Long-Distance Moving and Storage

From: Innfogra_at_aol.com <(Innfogra_at_aol.com)>
Date: Mon Jul 26 21:32:24 1999

In a message dated 7/26/99 12:02:35 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
ware_at_xtal.pharm.nwu.edu writes:

> The moving companies that I have contacted to obtain estimates have said
> that the computer equipment is no problem - "just box it up". It sounds
> easy enough, but I don't know what the reaction will be to 150-pound boxes

Heavy boxes and or crates are no problem to movers, just let them know of the
weights so they can bring the right equipment to move them. Racks will
usually require a forklift or a loading dock on both ends of the move. Use
heavy doubleweight cardboard for 150 pound boxes.

> (or crates) that contain a single item. I'm planning to remove the front
> panels from the lights-and-switches equipped minis for transport and may
> remove boards and/or PSUs to lighten individual machines if necessary.
> Does anyone have other suggestions for dealing with unwieldy items such as
> rack-mountable equipment and workstation monitors in a long-distance move?


Consider a company that specializes in moving computer equipment. They use
"air ride" trailers that are more shock absorbent and their drivers are
trained in computer friendly driving. I have been able to ship equipment in
racks with just a blanket thrown over it with these specialty movers.

 Request an "air ride trailer" anyway. Use padding and cardboard to protect
front panels. Park all hard drives, check their mounting bolts and check
their slide mounting bolts to the frame. It is especially important to check
the rack mounting bolts and screws. We lost 30% of an Amdahl drive array when
the drives shook loose of the frames due to a rough stretch of Interstate
I-5. It tripped their shockwatches. This is where an "air ride " trailer
would have been valuable.

Two complete layers of large bubble wrap is sufficient for heavy plastic
printers and terminals (i.e., TI 810s, Wyse 50s, etc.) when contained in a
box. If you have a lot to ship consider buying a large roll of bubble wrap at
a commercial packing supplier. I get a 48 inch wide roll of large bubble
(about 5 feet in diameter) for $80 from a supplier of discount cardboard box
supplier. I like the stuff that is perforated every 12 inches if they have it
in stock. Put a stick through the core and hang it from the ceiling so it
unrolls easy.

If you just rent space in a trailer sit down with a pad of graph paper to
sketch out your layout in advance. Measure all the racks, boxes and pieces so
you can fit them on the floor of the trailer. Some people like to cut out the
pieces to make the easier to rearrange. Make note of top-heavy racks. These
will be need to be lashed to the side walls of the trailer. After rolling in
any equipment on wheels, lower the adjustable levelers so they won't roll.
Protect with cardboard and tie each to the walls. If you use commercial
movers they will do all of this. You do need to tell them about top-heavy
racks.

Consider packing the workstation monitors upside down in a box with large
bubble. Cut a collar of bubble wrap to fill the space between the base and
the monitor in any case. If you have several consider packing them in a
cardboard Gaylord. This is a heavy cardboard box the size of a pallet,
approximately 40" X 42" X 4' to 6' height. These are usually available from
the same place I get bubble wrap. Put the box on a pallet before you pack it.
Strap it to the pallet after you fill it.

Remember Force = Mass X Acceleration. Also that Mass wants to travel in a
straight line. Both of these are germane to packing a trailer.

Good luck
Paxton
Received on Mon Jul 26 1999 - 21:32:24 BST