Moving Tips And Tricks: Packing & Moving Oddly-Shaped Objects

If you have a family heirloom or a large piece of furniture that is unique and has sentimental value to you, you probably don’t want to put it in a box. In such cases, you need a custom cardboard box to wrap it.

 

What is a custom-shaped box?

You are probably familiar with rectangular and square-shaped cardboard boxes. These are the most common packing boxes and protect a variety of items and materials. However, if you need more protection and durability, you may order a custom-shaped box. This is a box that can be made in any specific shape to fit and protect specific objects and items. Custom-shaped boxes are usually more expensive than the standard ones, but they are also durable and most often made of recycled cardboard.

 

Ideas on Packing Odd-Shaped Objects

 

Framed Pictures and Mirrors: To protect your framed pictures or mirrors, you should first take them off the wall and remove the wire, using a hammer and a flat-head screwdriver. After that, simply fold them in a box, together with their special pedestals. If you cannot fit them into a box, you will have to pack them into a protective hard case, such as a photo box.

 

Artwork: If you have some artwork prints hanging on your wall, you should do the same with them, but you may need to replace the wire with wrapping paper. Depending on their size and shape, you can pack them into a box or a case. If you have anything framed, you should have to use the box because it is impractical to use a case for it. Packing a fragile artwork is quite difficult, so if you consider yourself not to be that strong, consider getting help from your friends. Protect fragile antiques and artwork – Pack each item individually, in its box, with cushioning materials on all sides. Use padding materials to fill in any empty spaces within the box where it might come into contact with other objects. For example, bubble wrap can be used to fill in space at the top and bottom of a box if the contents are taller than the box is wide. Bubble wrap can also be placed in the middle of a box if a short item is packed on one end of the box leaving a gap on the other end; likewise, bubble wrap placed on top of an item in a box will prevent it from rubbing against the bottom of the box.

 

Chairs: You do not need to buy special furniture boxes for chair transportation; there are other ways to handle them. Firstly, make sure to drape the furniture in several layers of thick wrapping paper. Then, wrap an elastic band around it to keep the covering in place. To add extra support, also tie the chair to a bike frame or use an extra piece of existing packaging. Do not forget to add an extra piece of paper over the legs so they won’t break during transportation.

 

Sofas: If you need to move a sofa that is a different shape from the regular ones, you can use a large cardboard box. Cover the sofa in several layers of wrapping paper. Then, place it inside the box and screw it to the side or place it on a secured base.

 

Pack odd-shaped items in a box

 

If you have a box, you can always put your items inside it. However, if your furniture piece isn’t exactly square-shaped or cylindrical, be prepared that it won’t fit in a box. The easiest way to avoid this problem is to choose a box that has an odd-shaped interior, one that is slightly larger than the object you’re trying to pack. For example, if you want to pack a china vase, it will be more practical to use a box with a flat bottom and a rectangular bottom that is slightly larger than the vase. While packing odd-shaped items, pay attention to their corners. The fewer corners and surfaces, the better. If your furniture piece has big parts, you can cut them down into smaller pieces, wrap them in newspapers or bubble wrap and then place them in the box.

The following are the most common shaped boxes used for moving.

 

Diamond-Shaped Boxes; If you’re planning to move with your valuable aquarium, it is important to find a box that fits its shape.

 

Aquariums; They are made of glass and can be easily damaged if not handled carefully. Take special care when using tape with these boxes. Remove the protective liner from the tape and place it on the box. Keep in mind that you should use the tape to hold the box together, not to support the weight of the glass material. The tape can be wrapped around the four corners of the box, but it should not cover the entire surface of the box. The tape should not be used in place of packing material such as blankets or bubble wrap.

 

General Tips for  Best Packing

 

• Use the right amount of packing materials – a layer of bubble wrap or foam sheeting on top of the item followed by wrapping with packing paper, another layer of bubble wrap, another layer of packing paper, etc. until the item is well-protected.
• Move valuable or fragile items to their box and place the box on top of other items.
• Pack the heaviest items at the bottom of the box.
• Pack the long items horizontally across the bottom and centre of the box.
• Pack space with rolled blankets, towels, clothes, newspaper, etc.
• Always seal the box with wrapping and tape, and label it with information about its contents.
• Inspect the finished box: Is it well-packed and closed securely with tape? Are the box’s shape, size, and weight appropriate for its contents? Is the label clear? Are there any protruding parts on the box?