Moving, how to pack gear?

[audiodef]

I will soon be moving a few states away from where I am now. In the past, packing my gear has been pretty simple, since I have not moved more than a handful of miles in the past twenty years or so.

I have a room full of synthesizers of all shapes and sizes, a mid-format mixer, two small-format mixers, racks, stands, mics, and cables. What is the best way to pack all this up? Moving boxes don't come in sizes or shapes appropriate to most of this stuff, and I can't afford hard cases. I imagine I will want tons of bubble wrap.

I'm conflicted as to whether to let the moving company move my gear or to load it onto the trailer I'm going to rent for the final move. The former is just plain helpful, while the latter provides a little more peace of mind that someone won't accidentally break something. I'm also not convinced the trailer will have enough room anyway.

Any and all advice would be appreciated.

[MusicMan11712]

I generally rented trucks and did the packing/moving myself and packed the gear in the car I drove--usually in original boxes or for usb keyboards wrapped in bedding on the back seat or floor. I'd say if you are hiring movers, are you paying for them to box things up or boxing up stuff yourself and just having the movers load? When I rented trucks to move myself, I did research on how to load, pack, tie down etc. I think one time a neighbor did moving professionally, so I had him take a look and make suggestions when I was doing the first section.

One time I might have taken advantage of the space on top of the cab for stuff that would only be good to have on top--well protected so there wasn't room for sliding and with the front wall set up so nothing would slide. I think that's where I had my bookshelf boards--upright to keep stuff from sliding.

If you are having the movers do all that stuff, you are probably paying for insurance. Again, it depends on how much you are doing yourself versus hiring professionals.

If you are packing stuff yourself and don't have original boxes/packing materials (or if they have not aged well), think of how gear you might have bought on e-bay arrived--safe and sound or in a disheveled box, but with the gear unharmed, etc.

Did I tell you about the E-Mu Proteus Ultra I bought that had been packed with styofoam peanuts? You know, the ones that are prone to static electricity? I would rather it had arrived filled with the smell of newsprint.

Steve

[PHOBoS]

One tip I remember that I think came from someone here on the forum was to use clothing to protect gear (intead of bubblewrap or similar).
Saves some space too as you don't waste it on extra packaging material. (towels, bed sheets etc. are also useful of course)

For large items you can also use pieces of hardboard for extra reinforcement. It's cheap and a lot stronger than cardboard.

[audiodef]

Thanks, Steve and Pho. We just officially sold our house an hour ago, so man, do I have to get on the ball with packing my gear.

[AlanP]

Cotton is most static neutral.

[MusicMan11712]