What To Do With Headphones (et al.) When Moving House

Discussion in 'General Audio Discussion' started by aufmerksam, May 23, 2017.

  1. aufmerksam

    aufmerksam Friend

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    I hear you. Since I am a barely concealed asshole about goddamn stubs asking what color headphones to buy, I was nervous starting the thread. But I'm not asking about "what color headphones are just for me LOL!" or "why can't you agree with my opinion about JDS labs newest thing?" or "will someone please validate the decision I have already made to spend $$$ on [insert product]?" Instead, I'm hoping that people who have moved their shit over long distances can share good ideas, and mooks like me doing it for the first time will benefit from a little lurking or advanced searching.

    Back on topic, your story only increases my desire to not trust anyone else to transport my shit.
     
  2. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    It seems like some people cannot visualize what can (or what will) happen to the package after it leaves their hands.o_O
     
  3. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Another story I have is from a trip to the US to meet with family when I bought a bunch of kitchen stuff to bring back to Taiwan. One of the items was a small oven with quartz tubes. I filled the oven with stuff wrapped in clothing so that things wouldn't fly around inside. Then put the oven in its original box and put that box inside cardboard moving box (I think I put clothes around all 4 sides of the box inside the box). I filled everything up and duct taped the whole thing and checked it as luggage.

    When I got home, 4 out of the 5 quartz tubes had cracked. My theory is the box got dropped from such a height that the shock cracked the tubes. I rotated the remaining intact tube and it didn't seem to be air-tight, indicating an inert gas environment for the filament. So I wired them up and the oven worked just fine.
     
  4. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    At times I need to post something fragile and expansive I do so:

    Wrap the item into two or more plastic bags --> tape it tightly --> put it inside a cardboard box with sufficient clearance all around --> apply polyurethane foam galore
    This will be one tough solid piece, also lightweight and have good shock absorbing capacity. Unpacking is easy. The foam can be broken away piece by piece.

    edit: Fluke and some other hi-end measurement equipment manufacturers ship their top stuff in similar packaging, it is legit ;)
    (warning: this stuff is super sticky and very difficult to remove from skin and hair)
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2017
  5. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Damned good idea for a thread!

    Clothes make good packing material. And, when one is travelling, are usually going to be there anyway. Sorry about the elements: however clever we get, sometimes it just doesn't work out

    Another thing I use for soft padding-out is kitchen=paper rolls.

    Best possible alternative to original boxes: make your own new "original boxes" with foam moulding. Nice. I have not been able to try this.

    For international travelling with valuable items in luggage, it has to be remembered that customs/security staff may open and examine.
     
  6. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    Especially, anything containing both wood (organic matter) and electrics will almost definitely get flagged as suspicious and inspected at security. So all your fancy headphones, speakers, record player etc.
     
  7. LauriCular

    LauriCular Acquaintance

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    I'll second Thad's clothing suggestion; they'll be moving as well so why not save a bit of debris at the other end? It's what I've done in the past but I've no recent experience thank goodness.
     
  8. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    On that same trip, I had everything jam packed, including carry-on. Going through security, x-ray turned up 2 suspicious looking metal cylinders. I'd bought so much stuff that I couldn't for the life of me remember what nor where in my backpack they were. After fruitlessly searching for several minutes and examining the image on the screen, the guy proudly proclaimed "Crate & Barrel Salt and Pepper Grinders", which is exactly what they were.

    [​IMG]
     

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