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Packaging for a move

68.6.187.169
Posted on October 31, 2009 at 17:30:17
johnsonad
Audiophile

Posts: 265
Location: San Diego
Joined: June 9, 2008
Contributor
  Since: September 27, 2009
 Well it's that time again. The Navy is moving me to Japan and I'm not complaining. I've acquired some nice items and don't want them to get damaged. If you have experience in these items I would greatly appreciate it.

Front panel of a classic Mac. I've got a C22 and I want to protect the front panel. I was thinking of cardboard over the glass followed by closed cell foam followed by large bubble wrap in a closed cell frame used for computers in one box followed by a double box. The wood enclosure will be in a seperate box.

Second, a reel to reel machine, Otari MX5050. Front, closed cell foam followed by large bubble wrap and double boxed. This thing is HEAVY!

The other gear already has factory boxes and some of it is staying behind like the tuners as I probably won't be listening too much over the air broadcasting. The Altec's and MC75's will be crated. Any other lessons learned would be appreciated.

Aaron

Aaron

RE: Packaging for a move, posted on November 1, 2009 at 21:19:57
johnsonad
Audiophile

Posts: 265
Location: San Diego
Joined: June 9, 2008
Contributor
  Since: September 27, 2009
 Thanks everyone for the kind words and suggestions. They all ended up double boxed today. Maybe with the movers, they will be triple boxed :) This is my 10th move in 12 years and the third overseas. Someday I'll settle down, until then the world is my oyster :)

have Fun man...................................nt, posted on November 2, 2009 at 04:05:25
sober1
Audiophile

Posts: 1325
Joined: August 9, 2000
 .

pax vobis
remeber doing pack-out for cruise?, posted on November 1, 2009 at 11:01:18
Oface
Audiophile

Posts: 995
Location: columbia, south carolina
Joined: May 3, 2003
 you have to double if not triple box everything, and then let the movers come in and wrap up that package... if they do not get to pack it themselves , and if it gets damage, you will have a hard time doing a claim.. they have to pack the box, even it is all ready packed... crazy, i know... but you know how the government is...


One of the reasons I only did dity moves... I liked making the extra $$$ , and I could guarantee the responsibility for the my own loot...

With going oconous, you do not get that option, so I would pack it really good yourself and then let them come and pack it again....


-good luck




-chris

Double walled boxes, posted on November 1, 2009 at 08:13:10
diamondsouled
Audiophile

Posts: 608
Location: The Great White North
Joined: May 2, 2007
 Double walled boxes and lots of packing tape will help as well as the packing material that goes into them.

Packing tape is cheap, buy a couple 6 packs at least, ;^). I sometimes wrap the entire box in it. Strengthens as well as seals.

One thing I've done when moving to insure that no moisture damage is done is to wrap things in a sealed plastic bag before the bubble wrap and buy a large roll of waxed meat packing paper to wrap the inner box in to help keep out any moisture.

Cheers

Lar

After the luck I've had with moves and damages, posted on November 1, 2009 at 07:08:20
DaveInVA
Audiophile

Posts: 1464
Location: Danville VA
Joined: June 21, 2001
 I'd prefer to just toss everything breakable I own down a flight of stairs and then jump up and down on it all for a while prior to packing and moving to save all the suspense and grief later... :)


Dave

reel to reel, posted on November 1, 2009 at 06:37:44
rtbarr
Audiophile

Posts: 463
Joined: July 15, 2001
 You should post over at the tape forum for tips specific to reel to reel recorders.

I am a member of the Yahoo R2R forum, and several years ago there was an active member, WolfBob, who refurbished recorders for resale. He had some very good instructions for packing them. I don't remember all of it. I do recall he said many people forgot to protect the reel table spindles. He cut short cylinders from heavy duty cardboard packing tubes and taped them to the reel tables to protect the spindles from pressure that might bend them.

I think WolfBob retired, as I have not seen any recent posts from him.

RT Barr

I was told by Terry DeWick, posted on November 1, 2009 at 02:59:06
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 2364
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2009
 To be sure and remove the knobs prior to shipping. Any impact could force them into the front glass, just enough to crack it. He's been at this for many years, so I'm going to follow his advice when sending him my MR-78.

Yes, as Jeff stated, you can order a shipping box directly from Mac by calling the 800 number and asking for the parts department. I called, and was told it would cost me $48 for one for my tuner. I passed, but then I'm not shipping mine to Japan. Terry said double boxing would be better, and that it didn't have to be a Mac box.

I think your idea of cardboard over the front glass is good, but I'm considering a piece of wood over mine, drilled for the pot shafts, of course (again, knobs removed). Overkill? Perhaps, but overkill is my middle name. Ok, really it's Thomas.

Be careful of your McIntosh gear in Japan. Not only protect it from damage, but insure and secure it. Mac gear is highly coveted in Japan, which may be a reason NOT to ship in a McIntosh box. Why advertise its contents?

Lastly, as Sober1 put it, thank you for your service to our country.

Good luck! I have a nephew who lived in Japan for many years, and he loved it!

get the Mac packaging, posted on November 4, 2009 at 14:41:04
Bill Way
Audiophile

Posts: 841
Location: New York, NY
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: September 2, 2002
 I worked for a dealer ages ago and received hundreds of pieces from the factory, and never had anything broken.

Get the original packaging and follow the instructions (some have wood panels that the unit screws into.)

It works.

WW


There is NO substitute for the live performance.
one more thing, posted on November 4, 2009 at 14:42:50
Bill Way
Audiophile

Posts: 841
Location: New York, NY
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: September 2, 2002
 With the Mac packing, the glass will touch nothing. That's almost impossible to do with bubble wrap, no matter how many boxes you nest inside each other.

WW


There is NO substitute for the live performance.
The way McIntosh packed the preamp, posted on November 1, 2009 at 00:46:42
Jeff Joseph
Manufacturer

Posts: 1220
Joined: April 30, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 5, 2004
 was to double box it. The inner carton had a thick bottom cardboard pad,
with recesses for the unit's feet. The thickest portion matched the width and depth of the chassis just behind the faceplate. The idea was to hold the unit securely so the faceplate had air around it, and no shock from a drop could directly impact the glass. There was also cardboard above the unit to hold it into the lower pad/tray. Then the inner carton was suspended within the outer box by folded cardboard corners, and bubble wrap. I think you could substitute polyethylene foam to suspend the inner and outer cartons. The best solution would be to buy a factory carton from
Audio Classics or a local Mcintosh distributor.

Jeff

1st - thank you for your service, posted on October 31, 2009 at 18:53:53
sober1
Audiophile

Posts: 1325
Joined: August 9, 2000
 do you remember the Samsonite commercials? the 800 pound gorilla handling the suitcase? pack it like it is irreplaceable . It will be air-dropped to your next living quarters. packing with this attitude will at least minimize chances of damage.

pax vobis

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