"Starting to pack up the collection!" Topic

So ti looks increasingly likely we'll be relocating. To get a head start I have started packing up the collections – no gaming anyway, so might as well. Here's my system:

All my miniatures are based on steel, and stored in 12x18 boxes lined with sheet magnet, like so (15mm Vikings):

To keep figures from sloshing about as movers trundle them on and off the truck, I'm filling each box with shredded paper. A bin of shreds on my small shredder fills about three of these boxes:

You want the box to give off no rattle at all when shaken.

Then I bought cases that are 13x19 by 12" deep from Uline.com They actually have creases so you can shorten them to various depths (if I'd thought about it more, I should have bought boxes that load from the side, not the top).

Pack a bunch of figures in the box, tape it up, and label it (fragile stickers also from Uline):

I estimated I'll need about 60 cases or so. So I ordered 50 to start. Terrain I store in heavy duty cardboard boxes anyway, so that I'll just top up with bubblewrap and hand it over.

Good luck, you'll need all you can get.

How far will you be moving?

I used the shredded paper over magnetized bases when I moved- it worked pretty well. No serious casualties.

I wouldn't let the movers touch them.

Best to do that yourself if you can.

Best of luck with the move.

+5 Thresher on moving by your hands only.

Thanks for the shredded paper tip. I'm moving across the country in 2 years, and will need that.

We are likely moving from IL to California. So the movers are doing all the listing, and I'll just have to take my chances.

Crispy, where in California are you landing at?

Assuming the job offer comes through I'll be living somewhere in the "Inland Empire"

A little bit south of me (300-350 miles) but we might cross at a convention at some point.

Might pass thru some day – my folks live in Novato, north of San Fran…

Just a little heads up: the shredded paper did leave a bit of "dust" behind. This sticks to some figure surfaces depending on texture.
If/when I do it again I would give the paper a shake out first and not tip the bottom of the bag/shredder bin in with it.

You might want to number those boxes, and/or seal them yourself, since in some moves, we've had valuable stuff go "missing" in the past. Usually, the really good stuff.

If looking for free, but very robust, boxes make contact with a shop that sells particulary good shirts. Italian shirts in particular.
They come packaged in pretty impressive boxes but the customers regularly don't take the box home so the shops always have loads going to the tip and are happy to give them away…at least round here (Leeds UK) they are!