Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
A few years ago I recieved 2 boxes, each containing a powerhouse generator for restoring. Both generators recieved heavy damage due to careless handling by the USPO. Both boxes were dropped onto a concrete floor and the one powerhouse output stud even had concrete embedded in the threads.
The generators were packed in styrofoam peanuts. The peanuts shift and allow the heavy object to move to the edge of the box. A better way to pack is to stuff the peanuts into several small bags and tape them shut, or stuff plastic bags with wadded up newspaper and tape them shut. The best way to ship a heavy object is to put the object inside a plastic bag, then spray some foam insulation into other plastic bags around the heavy object. This will encapsulate it and keep it from shifting.
Double boxing is ALWAYS a good idea. Put the name and address on the object, as well as the outside of the box, in case the box is destroyed.
I recently bought 2 antique sewing machines on ebay. The first one was dropped and the weight of the machine broke the carrying case. The second one was lost at the MPLS. sorting building. It was lost because the sender wrapped the box with paper and put my address on the wrapping. NEVER wrap a box with paper. The PO destroys many cardboard boxes, so you can imagine what they do to the paper wrapper.
Always tell the sender how to pack the object. Don't assume they have common sense. About 8 years ago I bought a Studebaker pocket watch, and it came sent loose in a one cent envelope. I was really upset when I saw that soemone could be that dumb, but luckily it wasn't damaged or stolen during shipment. A few years ago I bought a glass globe for an antique lamp and it came from the east coast loose in a box with a few peanuts thrown in. I still can't figure out how that arrived in one piece.
The generators were packed in styrofoam peanuts. The peanuts shift and allow the heavy object to move to the edge of the box. A better way to pack is to stuff the peanuts into several small bags and tape them shut, or stuff plastic bags with wadded up newspaper and tape them shut. The best way to ship a heavy object is to put the object inside a plastic bag, then spray some foam insulation into other plastic bags around the heavy object. This will encapsulate it and keep it from shifting.
Double boxing is ALWAYS a good idea. Put the name and address on the object, as well as the outside of the box, in case the box is destroyed.
I recently bought 2 antique sewing machines on ebay. The first one was dropped and the weight of the machine broke the carrying case. The second one was lost at the MPLS. sorting building. It was lost because the sender wrapped the box with paper and put my address on the wrapping. NEVER wrap a box with paper. The PO destroys many cardboard boxes, so you can imagine what they do to the paper wrapper.
Always tell the sender how to pack the object. Don't assume they have common sense. About 8 years ago I bought a Studebaker pocket watch, and it came sent loose in a one cent envelope. I was really upset when I saw that soemone could be that dumb, but luckily it wasn't damaged or stolen during shipment. A few years ago I bought a glass globe for an antique lamp and it came from the east coast loose in a box with a few peanuts thrown in. I still can't figure out how that arrived in one piece.
