[Boatanchors] Packing materials

[David Bonetti]

Rob's statement "The
way you pack really tells the story about how much you care about vintage gear" is so true.

What I normally do with exceptionally heavy rigs (BC654 for example) is to double box of course-but what I do is go to Lowes or Home Depot and buy 2-3 cans of expandable foam...yes, it is pricey, but the packing costs are included in the price quote. I take the smaller inner box and wrap it in a trash bag-then place the wrapped box in the larger outer box and support it inside with some foam feet 2-3 inches high so it sets inside the box raised off the floor; secure all seams with heavy duty packing tape and then I cut 4 or 5 very small flaps into the box and inject the foam. The BC654 I sent arrived completely intact and secure to the midwest. 

Seems the buyer purchased one a month prior from another individual who did not do a very secure packing job and the rig was written off to the carrier as a loss.


73
 
David 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 18:24:31 -0500
> From: ranchorobbo at gmail.com
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Packing materials
> 
> Oh boy you are going to get a million responses : ) We all have our
> tricks and bad experiences.
> 
> The hard part is getting the really nice double ply big boxes. There
> are some good tips on that which I am going to remember myself.
> Forget peanuts and bubble wrap. Go to Lowes and get the thick slabs
> of blue styrofoam used for wall insulation. You will have to measure
> and cut pieces to wall the boxes, yes there are two of them one inside
> an outer one. You saw the styro with a saw and do it outside because
> you'll have a million little fragments. Great advice putting the
> knobs inside cardboard tubes. Put the rig inside a big contractor
> garbage bag to keep it dry. Also (this is the good thing for bubble
> wrap) stuff the interior of the cabinet with bubble wrap so nothing
> inside and work free and rattle around. If you have big tubes or
> fairly big iron, you might consider shipping them separately. Get
> non-expanding spray foam from Home Depot and use it to fill in spaces
> in the boxes between the styrofoam. UPS is fine IF you pack
> correctly. I have never had a problem with UPS except when the
> shipper was a gas-head and clueless on how to pack a piece of vintage
> gear. OTOH, if you want to make the recipient cry, ship FedEx for
> their signature requirement will make taking delivery a nightmare for
> anyone who works in the daytime.
> 
> BTW all the above recommended methods are expensive and a lot of work
> BUT they are a lot cheaper and easier than driving 1000 miles. The
> way you pack really tells the story about how much you care about
> vintage gear.
> 
> 73
> 
> 
> Rob
> K5UJ
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