An appropriate box or container

Packing material of some sort

Post Office-approved packing tape, and a way to cut it

Once the packing materials are assembled, 20-40 minutes, depending on the item's size, and how fragile it is.

When labeling packages for shipping, put both the destination and return address on more than one side of the box. When your package is piled with others, it will move faster if the addresses are always visible. In addition, write with a bold black permanent marker and cover the writing with clear tape. Rainy days have a way of smearing things.

If you put a list of contents in the box, just before closing it, your life will be easier at the unpacking end.

When packing hollow objects, such as vases, stuff them with packing material (newspaper balls are great for this).

When accepting packages from a commercial service, take the time to inspect any broken packages while the delivery person is still there. If you discover damage later, save everything - from the broken shards and "peanuts " to the box soaked with somebody's morning coffee.

2torial #0493: Learn2 Package Fragile Items "Pack it up, I'll take it!" Fragile items need to be packed properly or else they break. The shipper who handles your items may be doing their best, but they handle too many packages to take the kind of care that you might want them to. Additionally, many items must be packaged properly when shipped, or else the warranty becomes void. Heck, even getting Aunt Violet's best china into the car can be an adventure in itself. Here are a few pointers to insure that your cargo has the best chance of arriving intact. What's on the outside of your package can be as important as what's inside. If the package is being shipped through a commercial service, find out if there are any specific requirements. For instance, many shippers will not accept a package that is wrapped in paper, or has no return address. You will not be able to talk anyone at the counter into ignoring these regulations.   Now there are packaging stores which sell new packing materials. They're good at providing odd-sized containers for items like bicycles and mirrors, and are generally knowledgeable about shipping regulations. The best packing material is the original packing material. Especially when you buy electronic equipment, try to save the foam pieces that hold it inside the box. Carefully break down the original box, and put it all in the attic or basement. It is often cheaper to ship two smaller packages, rather than one large one. Call the shipper, and find out how they set their rates. Find out if there is an extra charge for home pickup or weekend delivery (there often is). Select the container The most common container used is a cardboard box. Some have thin, one-layer sides, while others are thicker, having two layers sandwiching a third, corrugated one. Use the second kind; it's much more protective. A few items to consider: Clean, new boxes are best for shipping. They often have pre-printed areas for the address, and are less confusing to the shippers than a used box, with graphics and writing all over it. Use a box that will provide adequate room for the packing material around the item. Don't put a large item into a box where it can touch the sides. Shipping something fragile and expensive? Pack the item well in a strong box--then pack that in another box with packing material all around it. Don't fret paying for the additional weight: Aunt Violet will be thrilled her Limoges arrived intact. Boxes can be made to fit odd-shaped items by creasing, folding and reinforcing with tape. Don't cut the cardboard if you want it to retain any strength. Reinforce the box corners with tape (see Step 3 for a discussion of different types of packing tape). If you're not shipping, adequate cardboard boxes can often be found in back of liquor stores or pharmacies. Ask a clerk at the counter--they'll probably be glad to be rid of them. Choose your packing materials There's three basic packing materials that seem to be widely available: foam "peanuts" (choose the biodegradable kind, please), popcorn, and newspaper. Foam "peanuts" are generally the best material: they are quite resilient, and absorb shock well. They also "pour" well into odd-shaped areas. Popcorn (air-popped) is a nice, environmentally friendly packing material. It's cheap, and absorbs shock almost as well as the "peanuts." It's not as resilient, though, and is generally best used once. Newspaper, when crumpled into semi-tight balls, works almost as well as the other two materials. It's the cheapest of all, if you have old ones lying around, and it's interesting to unpack a box years later and read about old happenings. It is not very resilient, though, and is adversely affected by humid storage. Tackle the tape issue You're going to need more tape than you think. When you rebuild a new box, you'll reform it by taping the seams, and reinforce it by taping the edges and sides. With a used box, reinforcement is even more important, so don't skimp. You'll even want to tape the corners of very heavily packed boxes. Reinforced tape has nylon filaments running through it. This stuff is really tough - excellent for closing and reinforcing particularly heavy boxes. Make sure it's at least 2" wide. Plastic tape is not nearly as tough as the reinforced kind, but works well for all but the heaviest boxes. The clear kind is generally a bit heavier than the brown kind, which makes for easier handling. In any case, make sure it's at least 2" wide; 3" wide is better. Paper tape is now less common: it needs to be wet with a sponge for the adhesive to stick. It's good for closing boxes, less so for reinforcing edges. Again, 2" to 3" wide is best. Put it all together Before you finish up, here are a few more points to consider: Cover the bottom of the box with packing materials before you place anything into it. Ensure that the objects do not touch the sides of the box. If you can, keep at least an inch of packing material between the objects and the sides of the box. Pack things tightly and leave as few gaps as you can. When you finally close the box, it should feel as if you're compressing the materials slightly. Pick up the box and shake it, if possible. You should not hear anything rattling around in there. Once satisfied, seal the box with a piece of tape that's long enough to extend several inches down either side of the box. -end- Learn More!