule may be the most practical choice. Always in stock, these capsules are made of stainless steel, are pre-polished, pre-marked on the bottom with the phrase “Time Capsule.” Should you wish an even deeper discount, consider a standard or 'irregular' version. All of these time capsules may be buried, but follow the instructions included with the sealant kit carefully.

Our cylinder time capsules are available in the following sizes, listed by diameter and length (figure outer dimensions) from the largest to the smallest:


Time Capsule Cylinders
Size Name Basic Bundle
6” x 24” Mr. Future Time Capsule 08624 08628
5.5” x 22” Mrs. Future Time Capsule 08652 08658
7.75” x 9” Arnold Time Capsule 77590 77598
3.5”x11.75” Sally Time Capsule 35120sd 35128sd



  • Basic Cylindrical Future Line Family Time Capsules come with label, desiccant or silica gel, and small sealant wax kit. 
  • Bundles come with label, desiccant or gel, and sealant kit - but also have preservation kit for all, plus oxygen absorbers for all except Sally.
  • Easy Packages include the Bundle plus an outdoor quality plaque.
  • Optional: Add simple light engraving or laser marked engraving of the lid.

Box Time Capsules

If you need more space than those time capsules afford, or if you have a lot of items that need to be stored flat, consider our box shaped time capsules.

Bolted Time Capsules

The Bolted Time Capsule comes with a closure kit (O-ring, bolts, washers, oxygen absorbers, and desiccant, a warranty,  a manual, and other information). Will you bury the time capsule over 75 years? If so, consider the Bolted Style 3000, the best designed time capsule available. Safe for burial of up to 100 years or more, this time capsule needs no vault enclosure and it is simple for you to close securely. We regularly order 13 sizes of this style time capsule box. Please see our online store or give us a call to see if your size is in stock.

Simple Capped Cornerstone Time Capsules

If you need a cornerstone time capsule, consider the Simple Capped Style 4200. The Simple Capped Time Capsules have attached cap and body, so they come with a sealant kit as well as oxygen absorbers and desiccant, a warranty, and other information. When placed inside of a building or semi-protected area, this capsule may be all you need, and the estimated life of this capsule’s seal is about 75 years (or more). This box time capsule is reasonably priced and has been buried successfully for limited periods. It's easy for you to set up, make presentations with, and seal up when everything's over. We regularly order 18 different sizes of this time capsule box, so see our online store today for availability and pricing (or give us a call).

Options

Time Capsule Finishes

The box time capsules have the 2B natural finish, and that is how we price them. 
As an option, we can polish your time capsule. Polishing makes the capsule an art piece and is strikingly beautiful. This option is popular for time capsules that are to be displayed.

Laser Engraving

Mark the lid of your time capsule with a beautiful engraving.

Preservation Enclosure Kits

Preservation kits are available, too, so that you can use the same fine enclosures for your items that museums do for storage of their items. Our customers often buy one of our smaller kits and supplement it with our archival supplies as needed. Popular additions include extra Permalife Paper (for printing, copying, wrapping, making stationery). The contents of our preservation kits have changed over time, but you can always check the exact contents in our catalog and also on the online item's description. We have contacted our customers over the years to see which items in the kits they used and which they did not, as well as to see if they needed any items not in the kit.

Plaques Mark the Spot

Mark the spot of time capsule container placement with a Cast Metal Plaque. Choose either a bronze cast plaque or an aluminum cast plaque. Both are outdoor quality.

For updated pricing and information, see the catalogs on our web site and our online store (futurepkg.com).