How to safely pack your gear before shippment...

[martin.mintal]

I am sorry - don´t know where to put this:

How do you pack your Leicas etc., when you wanna ship them to another country ? I want to send my TLR to Ireland. Simple paper is not safe enough, I guess ?

I looked for some "safety" sponges or something like that on eBay, but could only find normal sponges for households etc.

Any ideas ?

Thank you

Martin Mintal
Bratislava/Slovak Republic

 

[cnphoto]

bubble wrap is your friend. Lots and lots of bubble wrap.

 

[Rogrund]

Yes, bubble wrap, styrofoam chips and a sturdy cardboard box. That's it!

 

[Leigh Youdale]

This direct from Harry Fleenor.
"Be sure to use 2 inches of packing material on all sides of the camera - top, bottom, front, back and sides of the Rolleiflex.
Include with it your contact information and your shipping address.
Enclose it in a plastic bag and wrap the camera with "bubble pak". The one inch bubbles.
Then fill the rest of the box with Styrofoam peanuts.
( Warning: Do not use the larger air cushions, air pillows or air bags! They will not hold the camera in place! Your Rollei will just end up on the bottom of the box!)
Use a box large enough to have 2 inches of packing on all sides of the Rolleiflex."

 

[oftheherd]

Can't argue with any of the above. However, I have found newspapers to work quite well, if used intelligently. Wad them up enough that they provide cushioning but not so tight they are not cushions. Anyone who worrys about that, would be well advised to use bubble wrap and styro-peanuts.

 

[peter_n]

I seal the camera or lens in a plastic bag or heavy wrap first as I sometimes use styrofoam chips. Then as above, lots of 1" bubble wrap. Then place newspaper or styrofoam chips into the box and work the camera into it. Put more newspaper/chips on top then close the box but don't seal it. Shake the box vigorously to see if you can feel/hear any movement inside. If you do put more paper/chips into it. Iterate until satisfied.

 

[Calzone]

This direct from Harry Fleenor.
"Be sure to use 2 inches of packing material on all sides of the camera - top, bottom, front, back and sides of the Rolleiflex.
Include with it your contact information and your shipping address.
Enclose it in a plastic bag and wrap the camera with "bubble pak". The one inch bubbles.
Then fill the rest of the box with Styrofoam peanuts.
( Warning: Do not use the larger air cushions, air pillows or air bags! They will not hold the camera in place! Your Rollei will just end up on the bottom of the box!)
Use a box large enough to have 2 inches of packing on all sides of the Rolleiflex."

+1 on Harry's method. I also went the extra step and double boxed.

Cal