Packing for Moving has it order!

[leehljp]

I started to post this under "Projects".

We are doing most of our own pre-packing before the movers come in just over two weeks. Some of my big tools have been packed (by me) such as the lathe, Radial DP, and thickness planer. But about 6 weeks ago LOML decided I needed to spend my time helping "inside" so I have.

Well, yesterday, she said I need to work on my tool shed. WOW! I jumped at that. (I was going to do that this next weekend anyway.) The first thing I did was get several small boxes and began packing and inventorying my "loose" tools such as pliers, wrenches, screw drivers, sockets, adjustable wrenches, hand planes, measuring and marking tools, etc. Then today, I went out to disassemble my BT3000. Guess what had already been packed and inventoried - the screw drivers, wrenches, pliers, adjustable wrenches!

At least all I had to do was look at the inventory list to find out what was in which box!

AS an aside to this, in about 6 small tool boxes and 2 larger ones, I found over 100 different kinds of screw driver bits. I won't need to buy any of those anymore. I have 85 hand wrenches between metric and imperial - both open ends, open/boxed end, and boxed both ends. I found 34 screw drivers! All sizes, lengths and phillips and straight. (Three date back 40 years at least.)

When I get these back home, I will put them on the wall and visible so that I don't have to buy these again! I just hope LOML doesn't read this!

I am packing them in zip-lock freezer bags and mixing the heavy weight with items of light weight items in shoe box size boxes. I did pack one box that was 10 by 12 by 14 but it was too heavy for its construction when filled with metal. For small tools, I am using 5 by 10 by 14, still heavy but more manageable.

I packed one "book box" (2 cubic ft) filled with pen blanks but by the time I was finished, it was way too heavy for what it was intended!

I am glad that I started packing back in August. The pre-planning has really made the pre-packing for this move somewhat enjoyable. LOML and I are not at each other throats over what to do first and what needs to be done NOW.

Looking forward to being back in the States with family!

[jking]

I'm glad to hear your packing is going well. I've always disliked moving because of the packing/unpacking.

[pelligrini]

The first thing I did was get several small boxes and began packing and inventorying my "loose" tools such as pliers, wrenches, screw drivers, sockets, adjustable wrenches, hand planes, measuring and marking tools, etc. Then today, I went out to disassemble my BT3000. Guess what had already been packed and inventoried - the screw drivers, wrenches, pliers, adjustable wrenches!

At least all I had to do was look at the inventory list to find out what was in which box!

Hehe, saw that one coming. At least they were easy to find.

Packing is an art. Some people get it, some folks have no comprehension of proper spacial relationships.

[LinuxRandal]

I started to post this under "Projects".

We are doing most of our own pre-packing before the movers come in just over two weeks. Some of my big tools have been packed (by me) such as the lathe, Radial DP, and thickness planer. But about 6 weeks ago LOML decided I needed to spend my time helping "inside" so I have.

Well, yesterday, she said I need to work on my tool shed. WOW! I jumped at that. (I was going to do that this next weekend anyway.) The first thing I did was get several small boxes and began packing and inventorying my "loose" tools such as pliers, wrenches, screw drivers, sockets, adjustable wrenches, hand planes, measuring and marking tools, etc. Then today, I went out to disassemble my BT3000. Guess what had already been packed and inventoried - the screw drivers, wrenches, pliers, adjustable wrenches!

At least all I had to do was look at the inventory list to find out what was in which box!

AS an aside to this, in about 6 small tool boxes and 2 larger ones, I found over 100 different kinds of screw driver bits. I won't need to buy any of those anymore. I have 85 hand wrenches between metric and imperial - both open ends, open/boxed end, and boxed both ends. I found 34 screw drivers! All sizes, lengths and phillips and straight. (Three date back 40 years at least.)

When I get these back home, I will put them on the wall and visible so that I don't have to buy these again! I just hope LOML doesn't read this!

You have that many, because your subconscious thought was you should be able to pack the tools needed for disassembly/reassembly back with them.

Now when you get home, besides having them up on pegboard next to the tool, you need to build a NICE BIG WOODEN mechanics tool chest, with heavy duty drawer slides and a nice benchtop.

[pierhogunn2]

I wonder, while you are overseas, if it would be worth your while to figure out a way to make packing crates for all of your stuff that doubles as the storage / work area for your shop so that as you travel from place to place, you just repack your workshop, lock the containers shut, update the labeling on each one, and just roll it onto the shippers transportation...

it sounds like you have done this a time or two before, and will probably do this a time or two again

[sscherin]

Last time we moved I packed a furniture and equipment assembly/dis-assembly tool kit..
Any tool I'd need to take apart stuff around the house went in there..
It was a duffel bag of tools.. crescent wrenches,pliers, dikes, ratchet set, screw drivers, driver bits, the Dewalt cordless, battery packs and charger.

It was the last thing on the truck and the first off..

What does a set of #1.#2,#3 Phillips Screwdrivers cost over there?
The Japanese (J.I.S) ones are a bit different and work much better on Asian electronics and motorcycles..

[dbhost]

I sure hope somebody else is paying for this move, because this has GOT to be stunningly expensive...

[BobSch]

Ben Franklin said it all.

Two removes equal one fire.

[Ed62]

Hank, I hope they don't keep your boxes for a year or two for inspection. I'm sure you'll enjoy touching the earth on this side.

Ed

[leehljp]

You have that many, because your subconscious thought was you should be able to pack the tools needed for disassembly/reassembly back with them.

Now when you get home, besides having them up on pegboard next to the tool, you need to build a NICE BIG WOODEN mechanics tool chest, with heavy duty drawer slides and a nice benchtop.

I have been looking at a medium-to-large size tool chest. (Expensive, even HFs ) I need something that those smaller, easy to loose, tools can have as a home spot and still make it easy to find each item. I am working on this in my mind, but I sure had that money pegged for house makeover repairs.

[leehljp]

I wonder, while you are overseas, if it would be worth your while to figure out a way to make packing crates for all of your stuff that doubles as the storage / work area for your shop so that as you travel from place to place, you just repack your workshop, lock the containers shut, update the labeling on each one, and just roll it onto the shippers transportation...

it sounds like you have done this a time or two before, and will probably do this a time or two again

It works well in some cases but not in others. It is prohibitively expensive to get a truck to bring a forklift for a home packed crate here in Japan. And they don't like to bring a crate and pack it on the truck either. They sometimes deliver the crate and unpack it at the door. IN some cases they allow the recipient to keep the crate. But in Japan, it needs to be immediately broken down because of space reasons (lack of space.)

[leehljp]

Last time we moved I packed a furniture and equipment assembly/dis-assembly tool kit..
Any tool I'd need to take apart stuff around the house went in there..
It was a duffel bag of tools.. crescent wrenches,pliers, dikes, ratchet set, screw drivers, driver bits, the Dewalt cordless, battery packs and charger.

It was the last thing on the truck and the first off..

What does a set of #1.#2,#3 Phillips Screwdrivers cost over there?
The Japanese (J.I.S) ones are a bit different and work much better on Asian electronics and motorcycles..

I have a toolkit for the house and it works great, but basically it is light weight as compared to the needs in a "shop" toolkit - for disassembly of a DP, BS, TS etc. In my original plan, I was going to take all of my main tools apart first, (I did start with that in mind) but LOML changed that! I just forgot about it.

One advantage that I have is that I already have a home in the States and with a basic set of tools (just fewer) and wrenches, along with a Ryobi cordless impact driver and drill driver there. In my case, loading something last isn't possible as the Movers will pick it up by truck and it will be packed into a container in Yokohama, about 4 hours away.

There have been times that I noticed a difference in the Japanese versions vs US. But for the most part, they work OK cross culturally. Screwdriver costs here are about like in the States - but the main difference is when the dollar / yen exchange rate changes. At the moment and in the last year, they have been much more expensive relatively.

There are bins with some good quality screwdrivers of #2 and #3 phillips for about $3 - $4. each at the current exchange rate of 80 yen to the dollar. But to buy individual industrial grade - $10 - $15 each. There are not lots of varieties in sets over here as I see in the States, so I rarely even look at sets. When I do see sets, they are the cheap ones that I know that I won't use.

[leehljp]

I sure hope somebody else is paying for this move, because this has GOT to be stunningly expensive...

Our organization is paying for this, and it is our re-location for retirement back to the States. Moving is expensive but like anything else, it pays to have a negotiator or savvy business manager. Since our Org. moves people world wide, they deal with moving and shipping companies internationally. A one time move by an individual IS expensive. - Kind of like FedEx. I have to pay through the nose to send a single package back to the US by FedEx. However, a company that sends regularly will pay less than 50%, and sometimes as little as 33% of that price.

[leehljp]

Hank, I hope they don't keep your boxes for a year or two for inspection. I'm sure you'll enjoy touching the earth on this side.

Ed

Ed,
The same thing is going through my mind too! Our organization is well aware of the problems and know what ports to avoid - that go beyond the bounds of reasonable security. All ports are picky and for a good reason. However, some ports are more picky on paper work and adding more red tape and keeping personnel employed - than others. Our org knows which ones do what, so usually they contract shippers to go through specific ports. It pays to know.

[LCHIEN]

crate all your stuff in exotic asian wood crates. once back to the states, break up the crates and build more furniture.

if you have any 100V or 50 Hz tools, they should run like a bat out of heck when you plug them in here, especially the the ones that are both 100V and 50 Hz.