Shipping a Technics Quartz Direct Drive SL-1200MK5

[apollo2ares]

Hello! As you may be able to tell by my previous post, I'm fairly new at this. I go to school in NYC, but am from LA. My girlfriend and I found this turntable in LA and are trying to ship it to NYC. I was wondering if it would be safe to secure the needle using the built in arm rest thing and to ship it as is. Obviously I would reinforce the box with a lot of foam and packing peanuts, but I'm struggling to figure out how to safely ship everything else. All of the guides I've found aren't particularly helpful (due to my newness at TTs).

Thanks for the help!

 

[eriathomas]

Hello! As you may be able to tell by my previous post, I'm fairly new at this. I go to school in NYC, but am from LA. My girlfriend and I found this turntable in LA and are trying to ship it to NYC. I was wondering if it would be safe to secure the needle using the built in arm rest thing and to ship it as is. Obviously I would reinforce the box with a lot of foam and packing peanuts, but I'm struggling to figure out how to safely ship everything else. All of the guides I've found aren't particularly helpful (due to my newness at TTs).

Thanks for the help!

KABUSA has a pretty good guide. Just secure the extras below the table or something.

https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/ur1200.htm

 

[woodj]

Unless properly used, foam and peanuts may not be the answer. Too much stuff bouncing around. Arm rest not sufficient.
Follow eriathomas' advice and double check wherever else you can.
Search AK for packing turntable, shipping turntable, etc.

 

[Djcoolray]

Do you have the original box ???

If you don't go online, probably eBay and see because they sell parts of everything there. But, it would be best to remove the cartridge and secure everything so it doesn't move and package the TT so it can not move at all. We are talking multiple layers of bubble wrap and cardboard here....

 

[WaynerN]

There are a few rules to shipping a table. Never leave the counterweight attached to the arm..remove it and bubble it. Remove the headshell and cartridge. Secure the rest of the arm to the arm rest., lock it and then use a bread tie and really tie it down. Arm done. Next, remove the platter and bubble it. Then if there is a 45 RPM adaptor, remove it and bubble it. Now there shouldn't be anything left on the table to come loose and do big time damage. If you don't have the original box, find a box that will have about 3" of extra room all around the table. Put several layer of bubble on the bottom. Put the platter down (wrapped in lots of bubble), put the well bubbled table on top of the platter. Put all of the other parts in and around so it can't bounce around. More bubble on top and then close the box up. Use lots of 3M packing tape (the clear stuff).

Ship it UPS, Insured. You also have to use a new box or the insurance will be worthless.

Or find a box that the table came in.......

Good luck!

 

[Frank Sol]

Everything Wayner said but want to add...

Even if you have the original box, put it after repacking TT into it in a new box. Double Box

 

[mkane]

And with a layer of that dense insulation foam between the inner box and outer. Good idea also to wrap the turntable along with dust cover in several layers of saran wrap. One more thing. Use a big block of foam and put a spindle hole in the center and close the lid on this. The foam should be a bit oversize so that the lid has something to push on.

 

[JFRACE]

Just to add a few things. I've shipped several turntables and for the above comments I'd add to add bubble wrap under the arm tube to help brace it slightly. Take the wiring and cables and wrap them together before bubble wrapping the base. Take off the cover and hinges as well and bubble wrap the cover.put the hinges in bubble wrap as well. I usually take the platter and mat and put them together and put them on the bottom, then take the table and put it down, then the cover on top. I try to put the rest of the things in separate bags and then put with a smaller box with wrap as well. This way everything is separated from each other. I'd over wrap as well. Then when boxed throw peanuts or air bags in between areas to fill in. If you have a chance also take the platter and base and tape them together so they don't move that much.

 

[apollo2ares]

So what do I put the cartridge in to make sure not to mess up the needle? Also do I remove the part the spins? I'm sorry I'm so naive I'm just very confused.

 

[hugz]

Index fingers in the holes on the platter, thumbs on the spindle in the middle . Push down on your thumbs at the same time as pulling up on your fingers.

If it won't lift off (very common) take a bit of wood or something hard-but-not-too-hard (eg plastic screwdriver handle) in give the spindle a quick firm but not hard tap and then lift off in the manner described above

 

[Montycat]

So what do I put the cartridge in to make sure not to mess up the needle? Also do I remove the part the spins? I'm sorry I'm so naive I'm just very confused.

Make a sturdy custom box for the cartridge and headshell. Poke holes and use twist ties to secure the headshell to the bottom of the box, upside down. You could use something in plastic that you buy at a dollar store that would hold it. Just make sure it is pretty crush proof.

The part that spins is the platter and the other guys described what to do with it above.

 

[apollo2ares]

There are no holes in the platter to press down

 

[Montycat]

There are no holes in the platter to press down

The platter has 2 holes big enough to put a finger through. You might be thinking of the mat which is usually rubber or sometimes a felt type material. Pull that off and you will see the metal platter. You pull up with fingers in those holes and thumb on the spindle.