First Pallet Pictures

Today I am trying to figure out how I want to arrange boxes and items for my first pallet shipment ever. I am selling to a buyer on here and have a request for a quote out. I am unsure how to best stack the boxes for max security. This seemed like a configuration that would work. All the heaviest boxes are on the bottom. There is a total of about 600lbs here. My plan was going to be to go to staples or home depot and get uniform sized boxes to better stack, but they are all closed by me on account of the corona.


Looking for advice on what I should do.... wrap it all as-is, or try and wait a bit until I can get some more uniform boxes and re-package it all. Will a shipping place even take a pallet if its not totally full and not stackable? (well..... it could be stack on something else, but cant be stacked on top of).

https://i.imgur.com/2OgYDxe.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/97jJ4qS.jpg






Another option is just driving it all to the destination myself.... its only about 6 hours away... I could get there and back with probably $60 of gas (and 12 hours of my time though)

Stack the boxes so the heaviest is on bottom then shrink wrap securely to the pallet and your all set

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Originally Posted by gorven

Stack the boxes so the heaviest is on bottom then shrink wrap securely to the pallet and your all set

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Thanks you! The bottom boxes weigh 100-200lbs each, the others are lighter and on top. I have a ton of cling wrap so I should be able to get it all to stay on. I was just worried about if the shape/lack of being stackable would be an issue. But I guess people have to ship weird shapped things too so it cant be a huge issue.

Thanks! Appreciate it

If it's MTSV stuff, packaging matters more. If it's scrap, you just have to get it there. Shrink wrap works well, or if you want to be fancy, you can sometimes pick up a gaylord box for cheap

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Originally Posted by matador

If it's MTSV stuff, packaging matters more. If it's scrap, you just have to get it there. Shrink wrap works well, or if you want to be fancy, you can sometimes pick up a gaylord box for cheap

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All scrap stuff! Just needs to survive transit and all get there! I have plenty of shrink wrap that I found for free so I should be good to go.... All my MTSV stuff was in a separate box to you that should be arriving shortly to you :)..... or already arrived, idk. I lost the tracking number :( lol....

It came yesterday night, and I hope to start on it in the morning. Would have started today, but I had my CDL test today. By the time I finished that, got plates for my rebuilt Saab, and went back to the DMV to get that paperwork done, it was almost 5:00, so no time today :(

If you have doubts when it's shrink wrapped, I've run ropes around pallets I've sent before. It can secure things up some. It makes the pallet itself look ugly, but who cares?

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Originally Posted by matador

It came yesterday night, and I hope to start on it in the morning. Would have started today, but I had my CDL test today. By the time I finished that, got plates for my rebuilt Saab, and went back to the DMV to get that paperwork done, it was almost 5:00, so no time today :(

If you have doubts when it's shrink wrapped, I've run ropes around pallets I've sent before. It can secure things up some. It makes the pallet itself look ugly, but who cares?

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I may tie some ropes around it at the end just as some extra insurance that itll stay together.

Hope your CDL test went well

If you need a Gaylord call sirscrap no seriously thou I can get you a Gaylord box if you need one , I’m in pa and va. Pretty regularly .

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Originally Posted by Metalbestos

If you need a Gaylord call sirscrap no seriously thou I can get you a Gaylord box if you need one , I’m in pa and va. Pretty regularly .

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Thanks so much! If you are in PA sometime (I am in chester county PA bout an hour from philly), let me know, message me on here or comment on here! I would def buy/take some gayloard boxes for sure. For this shipment I should be ok, Im going to put a crap-ton of plastic wrap and tape on and it should be good!

Thanks!

The test got the job done. I did the ugliest alley docking that the instructor had seen, but I passed. The CDL laws are changing, so after early 2022, the only way to get one is through a CDL school ($5000 or so). I'm now grandfathered in for life. Well worth the time, though you guys probably would rather that I was in the office testing your stuff instead :D

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Originally Posted by matador

The test got the job done. I did the ugliest alley docking that the instructor had seen, but I passed. The CDL laws are changing, so after early 2022, the only way to get one is through a CDL school ($5000 or so). I'm now grandfathered in for life. Well worth the time, though you guys probably would rather that I was in the office testing your stuff instead :D

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Glad to hear you passed!


In other news, I got my pallet mostly ready. I used gorrila tape once or twice around to keep the boxes tight together. Then did a few layers of the 6" inch wide wrapping.... Then used some yarn and some rope to go from under the pallet in an X shape tied from corner to corner with the rope. Then I used the rest of the 6" wrap. then finally I used the .... larger (maybe 24" wrap?) to go around the pallet and the bottom and all around the top. Ill probably put a few more layers of wrap on but it is mostly secure as is (as long as the shipping people arent like.... flipping it upside-down or anything)


https://i.imgur.com/ucsCjsM.jpg

Way to go Wyatt !

That looks like a good pallet.

Just grab it with your fork lift and put it on top when you're loading the truck. ;)

J/K

Yeah thats ready to go

I have shipped and I have delivered my ewaste to Ohio myself. I could not justify the cost of driving from coastal NC but the education I got by personally delivering my ewaste to my buyer. He took the time to explain how things were graded. 73, Mike

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Originally Posted by miked

I have shipped and I have delivered my ewaste to Ohio myself. I could not justify the cost of driving from coastal NC but the education I got by personally delivering my ewaste to my buyer. He took the time to explain how things were graded. 73, Mike

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Yea... I may end up driving my next load, its 6 hrs so not TOO far. Definitely a hike though. The pallet pictured was supposed to be picked up today, but I made the mistake of saying "yes" when they called and asked if it was in my garage before picking it up..... Apparently with the corona, they will not pick up any pallets/packages that are indoors? And I guess 3 inches inside of a garage door is indoors.... So now the pallet pickup has been rescheduled until monday, and its conditional on that I can move the 650lb pallet 5 feet, outside the garage door.... I dont have a pallet jack so I will have to get creative :)

You can drag a pallet. If you're worried about the concrete, slide a blanket under it. It's not the easiest, but it can be done. If you don't care about the concrete, skip that part. But, you can loop a rope through the pallet's main member in the middle, and then just pull. Either with yourself, or if you need a little muscle, you can use your car or truck. If you go for the mechanical assistance, just make sure to go as slowly as possible.

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Originally Posted by matador

You can drag a pallet. If you're worried about the concrete, slide a blanket under it. It's not the easiest, but it can be done. If you don't care about the concrete, skip that part. But, you can loop a rope through the pallet's main member in the middle, and then just pull. Either with yourself, or if you need a little muscle, you can use your car or truck. If you go for the mechanical assistance, just make sure to go as slowly as possible.

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Its already sitting on a rug.... not sure if that will help or hinder being able to pull it about 10 ft. My plan was going to be to put a 2x4 behind the pallet, and then use a tow strap, around the 2x4 and through under the pallet, and my tractor to slowly pull it


like so (top down view)


--'-----'-- <- 2x4 resting agains back edge of pallet
| ' | ' |
| ' | ' | <- pallet
| ' | ' |
' '
' '
' '
' <- tow strap
X <- tractor hitch

darn it..... after saving the diagram gets all messed up lol....

Next time just build pallet on truck and drop off at terminal........cheaper and less hassle

It's not a problem. Use a shovel or a pry bar to lift up one side of it. Slide a steel pipe underneath. Same on the other side.

Now you have a pallet on rollers.


2" schedule 80 plastic pipe works even better. I put a few pieces under a 480 lb generator and was amazed at how easily it moved. A ten year old girl could move it.

Credits to the generator guy that told me about that one

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Originally Posted by hills

It's not a problem. Use a shovel or a pry bar to lift up one side of it. Slide a steel pipe underneath. Same on the other side.

Now you have a pallet on rollers.


2" schedule 80 plastic pipe works even better. I put a few pieces under a 480 lb generator and was amazed at how easily it moved. A ten year old girl could move it.

Credits to the generator guy that told me about that one

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This is certainly a valid strategy..... never thought of this, but this could actually work out pretty well.

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Originally Posted by mikeinreco

Next time just build pallet on truck and drop off at terminal........cheaper and less hassle

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Yea I think I will at least do that next time. It wasn't super expensive for freight shipping, much cheaper than I thought, so figured they can just pick it up here since it wasnt super expensive. But driving to the terminal would have been less hassle at this point.... although it is about an hour away, but not too far.

It's only an hour to your terminal? Here, I either pay more for the local terminal or go on a 3 hour drive to Billings :D

Seriously, it does save you money in the long run. If you're going to do a lot of this stuff, I recommend picking up a cheap little utility trailer for the purpose. I have one that can actually haul 4 pallets, but I've never loaded her that full. But, it's so handy to build your pallet as you go, but the trailer gives you the ability to move it out of the way when you're doing other stuff. I don't know where you live, and I'm too lazy to check the outside of your box :lol: , but I'd look for a farm auction if you're going to do this a lot. They'll often have little trailers that bring next to nothing

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Originally Posted by kss

This is certainly a valid strategy..... never thought of this, but this could actually work out pretty well.

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The main thing is to think it through and reduce the coefficient of friction somehow. You have to look around and see what you have on hand to work with. If not pipe ... maybe a couple of 2x4's ? That would reduce the friction enough that you could probably tug it out with a car & a piece of rope w/o damaging the concrete.

Could you let us know how it all tallies up after the payout minus expenses ?

I'm really curious to know.

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Originally Posted by matador

It's only an hour to your terminal? Here, I either pay more for the local terminal or go on a 3 hour drive to Billings :D

Seriously, it does save you money in the long run. If you're going to do a lot of this stuff, I recommend picking up a cheap little utility trailer for the purpose. I have one that can actually haul 4 pallets, but I've never loaded her that full. But, it's so handy to build your pallet as you go, but the trailer gives you the ability to move it out of the way when you're doing other stuff. I don't know where you live, and I'm too lazy to check the outside of your box :lol: , but I'd look for a farm auction if you're going to do this a lot. They'll often have little trailers that bring next to nothing

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Well its an hours to THIS terminal, that this company uses, there could be ones closer! Im not sure. The destination of the pallet is only 6hrs away so I could just drive there! I could fit 2 pallets in my truck bed with the gate down, which, so far, is 2 times more than I would need so far! but if it picks up I def will get a trailer. The corona is really putting a damper on my materials acquiring though :( ... but no big deal, I still have my day job which is a lot more than a ton of people can say right now! So im lucky

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Originally Posted by hills

The main thing is to think it through and reduce the coefficient of friction somehow. You have to look around and see what you have on hand to work with. If not pipe ... maybe a couple of 2x4's ? That would reduce the friction enough that you could probably tug it out with a car & a piece of rope w/o damaging the concrete.

Could you let us know how it all tallies up after the payout minus expenses ?

I'm really curious to know.

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Yea I will do a tally post afterwards that includes price paid for all the stuff, time to sort/disassemble, total payment, total profits, all the nity gritty. However, due to the corona it seems my payout will be about 20-30% less than it would have been a few days ago. Oh well, thats scrapping, prices fluctuate.

I was just a bit concerned when you mentioned that you were buying items to process. It would be pretty easy to take a beating on that one.

Win, lose, or break even ... it's all a learning experience.



I'm wondering what the world will look like once we get past this whole Corona thing and the dust settles. T. was concerned that the government is blindly throwing money at it. I have to disagree on that point BUT they are creating a lot of money and pumping it into the economy right now.

One could look at it this way. A crisis erupted. They borrowed a ton of money and then directed it into the banking system to keep everything on an even keel. That's a good short term emergency fix !

The one thing you don't want at a time like this is a shortage of money. That could collapse the global banking system and make this whole thing far worse.

The problem is that there will be a price to pay after this is all over. All that borrowed money will have to be paid back somehow. Payback is a bit*h. It will slow the economy to a crawl and devalue the dollar.

We might have a situation where prices are high and money is hard to come by.

For the MTSV side of things, I think this will be a giant bump in the road, really. I'm still processing stuff from you guys, though I am working to switch over to my second test bench in the basement at home, in case the city of Cody goes on lockdown, or puts the "mobile field hospital" in the closed motel that's literally 50 feet from my Cody office. If they're putting a sick ward right next to my testing center, yeah.... I ain't going to the office then. I've noticed a drop in the resale side of things, but I think we're going to be able to continue serving through this crisis. I REALLY don't want to drop prices over this, so I'm doing everything possible to keep them up. But, you never know what will happen. I just hope we don't get caught in a full lockdown. That would really throw a monkey wrench into processing

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Originally Posted by hills

I was just a bit concerned when you mentioned that you were buying items to process. It would be pretty easy to take a beating on that one.

Win, lose, or break even ... it's all a learning experience.

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I think I will still come out ahead. A little less ahead since scrap prices of who I am sending to just went down about 20-30%, BUT thats to be expected with all the rona going around.....

Should still come out ahead, I think I should be getting around a 10x return on my money, give or take. but it may be hard to calculate given that some of the stuff I buy get split up and sent to various buyers, various scrap yards, etc. But I should certainly still come out ahead money wise.... now if what I come out ahead, divided by how many hours I spent buying, seperating, packing, mailing, etc, comes out to be worth it, will be a different question LOL. either way should all be good.

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Originally Posted by hills

I'm wondering what the world will look like once we get past this whole Corona thing and the dust settles. T. was concerned that the government is blindly throwing money at it. I have to disagree on that point BUT they are creating a lot of money and pumping it into the economy right now.

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If the gov doesnt send out money, there will be rioting and looting in the streets. People are running out of money, and soon, and wont be able to buy food or feed their familes.... and cant even go out and find work to make money, since everything is shut down. Thatll put people into some very desperate places, which is not good for peoples saftey.

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Originally Posted by matador

For the MTSV side of things, I think this will be a giant bump in the road, really. I'm still processing stuff from you guys, though I am working to switch over to my second test bench in the basement at home, in case the city of Cody goes on lockdown, or puts the "mobile field hospital" in the closed motel that's literally 50 feet from my Cody office. If they're putting a sick ward right next to my testing center, yeah.... I ain't going to the office then. I've noticed a drop in the resale side of things, but I think we're going to be able to continue serving through this crisis. I REALLY don't want to drop prices over this, so I'm doing everything possible to keep them up. But, you never know what will happen. I just hope we don't get caught in a full lockdown. That would really throw a monkey wrench into processing

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I am thinking that once it all blows over, people will be anxious to get out and spend money, and socialize, etc..... after being quarientiend and cooped up, people will be dying to get out (and spent money, which is also what the gov and businesses want and will do everything to make happen).... So I am optimistic that everything will pick up, after this is under control.... just no one is sure how long until that is.

Also, I think I would rather have a full gov/police enforced lock-down for 2-3 weeks so this can all be over.... so that this is over and done with quick. Otherwise, this will drag out for many months in limbo as it spreads slowly....

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Originally Posted by kss

If the gov doesnt send out money, there will be rioting and looting in the streets. People are running out of money, and soon, and wont be able to buy food or feed their familes.... and cant even go out and find work to make money, since everything is shut down. Thatll put people into some very desperate places, which is not good for peoples saftey.

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A part of what i'm seeing is that ordinary folks are paying with credit cards now. (They usually use debit cards and only spend money they have in the bank.) Traditionally, this time of year, you would rarely see a credit card used. They're more for the upscale folks.

This leads me to think that a clam digger with a platinum card is getting into his emergency stash. A pretty smart move by " The Fed " to dump a bunch of money into the banking system BEFORE a money shortage happens. Now the credit card companies have plenty of money to lend to those in need. The banking industry is also talking about deferred loan payments & interest only payments to help those affected by this event.

We've reduced hours of operation & started laying off our older workers who are most at risk. It's strictly voluntary to take a layoff at this point. The state set up a special section of our unemployment system just to render aid to those whose jobs were affected by the Corona thing. If you are high risk and don't want to be on the job just go home and collect a check for the next six months.Same thing if the company you worked for closed and you were involuntarily put out of a job. You're covered.

So far ... tons of timely support from the state & federal governments. That should help calm any potential civil unrest.

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Originally Posted by hills

A part of what i'm seeing is that ordinary folks are paying with credit cards now. (They usually use debit cards and only spend money they have in the bank.) Traditionally, this time of year, you would rarely see a credit card used. They're more for the upscale folks.

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That is an interesting observation. I always use a credit card and pay it back before any interest hits..... gets me free cashback plus credit cards offer better fraud liability. Credit card puts a layer between you and fraud. If your card gets stolen or the numbers swipped (like at a gas station pump) and someone runs up $1000 on there before you notice, if its a debit card, your money is gone (at least temporarily). So it could be weeks before your banks fraud department puts that money back.... with credit card they credit your account back right away, and youre fine and you are not ever out any money, even temporarily. Ive had each of my creditcard numbers stolen, multiple times, so I NEVER use debit, just to prevent a situation like I said from happening.... but.... regaurdless.... and interesting observation

It was a weird day today. My first day back after three days off. Things changed a lot and i was totally off my game.

We usually run a 60 / 40 ratio of cards & cash. Some days more cash. Some days more cards.

It was 90 % cash today. I've never seen that before. They would buy exact amounts so that i wouldn't hand them change back. Are they afraid of our point of sale system & getting germs on their cards ?

Somebody stole the hand sanitizer dispenser from the Port-a-potty .

POS system was offline when i got into work. Our RVM's ( reverse vending machines ) were remotely reprogrammed so that they are totally touchless now.

I hope things settle down tomorrow. It's gonna take a little while to get used to this new way of doing things. :-/

I'm in a really weird spot. I'm a one-man band basically. So, quarantine doesn't stop me. Retooling my second test bench is slowing me down, but that's just temporary. People not buying things could stop me though. If the market totally dries up, I have a second job lined up. The neighbor runs a farm, so I can drive a tractor for him any day I have free time. Being alone in a 100 acre field, not seeing a soul all day is the definition of quarantine. We'll make it through this just fine. I do buy everything with cash though, so that is actually proving to be a little bit of a challenge with everyone going hands-free

Pallet got picked up today (10 mins ago)! looking forward to it getting where its going, and it getting all tallied up!

With nonessential businesses being closed all over the US its going to be a challenge so before shipping make sure you call the person your shipping to is open or the freight will be returned to you and made to pay those charges.

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Originally Posted by hills

It's not a problem. Use a shovel or a pry bar to lift up one side of it. Slide a steel pipe underneath. Same on the other side.

Now you have a pallet on rollers.


2" schedule 80 plastic pipe works even better. I put a few pieces under a 480 lb generator and was amazed at how easily it moved. A ten year old girl could move it.

Credits to the generator guy that told me about that one

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Thanks for that plastic pipe idea, years ago i found that wooden posts work better than Steel tubing on concrete, they absorb the high points of the concrete chip surface, spread the load out better & bigger diameter rolls better.
But i hadnt thought of using plastic pipe. Water mains offcuts would work very well.

I have shifted a lot of machinery, lathes etc over the years. But that would have saved a lot of that time. ( & a capstan lathe slipping off the 2 inch dia steel bar stock we used once. )
A very early memory was watching Dad shift a small building ( large room/shed ) on rollers, by himself.

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Originally Posted by gorven

With nonessential businesses being closed all over the US its going to be a challenge so before shipping make sure you call the person your shipping to is open or the freight will be returned to you and made to pay those charges.

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As far as I know, isnt shipping/mailing/logistics/etc all considered "essential" and will remain opened? Regaurdless the person I am shipping to is the one who set up the freight so hopefully it is all ok!

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Originally Posted by eesakiwi

Thanks for that plastic pipe idea, years ago i found that wooden posts work better than Steel tubing on concrete, they absorb the high points of the concrete chip surface, spread the load out better & bigger diameter rolls better.
But i hadnt thought of using plastic pipe. Water mains offcuts would work very well.

I have shifted a lot of machinery, lathes etc over the years. But that would have saved a lot of that time. ( & a capstan lathe slipping off the 2 inch dia steel bar stock we used once. )
A very early memory was watching Dad shift a small building ( large room/shed ) on rollers, by himself.

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It's amazing what can be done with a few rollers and a bit of ingenuity. There was a 10 x 12 concrete slab on the property when i bought it. The former owners had intended to build a shop there but then couldn't get a permit to build because it was too close to the neighbor's property line. I had some empty oxygen tanks on hand and used those as rollers to move the slab to a better location. It all worked out.

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Originally Posted by kss

As far as I know, isnt shipping/mailing/logistics/etc all considered "essential" and will remain opened? Regaurdless the person I am shipping to is the one who set up the freight so hopefully it is all ok!

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Maybe contact your buyer ?

The one i'm thinking about may / may not be under a stay at home order.

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Originally Posted by hills

Maybe contact your buyer ?

The one i'm thinking about may / may not be under a stay at home order.

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I contacted them, there is someone there to accept the pallet, and the frieght company says it should be there today. So all should be good! :)