Packing suggestions (was Re: PDP11 Redux, or Behind-The-Scenes Bull)

On Sat, 23 Feb 2002, Mike wrote: I should write one as I've generally had really good luck with getting things I'm sending out to people arrive intact. I think being anal works in my favor, as anal people tend to over do everything :) Here's a mini-HOWTO: First of all, never use paper (crumpled or shredded) to pack something. Not only does it add weight to the box (increasing the shipping costs slightly) it's not a very good packing material. Bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts and styrofoam blocks are ideal. Here's how and when (or when not) to use each: For light items, foam peanuts are good. Never use foam peanuts exclusively with heavy items. The item WILL shift during shipping as the foam peanuts represent nothing more than a liquid. I have a few unfortunate experiences to relate regarding folks who used foam peanuts to ship heavy items (one as recently as yesterday, when I found that the 8" disk drive unit of a fairly rare East German computer that Hans brought over for me was slightly damaged...I hope Hans is embarrased when he reads this :) Also, make sure you put the item inside a plastic bag first if you are going to use foam peanuts, lest foam penauts and bits get inside the item (again, Hans). It is best to use foam blocks when shipping heavy items. It is also mandatory to use a sturdy box when shipping heavy items. Don't skimp on the box. If you want to ignore this advice and use foam peanuts to ship heavier items anyway, here's a nice trick: first wrap the item in bubble wrap. Then place the item inside a box and surround it with the foam peanuts on all sides (making sure there is at least 2-3 inches of foam peanuts on each side). Get a larger box. Place the box with the item inside this larger box, again surrounded with 2-3 inches of foam peanuts on each side. It is OK to use a less durable box on the inside. This will make for a pretty firmly packed item. Bubble wrap is always recommended as the last line of defense for any item being shipped. It also keeps foam peanut bits from getting inside the item. If you are going to ship multiple items in a single box, first wrap everything in bubble wrap. Then place each item in the box surrounded by foam peanuts. Even if the items are heavy enough to shift during transit, the bubble wrap will keep them from damaging each other. It also helps to compartmentalize the box. Use pieces of cardboard to create barriers between items, and fill each compartment with foam peanuts. Bubble wrap is always recommended for everything. Securing the box closed is perhaps the most important thing. Don't rely on the existing tape of a box. Always put new tape on each seam. Don't be fooled by those big box staples either. Even if a box is stapled, still put tape over that seam. I double tape the top and bottom seams. I also tape the sides of the seams. For heavy items, I strap tape across the top and bottom lids, perpendicular with the lid seam. A few strips across (2-3) is good. If you are using a box that isn't terribly sturdy, you can also wrap tape all the way around the girth of the box on the top and bottom, and perhaps the middle. I cover any holes or punctures in the box with tape also (this is mostly due to my analness :) When shipping CRTs, I usually place a heavy guage piece of cardboard in front of the CRT screen for added protection. Sometimes I also place a small piece of foam between the CRT and the cardboard. It takes a lot of force to break a CRT though. That's all I can think of for now. Input and suggestions from other folks experienced in the art of packing would be appreciate. I think I'll formalize the result and make an official ClassicCmp HOWTO out of it. Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org * Old computing resources for business and academia at www.VintageTech.com *