Packing for dummies.

[blhagstrom]

I sell online and ship nearly every day.
Over the years, I've found and developed a lot of tricks.

I'd like to start a thread to share tips and tricks and end up with something good enough to be a sticky so we can reference it.

Many people seem to have great trouble finding supplies, packing well, etc...
So, to try and enlighten and empower folks, I'll see if this works.

To that end.
PLEASE DO NOT POST ABOUT SHIPPING DAMAGES, CLAIM HASSLES, OFF TOPIC THINGS.

 

[blhagstrom]

Supplies:

Boxes.

I see a lot of people say IF I can find a box or I CAN'T find a box.
Up here, Lowes sells moving and storage boxes for a few bucks.
Both regular duty and heavy duty.
18X18 and 24X18 work for a lot of stuff.

Most electronic stuff is 17 inches wide so the 18x18 is iffy, but I've shipped a lot of so-so gear in them with 1/2 inch poly foam padding.
Poly padding can be found from industrial places but that is more pro level shipper scrounging.
IF you are lucky enough to work in a manufacture type place, you may have access.
1/2 Styrofoam works too. I hate normal Styrofoam because it sheds little beads everywhere.

A Lowes 24x18x18 heavy duty for today's package (A 40 pound subwoofer).

 

[blhagstrom]

I have purchased the moving boxes, salvaged them curbside when neighbors move, recycled them IN/OUT.

Office supply stores sell boxes, sometimes inexpensive.
Moving and storage places sell boxes as well as FedEx and UPS stores, but they are spendy! (AKA RIPOFF).

Grocery stores and restaurants toss tons of boxes.
Check dumpster or ASK backroom folks.
Liquor stores toss a lot of boxes but the sizes are whacky.

 

[blhagstrom]

Padding.

This is the "meat" of a shipment.

Remember, the package is expendable. Save the contents.
You want padding that protects.
That means it needs to GIVE on impact.
Encasing in a solid block or tight fitting hard foam is BAD.
The impact goes right through to the passenger.
You want firm but gentle.

Today. I am salvaging HARD Styrofoam coolers salvaged from sushi restaurant dumpsters.
WASH these when you get home with a hose and let them air out.

I made a hot wire cutter with a junk tube o-scope transformer (heater leads) to cut these, but that is advanced so you can use a hand saw, bread knife, Sawzall, whatever.
The hard foam doesn't crumble as bad and the coolers have nice corners.

If you are handy, you can make corners for massive speakers from those sushi coolers.
Wrap the corners on with tape or shrink wrap and wrap that in cardboard.
More on that later maybe.

 

[blhagstrom]

OK, so we have bottom side, edges and corners SORT of protected.
Things are loose so we need to "tuck" them up.

Here, I want to fill one end since the corners fit so well and I don't need any packing around the sub.
SO, an empty box!

 

[blhagstrom]

Now everything is tight.
There is possibility for the little box to crush, but that's not going to kill the package.

Now, protect the top and corners some.
I used more parts of the cooler.





You can also cut up medicine shipping coolers IF you find them.
Pharmacies say the reuse them, so that source is dead end.
BUT, I ick them up on trash day if I see them.
I have found them in thrift stores and once scored a LOT of them at a retirement complex yard sale.



Some of my "stash" of sushi coolers.

 

[blhagstrom]

At this point, I achieved most of what is needed.
A passenger held in the middle of a box with strong enough packing/padding to hold it there.

Since this box is "mostly" full, I need a little more packing.
For this one, I have an apple box shelf.

IF the box was not so full I would CUT IT DOWN.
I'll show that later when I do one.

 

[blhagstrom]

That package was done.
Tape it up, print a label, slap it on and go.

You can do FedEx and USPS (and UPS, but they suck) online.
Open and account, register a credit card or PayPal, make your own labels (much cheaper than at the store).
You need to measure and weight the package but FedEx will correct so any scale is close enough.

FedEx does NOT bill you until delivery, so you can tear up labels if needed.
I pre-printed a bunch once to go clean out a place and may have wanted to ship home junk.
I didn't need them so I trashed them.

You can get shipping supplies FREE from USPS and FedEx.
I get label pouches, Priority mail boxes, etc...
USPS online has the padded mailers, The PO doesn't. You MUST get those online.
(Raise prices to serve you better....right).

OH, FedEx is good about paying claims.
$100 included insurance.
Online claim form.

USPS is going broke and stopped paying claims, period.
They have weaseled out of every claim for the last 6 months.
SO, don't count on them for claims. It will be a hassle.

 

[blhagstrom]

Packing.

Some things I found/use.

Styrofoam packing from other junk. Found during garbage day.
Pros, light and free
Cons, never the right shape. You can cut break it into pieces.

Styrofoam insulation. DIY stores, job sites,
Pros, light, fairly cheap.
Cons, crumbles. the beads get everywhere. Best cut with a hot knife/wire but those are pro level tools.

Styrofoam peanuts.
Pros. they fit everything.
Cons. they get everywhere and shift in the package so you may get damage.
TRICK, Put them in plastic grocery bags to make PILLOWS.
You can make the PILLOWS different sizes.
Double/triple bag for strength.




Bubble wrap
Unless you salvage it, its spendy.
Industrial stuff is nice (THICK, STRONG) but finding that is hard and it is expensive.
Pros, fits everything
Cons, bubble pop so you loose protection. MUST USE A LOT!

All the above are "IF YOU HAVE TO" things.

Along with the Styrofoam cooler trick above, here are some things I use.

POOL NOODLES
I've seen these are $1 stores for....wait...$1
Pros, easy to cut and shape.
You can make edge protectors by slicing long way.
You can protect things that stick out.
Slice them thin to protect things like tweeter domes. (wrap them on with shrink wrap)

 

[blhagstrom]

Other cheap free packing/padding

Poly fill.
I get it from speakers I bone out.
You may find it in junk furniture and pillows
Pros. fits well, soft, fluffy, good for light padding/packing/filling
Cons. Need a LOT to protect heavy stuff so its best for small odd shaped things.



Speaking of junk furniture.
Foam Rubber
Pros. Excellent padding. Strong, firm, soft, tough. Fairly easy to cut with a long sharp knife.
Cons. Expensive new, heavy (packages pay by the pound)

 

[blhagstrom]

Packing can be anything light, that will give if needed.
I use these to fill space and pad.

 

[blhagstrom]

Tools

A normal utility knife is useful.
A tape measure (of course).

I happen to find a prime rib knife at a thrift store.
Cuts foam rubber well when sharp, cuts poly (pool noodle stuff) well.
A long bread knife may work as well.




Tape dispenser
OK, this is pro level but seriously, it is worth having one around the house/shop
I located inexpensive tape at a discount store.
They are "seconds", slightly not-perfect and they are CHEAP!
But, it you don't pro ship. then pay the price at DIY stores or Walmart or (shudder) office supply stores.
Office supply stores are frickin high price.
Buy online if nothing else, jeez.

 

[blhagstrom]

Another nice-to-have is filament tape.

A couple bands of this stuff wrapped around a box it bulletproof.
It's fiberglass tape.
Buy bulk online for best price.



Shrink wrap.
You can get small size at Lowes, storage department.
Also online. I get the Uline stuff through a partner business.
Uline HAS everything but it can COST EVERYTHING.

This is nice to use when you don't need/want tape all over things.
You can use it to hold packing/padding in place by wrapping in ON the unit.

 

[blhagstrom]

Advanced tool.

Styrofoam does NOT recycle. Recycle places may take it but it costs to get rid of it.
We can't put it in recycle carts here.

It is excellent packing though.
It sucks to cut but a hot knife or hot wire works great.
Harbor Freight sells a hot knife. Its OK, slow and takes a wide curf.
Cutting Styrofoam with a hot knife/wire stinks, do it outside.

My home made hot wire rig with salvaged junk tube o-scope transformer.
AC to primary (of course)
Hot wire to heater lines.



The "rig"



Simple pivot arms with hot wire across tips.
I have a tension wire on the back and tighten by holding it.
Crude? Yes. Works great.






For the hot wire, I found a roll of thin stainless wire by dumb luck.
You can get heater wire online (Nickle base, Nicor or some such).




A wire lasts quite a while. My spool should last for my life time.

 

[blhagstrom]

Slice of pool noodle to protect a raised dome tweeter using shrink wrap.
I typically ship this way in padded USPS mailers.
I double/triple bag to create a pillow.

 

[blhagstrom]

Cardboard

For tweeters with recessed domes and small drivers (tweeters, mid range) with cones. I wrap them in cardboard to protect them.
Tape it up to "package it".

Tweeters and small drivers in padded bags. (double/triple bag)
Larger in USPS "A" box or medium flat rate with some bubble wrap or poly fill or whatever.

 

[blhagstrom]

You can also make spacer blocks/fillers with rolled up cardboard.
Long tubes to make "fake" pool noddles.
Short tubes to make "blocks".
Pros, cut to length, dirt cheap.
Cons, ?

Here is just an example for illustration held with a rubber band.
I tape them.

 

[elitopus]

Nice write up! Lots of good ideas.

I don’t ship very much, but I’m cheap, and like to have some different packing options. I agree that if you go out and buy everything you need to ship something, it gets expensive real fast.

 

[BillyTheKid]

Thanks for the post...some great ideas.
I ship almost every day. And i'm super cheap.
Everybody i know saves me their boxes and packaging, I take everything, no questions asked....The only thing i have to pay for is tape. I buy that at a discount store for $1.39 per roll.
I have a bandsaw so cutting foam or cardboard is very easy and precise.
On heavy items i always use white glue on the cardboard flaps. Glue the bottom, weight it down until the glue sets, pack it, glue the top....saves tape and makes the package extremely strong...Might be difficult for the customer to open, but that's not my problem !

 

[blhagstrom]

I want to add trick and tips as I sell/pack.
Cut down, accordion, skinning, etc...

CUT DOWN.

Seems some people don't get the idea of modifying a box.
I've had boxes arrive with WAY too much filler because the original box was too big.
You can cut down (shorten) a box by cutting the corners after fitting the package.
Score the cardboard from the inside with a pointy tool. I used to use a center punch but found that the utility knife nose with the blade retracted works fine too.

Item and box to fit



Wrapped and padded and fitted.
Note, small scraps of bubble wrap rolled into tubes, front and back. Another trick.




Cut the corners right at the top of the packing.
Score the cardboard and fold the sides in.
I score the short sides and fold them down, then they act as a guide to score the long sides.

Oh, hell, I forgot to take a photo of the final package.

If the cut down side are too long, trim them off.
I weight before taping shut and if I am close to the next pound down, I cut off flaps and sides to cut weight.

SOMETIMES, I leave multiple layers for strength.
With the label on top, I figure it may travel label up, so a hard top may help protect.