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Shipping boxes are mentioned randomly in a few threads, but I thought a thread specifically about them might be helpful.
I'll start off with a question:
What are the dimensions of some boxes that you have successfully loaded 60-70lbs of ewaste into? If they are rescued from a cardboard baler, what was their original purpose?
Ive loaded 60LBs in a 36x18x18 and was still sturdy. I grab these from my old boss free of charge so they work for me. :)
My recent quest for boxes took me to nearly every store in town. The hardware store, no luck, nor at the furniture store, the feed store or anywhere else I went. At the Walmart I found a glimmer of hope, but the ones available turned out to be bottomless.
Finally I asked at Orshlyn's farm store and was told their boxes all go into a dumpster out back, and I was welcome to check, which I did.
There was a good assortment, mostly lightweight(single layer) but I did manage to dig one double layer box out, that I believe had a stove in it before.
I've been by twice since, the second time no luck at all, a heavy air compressor box but the side was ripped off, and the last trip the guy was picking it up, and already had a tarp tied over it.
I'm thinking after Christmas they'll be even harder to come by
I get um at staples since I turn in the ink there I use 22*18*22
Bars and restaurants have a good supply of boxes usually, and they are pretty sturdy. Wine and liquor boxes are nice, and are made to hold a lot of weight. I use them for storage mostly, and some for shipping. If there is too much writing or graphics over them, I just cover with brown kraft paper.
I buy boxes at lowest hardware. 18x18x18 moving boxes.
Ask moving companies if they have any used ones for sale, I work for one so I get all mine for free. Also, try craigslist, people seem to be giving away cartons on there, after they've moved.
I've stuffed 3 130+ pounds in double wall dishpack cartons-18x18x28 guy at the ups store wasn't happy. You should be able to fit and handle 60-70 lbs in a 3.0 cube carton they're 18x18x16. Any larger cartons aren't manageable- they'll usually collapse under their own weight, unless they're double or triple walled.
Try book stores to if you live near one that does any kind of business. When I worked for Borders back in the day, we tossed tons of boxes. Perfect size for shipping ewaste now that I think about it. Toy stores to. Same thing when I worked for Toys r us in my younger days, we tossed tons of boxes. There you want the box the board games and/or the action figure ones. Good sturdy, big enough for boards and whatnot. Or poor mans gaylord..powerwheel box and a pallet!
Sirscrapalot - sure does miss all that free cardboard in any size he needed but thats all he misses from retail.
Also, I have mentioned before, take a look at the bottom of the box. THere is a circle with information in it. It will tell you the capacity of the box "weight-wise". I only say this because when I started shipping and dropping of at the postal store, the fedex guy kicked 2 of my packages back that weighed more than the rated amount.
If you get some boxes that are too big, don't sweat it. fill it until you hit 60 or so pounds, then cut the sides and fold them down. Tape well and ship.
My 2 cents on boxes.
Flaps on the bottom have to meet in the middle both ways. Threaded packing tape around both directions. If it originally held something heavy (books, metal, liquids, etc.) it will serve the same purpose. Pack the outside walls and bottoms with large flat items with good surface area and fill the middle in with other stuff. Good luck!
If you use smaller boxes the post office will give you all the priority mail boxes you want for free.
I have found several dell computer boxes they are about 24x24x12 they work good if not I do like above. They actually sell boxes that are pre-creased so you can cut them and fold the tabs over but why would you pay extra for that. All you need is a good blade in a utility knife.Quote:
Originally Posted by parrothead
Check schools on the night before recycling pickup. The school by me always has boxes and I leave way more than I take. There is a great variety of sizes.
ive put 60 pounds of ewaste into a large flat rate box, copper top cpus
large flat rate full of hard drives will be in the 50-60 pound range
check out harbour freight, each week all stores receive a truck, some of those boxes are perfect for scrap storage or shipping, free just ask when there truck day is and they have no problem with any one takin boxes.
Lowes medium box $1.60 ea 18x18x16 perfict fit for puter parts @60 lb.
if you have ready access to free boxes good for you. but consider the rule of unintended conciquences, and the cost of that "free" box. gotta look for them cost time and gas. gotta store them, floor space is not free,
Break them down, time is $. sort through and find the right size box,time is $ especially when you have to reload a box cause you chose the wrong size the first time.. just sayin.
SS scrappers do what ya gotta do.
Olddude your a genius
If I'm out curb shopping I'll pick up a decent box if I see one. Usually I don't have a problem because where I live everyone is too lazy to break down boxes. I always use a used box to ship ewaste. If I was in a crunch, Walmart does have good prices on heavy duty moving boxes. An 18x18x24 box is 2.00.
I agree with old dude, I wouldn't drive from place to place to try to get free boxes. With gas at 3+ a gallon it will cost you more in gas than to just buy them.
No genius involved. At 70 yrs old I've made a lot of mistakes and learned from some of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by unitsngold
I made a friend with someone at the local hardware store. I ask him to save back the heavy duty boxes for me. As I have treated him very nice and buy quite a bit in that store he helps me. What I have found is that the boxes that hold 4 gallon jugs of muratic acid are heavy duty and will hold right at 60-65 pounds of hard drives almost perfectly. Take a look for heavy items and try to salvage the boxes they come in. It might take a nice person in the store to help you, but it will be worth it.