Does anyone have any knowledge or links on reliable ways to pack something that is both heavy and delicate?
It's a valve (tube) setup, and the power amp (mainly the various transformers, I imagine) weighs 9.3Kg (around 20 Lbs).
People often complain about poor packaging when they receive it, so help me be one of the good guys!
It's a valve (tube) setup, and the power amp (mainly the various transformers, I imagine) weighs 9.3Kg (around 20 Lbs).
People often complain about poor packaging when they receive it, so help me be one of the good guys!
Find a suitable box that will allow for at least 3" of spare room all of the way around, top and bottom as well.
Place an inch or so of expanded polystyrene section in a cross at the base of the box for support.
Insert a sturdy plastic bag that is going to allow plenty of room to fill the bottom part of the box in the bottom of the box and partially fill the bag with builders squirty foam (https://www.screwfix.com/p/siroflex-expanding-foam-gun-grade-700ml/316pr) and as it starts to go off, fold the open end over to seal it and lower the amplifier onto it.
That will make a cushion for the amplifier to sit in securley and repeat the process with the top half.
What you are looking for is a foam cage in two bags with will stop any spillage and protect the amplifier.
Don't forget to pack the valves.
Place an inch or so of expanded polystyrene section in a cross at the base of the box for support.
Insert a sturdy plastic bag that is going to allow plenty of room to fill the bottom part of the box in the bottom of the box and partially fill the bag with builders squirty foam (https://www.screwfix.com/p/siroflex-expanding-foam-gun-grade-700ml/316pr) and as it starts to go off, fold the open end over to seal it and lower the amplifier onto it.
That will make a cushion for the amplifier to sit in securley and repeat the process with the top half.
What you are looking for is a foam cage in two bags with will stop any spillage and protect the amplifier.
Don't forget to pack the valves.
I'm a decent packer - have had success with a table saw, very heavy power supplies, TTs and receivers.
Yet, in some cases where I even had the thought of scrimping any on that effort, the item arrived damaged. One even ejected from its container.
The problem is, I cant recommend where one could go "buy" the stuff necessary - without spending a small fortune on it. So, I collect it from whatever source I can find and stow it away in anticipation of a future sale, Yoga mats come to mind. A no longer existing "foam recycling" drop off comes to mind.
A sheet of pink XPS foam I bought for a speaker enclosure idea, where I learned after the fact that I cant cleanly cut a 96" straight and square edge with any tools I have, remains as packing material supply. That stuff is pretty solid and useful for the most massive of items.
If there's feet, I generally take them off so the whole bottom surface is uniformly loaded. Same with any rack mount ears. The problem is, then you have to find a place in the box for those whose presence cannot inflict any damage.
Sometimes I pack in layers, using different I guess you'd call it "shore" materials. The outside layer being the stiffest. All custom cut foam pieces to fit. Edit - I always do a shake test on the container - if there's any movement of the item inside, then there's more work to be done on it. Hard to do with stuff you can barely lift ;')
Tubes are a pain. The best way is a separate box, but up goes the TC of shipping. One fellow insisted the only way is to have them loose, floating in shredded paper. Sometimes I fabricate "holders" that keep them in their sockets, by exerting a bias pressure against the top lid. Then you have to put a warning, because without it, your buyer will power it up before removing those.
It's an art. I have a heavy, steel, all tube Pioneer receiver I'm just waiting for someone to cough up $700 for. It's a beauty and I dread the thought of packing it for shipping.
Yet, in some cases where I even had the thought of scrimping any on that effort, the item arrived damaged. One even ejected from its container.
The problem is, I cant recommend where one could go "buy" the stuff necessary - without spending a small fortune on it. So, I collect it from whatever source I can find and stow it away in anticipation of a future sale, Yoga mats come to mind. A no longer existing "foam recycling" drop off comes to mind.
A sheet of pink XPS foam I bought for a speaker enclosure idea, where I learned after the fact that I cant cleanly cut a 96" straight and square edge with any tools I have, remains as packing material supply. That stuff is pretty solid and useful for the most massive of items.
If there's feet, I generally take them off so the whole bottom surface is uniformly loaded. Same with any rack mount ears. The problem is, then you have to find a place in the box for those whose presence cannot inflict any damage.
Sometimes I pack in layers, using different I guess you'd call it "shore" materials. The outside layer being the stiffest. All custom cut foam pieces to fit. Edit - I always do a shake test on the container - if there's any movement of the item inside, then there's more work to be done on it. Hard to do with stuff you can barely lift ;')
Tubes are a pain. The best way is a separate box, but up goes the TC of shipping. One fellow insisted the only way is to have them loose, floating in shredded paper. Sometimes I fabricate "holders" that keep them in their sockets, by exerting a bias pressure against the top lid. Then you have to put a warning, because without it, your buyer will power it up before removing those.
It's an art. I have a heavy, steel, all tube Pioneer receiver I'm just waiting for someone to cough up $700 for. It's a beauty and I dread the thought of packing it for shipping.
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Yes, pack the tubes inside the amplifier cage, in individual boxes all placed in another box.
Use a close fitting small box for the amplifier.
Place the small amplifier box inside a larger box, with resilient packing material in between.
Tape up all boxes securely with strong packing tape, no paper or masking tape.
Do not attempt to ship two components in one box, unless the packing is extremely well done.
Assume the box will be treated rather roughly during shipment and over pack accordingly.
Use a close fitting small box for the amplifier.
Place the small amplifier box inside a larger box, with resilient packing material in between.
Tape up all boxes securely with strong packing tape, no paper or masking tape.
Do not attempt to ship two components in one box, unless the packing is extremely well done.
Assume the box will be treated rather roughly during shipment and over pack accordingly.
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A complication has arisen - all the videos I've found of the "foam packing" technique appear to use a dedicated type of foam, and it appears that this foam can be constrained from overflowing the box by simply closing the bag, and shutting the box. The result is a neat fit.
But the the videos of ordinary builders gap-filling foam show the expansion being pretty unstoppable, with cutting (even sanding) to shape after it has set being normal. There are even videos of foam being put in a plastic drinks bottle and eventually blowing the lid off.
The only video I've found of someone packing with builders foam (a heavy sewing machine) is not impressive.
So - has anybody successfully used the foam packaging technique with ordinary builders' PU foam?
But the the videos of ordinary builders gap-filling foam show the expansion being pretty unstoppable, with cutting (even sanding) to shape after it has set being normal. There are even videos of foam being put in a plastic drinks bottle and eventually blowing the lid off.
The only video I've found of someone packing with builders foam (a heavy sewing machine) is not impressive.
So - has anybody successfully used the foam packaging technique with ordinary builders' PU foam?
I ship Quad II valve amplifiers world wide and have never experienced any damage, you have to assume that the amplifiers will be dropped and pack accordingly. As I ship quite a few of these I had boxes made locally but prior to that I used what I had available. It is important to make sure what you are packing does not move about in the box and the expanding foam works well. I have also used nested boxes with the larger one lines with 25mm polystyrene sheet cut to size, its cheap and readily available. I have also shipped Studer reel to reel tape machines and used 50mm celotex sheet which again holds the machine in place and offers good crush protection at the corners. I did receive one Quad II which was essential shipped in a shoe box and arrived undamaged but I would not recommend it. I have also seen a lot of damage caused by UK mains plugs so I usually ask for these to be dis-guarded.
Years ago I bought a Sun IPX with 20" monitor from a place. Pricey at the time, and they used the expanding foam method to pack it. I'd never seen it done and was interesting to watch. They had a machine that dispensed the foam and it did not expand like the stuff in a can. That can stuff expands for a long time. The foam out of the machine expanded and immediately stopped. It worked well. Another thing I see often like the rigol P/S I bought is the box in box method. The inner box had the P/S tightly packed with soft foam pieces holding the p/s in the box. Then the inner box is packed into the outer box using hard foam pieces to suspend the inner box in the outer box. I've bought two of them over the past year and in one case the outer box had a slice in it from shipping with no damage. Only the outer box had the slice. And the last method I've seen is to use cardboard as the shock absorber. My Amber amp of yesteryear did it that way. Double boxed, with even more cardboard between the amp/box and box/box. I think that method is obsolete now as it weighs much more. Foam weighs almost nothing.
I sold the Pioneer. Here's how I packed it. I removed the feet, placed them between the thick softer foam and bottom hard foam.
Two layers of foam on each end, harder stuff on the outside. 1.25" poly foam on sides and footless bottom. 2.5" open cell pad on the top, which should provide softer deceleration should it be dropped on that side. Some under the hood protection for the tubes, to encourage them from not popping out. Knob protector layer, with additional 3.5" foam to the container end.
Hopefully they wont break it during its travel. 46 lbs container weight. Took me all day to create the package...used up most of my best materials...I was lucky to be able to get 'er done.
Two layers of foam on each end, harder stuff on the outside. 1.25" poly foam on sides and footless bottom. 2.5" open cell pad on the top, which should provide softer deceleration should it be dropped on that side. Some under the hood protection for the tubes, to encourage them from not popping out. Knob protector layer, with additional 3.5" foam to the container end.
Hopefully they wont break it during its travel. 46 lbs container weight. Took me all day to create the package...used up most of my best materials...I was lucky to be able to get 'er done.
Attachments
Strap down the thing to a set of hard pieces of MDF or similar material, as the protective shell on top of styrofoam or EPE foam, which will protect the surfaces.
Tubes, leave in place, or inside the unit, packed in foam pipes of the type used for covering split a/c pipes. Tape them to the inside of the cabinet, so that they will not be thrown about.
Protect mains cords as well.
Then add layers of matress foam, or whatever is similar and handy.
Tape the lot up, so it stays in place even if thrown.
Then add a softer layer of material, building it up in a strong 7 ply carton.
Use corner protectors, too much box tape and box strapping.
A wooden crate, if you can find one, is handy.
The idea is that a heavy object may be tipped over and thrown, anything over 25 kilos / 55 lb. goes in that category.
So you have to make sure the object survives several transhipments and is delivered in safe condition.
Take photos in front of the person from the shipping company, handy in case of a dispute.
Insurance, if not too expensive, is useful.
Tubes, leave in place, or inside the unit, packed in foam pipes of the type used for covering split a/c pipes. Tape them to the inside of the cabinet, so that they will not be thrown about.
Protect mains cords as well.
Then add layers of matress foam, or whatever is similar and handy.
Tape the lot up, so it stays in place even if thrown.
Then add a softer layer of material, building it up in a strong 7 ply carton.
Use corner protectors, too much box tape and box strapping.
A wooden crate, if you can find one, is handy.
The idea is that a heavy object may be tipped over and thrown, anything over 25 kilos / 55 lb. goes in that category.
So you have to make sure the object survives several transhipments and is delivered in safe condition.
Take photos in front of the person from the shipping company, handy in case of a dispute.
Insurance, if not too expensive, is useful.