Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/08/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The secret to packing is layers. Starting from the inside: 1. Wrap the item in tissue paper 2. Put the item in a plastic bag and seal with packing tape. 3. Wrap the plastic bag with bubble wrap, several layers... a depth of about an inch is plenty. Secure the bubble wrap with packing tape. 4. Box the item in the smallest possible cardboard box that will fit it and fill up any space with noodles or tightly bunched newspaper. 5. Place this box in a larger, thicker cardboard box and pad out with noodles or those excellent polythene air-pillows. As Lea said, there should be no movement. You need AT LEAST two inches of noodles on every side. 6. Seal every edge of this box with packing tape. If you do this, your items can be thrown out of or run over by a Fed Ex truck and they should be okay. They can also sit out in the rain overnight, then freeze, and they will be okay. They can be speared by sharp objects and they will be okay. All of these things have happened to things I have shipped. Another tip is to disassemble anything you ship as much as possible and wrap the items individually. Always err on the side of too much packing material. If you think it's ridiculous how much you've used, you're probably almost there. If this seems like overkill you just haven't had bad enough luck yet. I learned this shipping pre-Columbian antiquities for a museum. Double box! - -- John Brownlow http://www.pinkheadedbug.com http://www.unintended-consequences.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html