Packing is never an easy task when getting ready to move place. You have to make several decisions that calculate and anticipate the number of boxes you’ll need, figure out the appropriate boxes to buy and of course have to pack them neatly in a way that will allow your items to get to their destination safely.
Packing of heavy objects can get even more complicated. We need to ensure the box carrying the items is strong enough to fully support their weight.
Another important factor is using the correct packing materials within the box to provide adequate cushioning that provides full protection.
Lets lay out the correct packing materials for heavy objects to ensure all your items get to their destination in one piece.
Listing the Best Packing Materials For Heavy Objects
1) Air Pillows
Air pillows are a cost effective void filler and cushioning packing material for moving boxes. They are High Density Polyethylene pockets that need to be filled with air, either by hand pump or machine filled.
Typically shipped as a full roll, most manufacturers giving a count of 400 individual pillows. They’re also sold as prefilled pillows from most hardware stores and online market places.
Top Benefits
- Great anti-shock capabilities that soak up huge knocks. Keeps heavy objects from being tossed around inside the moving box
- Has a wide variety of applications, can be used as a void fill for glass, ceramics, cosmetics, beverages and more
- Small, compact, and tidy void fill that can be easily stored away in small places when not in use. Some models can be deflated then inflated again when needed
2) Plastic Protective Wrap
Plastic protective wrap most common form is bubble wrap, one of the most commonly used for protection during shipping. Features small sized plastic air filled bubbles, that provide high levels of conformity around the heavy objects you wish to pack.
The size of the plastic air filled bubbles should ideally be relative to the weight and size of the objects you are trying to protect. Small or light objects need only small air filled bubbles for full protection, large or heavy objects require the largest bubbles to be fully protected.
Top Benefits
- Can be stacked with as many layers as you wish to give additional levels of protection to your items
- Maintains consistent levels of cushioning at all points of contact with the object
- Works well as dual use, firstly to fully wrap items, secondly to cover all the inside walls of the box for a soft barrier
3) Foam Sheets
Foam sheets use soft and thick material that can be used as wrap around protection or as a protective barrier to separate your most delicate objects. They’re also useful for wrapping the outside legs and edges of furniture to prevent then causing damage while being moved. These are also a favourite of movers looking for cushioning for their books and folders.
Top Benefits
- Lends itself well to be used in addition with other packing materials
- Excellent for cushioning of smaller items, can be stacked with each other fr greater effect
- Can be used as many times as you want as they don’t degrade like other cushioning packing materials
4) Packing Peanuts
These peanuts are small wave shaped Styrofoam packing materials. Packing peanuts provide plush cushioning to your delicate and fragile items that are prone to shattering or breaking.
Top Benefits
- Fulfil two purposes in one effectively, firstly as a protective packing material, secondly as void fill
- Very supportive and do a good job of keeping heavy items in place by restricting their ability to move around and become damaged inside the box during transportation
- Helps speed up the packing process as you don’t have to individually wrap each heavy object you have
Best Boxes for Packing of Heavy Objects
The need to carry heavy objects requires a sturdy and robust packing box to carry the weight without risk of damage. The standard box is constructed from a single wall of corrugated Kraft that is typically held together using strong tape.
In this configuration the box is capable of carrying a maximum load of 65lbs only. While this is not an insignificant weight, for heavier objects, this weight limit can be exceeded quickly.
In order to load the box with heavier items we need to make use of a higher strength rating box that can handle the load without failing.
| ECT Rating | Maximum Weight Capacity | Number of Corrugated Walls |
|---|---|---|
| ECT-32 | 65lbs | Single |
| ECT-44 | 95lbs | Single |
| ECT-48 | 100lbs | Double |
| ECT-51 | 120lbs | Double |
| ECT-90 | 280lbs | Triple |
| ECT-155 | 300lbs | Triple |
Higher ECT rated boxes give us improvements in many areas including:
- Stronger walls give better protection against outside objects penetrating and damaging items inside
- Reinforces the sidewall handle cut outs of the box, helping avoid tears and rips around the handle area
- Allows for multiple heavy items to be stacked on top of the box without the box crushing and failing under the load
Double and triple wall boxes significantly reduce the chances the box will lose it shape by becoming bent, collapsing under heavy loads, and folding at the open edges.
Conclusion – Packing Materials for Heavy Objects
To select the best packing materials for heavy objects requires you to take an inventory of the size and weight of everything that needs to be packed.
For smaller and fragile items, a full wrap solution such as plastic protective wrap or packing peanuts is useful. For maximum cushioning require for the heaviest objects, air pillows works as a great solution to lessen any would be impacts.
Foam sheets work great when using in conjunction with other packing materials.
Air pillows and packing peanuts work best when used as void fillers.
Double walled and triple walled boxes provide incredible strength, robustness, sturdiness, and protection.
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