Cardboard boxes for vinyl storage/moving

I wonder of any of you guys can help. I am looking for some boxes to pack up a lot of my collection. Price isnt too much of a problem, im more concerned about getting what i need...ie convenience and protection.

Are there are boxes that allow the plastic covers to be left on? The 12"x 12" boxes i sometimes see advertised must surely be too tight to fit anything other than a standard LP and without covers? It would take a huge amount of time to remove covers off around 500 LPs so id rather leave the PVC type covers on if possible.

Should i be looking at 13"x 13" boxes or even bigger? Any recommendations also would be welcome....in the UK. Any other advice would be appreciated!

Just to reiterate, im talking about the protective plastic covers on my records, not the actual covers. Id rather have enough room to accomodate everything as it is within any storage box. What do you think?

 

This might work:

https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Boxes/Standard-Sized-Moving-Boxes/Small-Moving-Box?id=3245

 

I agree those look good. You don't want anything that would be to heavy.

 

My brother uses a number of these for storage, they seem decent and can - from memory - accommodate LPs in plastic sleeves too. He has them stacked in a spare room about 4 or 5 boxes high:

Really Useful Storage Box 35 Litre XL - Plastic Boxes - Storage Boxes - Office Supplies »

edit: sorry, stupidly missed the requirement for cardboard!

 

Yep! I used these for a cross-country move. These are the best boxes I've ever bought.

 

No this looks good actually...

 

They very good for records. Just make make sure you buy the ones with the XL lid as pictured in the Rymans link. If you get the normal lid it won't close. They're a good fit width wise so you don't have to worry about your records moving from side to side. I used a few when I moved my collection from the UK back to Canada. I still have the boxes. You can't buy the XL size here in Canada though.

You can also buy them direct Really Useful Products Ltd - Welcome - Buy Online Now! » but that Rymans price is better. 2 for £22. Good deal.

 

Cool, glad you found a solution. I didn't realize until later that you are in the UK where the U-Haul stuff is probably not an option.

 

I clicked on the link, then 10 minutes later got an email (how the hell did they get my email address) to come back and complete my order. WTF?
Never even started an order. Didn't even click on anything on the page. Opened it, then closed it.

 

If you're looking for 'keepers', by all means buy good quality boxes. But to anyone looking to just make a quick move here's my solution; liquor stores stock their shelves on a weekly basis and throw away the boxes. Oddly enough, more often than not, the boxes are just the right size for LP's! I've found the stores are usually more than happy to give them away!

 

Yep, must be a new program that can track you and does. I have received an unsolicited reply with a 10% or more coupon attached as an inducement to complete my order from various sites I visit only to price check.
BTW, I love those white boxes with lids & cutout handles made for LP storage, but damn, they are expensive & no one here in So Cal carries them over the counter. Shipping these knocked down cases sometimes cost more than the actual cases themselves.

 

I've used U-Haul boxes and they are terrific. They also have some decent selections at Lowes & Home Depot but I think U-Haul was cheaper. Not sure if any of those are options in Britain though.
When packing albums in any box, I am sure to check that they are all standing up straight with no "lean" but not crammed in so tight you can't pull an album out of the middle of the box without 3 or 4 others tagging along.
Another suggestion would be to pack some crumbled up newspaper or bubble wrap between the top of the albums and the bottom of the box lid. That way they have a bit of cushion from other boxes being stacked on top.

 

Hello!

First time posting....

I found this site via Google search while researching the effects of heat on vinyl while moving across country. I found my answer!!

Now I would like to share some....

Mobil 1 Oil comes in gallon jugs. The boxes that these are shipped in are absolutely perfect for vinyl. Perfect fit, thick walls, handles, and manageable!! If you stop by any auto parts store, quick lube or big box store you will find them.

 

Try your wine and spirit shop. The boxes come in a variety of sizes, are sturdy and best of all...free. 'Round here, its best to hit 'em up a day or 2 before recycling as that's when you'll find the best selection - take a record with you to check the fit.

 

Thanks for this, I just ordered 10. Should be the perfect amount, as I plan to take full boxes to the new place, unpack them, then return to the old place, and refill.
Since I'll have 60 days to accomplish the entire move, this plan should work out fine.

I too, have all my records in outer bags, so I'm really happy that someone else addressed this, since I hadn't thought about it yet.

 

Might I suggest you be sure to number your boxes V1 through V10. That way they are not only organized for unpacking, but the simple “V” allows you to know what the contents are but passers by and neighbors won’t know.

 

One of the challenges of moving Lps and other 12" records is the "protection from crush" factor, as well as "light enough to lift easily".

In Australia there's a completely free way of going about this - all it takes is some visits to the local fruit and vegetable shop. I have used this method to great success, sometimes unpacking albums more than 10 years later - and still in the condition I packed them in.

For each box one needs three parts:

Two trays and one box:



The boxes are the standard size box used to deliver apples, pear (or in a slightly different construction) bananas.
The trays are the trays that come in the apple or pear boxes are are often used by the store to display the fruit.
If you ask nicely your store person will provide trays that are unsoiled or marked.

Each box will hold about 50 albums.

* Take two polyethylene bags and put half the albums in one and half in the other. A large oversize bag that can be folded down works well.
* Lay flat on the bottom part of the box, centred left to right .with openings facing the box edge they're almost touching. (Face the second bag the opposite way - to face the other edge) The albums will fit snugly, but not tightly from one side to the other. There will be about 5"-6" (130mm -155mm) at either end when centred.
* Take one tray and roll it up (lengthways)
* Fold it over at two spots, so the central part of the rolled up length is the same width as the width of the box (about 13").
* Place this rolled up tray at one end of the box between the records and the box end - the flat side of the roll against the albums, the ends against the box.
* Do the same for the other end.
* Put the lid on the box, flip over and tape tightly the top to the bottom. IF the box has any protruding cardboard joins tape these over as well.
* Stand upright, draw large arrows pointing up on all 4 sides, and label as you see appropriate.

Being made of softish cardboard the rolls will not cause any damage to the records, which are protected by a large plastic bag, as well as any individual bags for each record.
As they are transported and stored upright, each box provides no stress to the records in the box, or any in boxes below. All records are suspended in the boxes - the rolled and folded cardboard trays acting as springs. Over time (say a few years), the boxes may crush a little depending on how many layers*, though if they have been stored upright, the records inside will remain as you stored them.

I've found four layers (about 7' / 210mm) to be a practical max.

 

LPs are heavy so cardboard doesn't make them lighter and far less rigid and strong than Really Useful boxes. The only really strong cardboard I have encountered that works for LPs are the boxes Amazon supply for their groceries done in association with Morrisons. Absolute contrast to their normal packaging. Really Useful won't accommodate a small number of oversize record sleeves or most box sets so an oversize box with packing is advisable or their 48L size. For moving valuable Lps the Really Useful boxes are a no brainer and can be made pretty much waterproof.

 

Maybe my son and I are just being overly-protective, but when he lifted one of these by the handles, only about 7/8 full of albums, the cardboard surrounding the open handles, began to rip !
Now I'm only filling them about 3/4 full, and plan on using a two wheeler / handtrucks as much as possible, being as careful as humanly possible.

Each time I grab a handful of albums, I'm reminded how my 54 year-old collection has improved even more since 2010, because of this forum.
The BEST original versions, + some of the most expensive reissues, I pray this is my last time moving these !!!!

 

Mine were completely filled so I couldn't use the handles anyway, but I wouldn't use them regardless. I double-tape them on the bottom and pick them up to place on a handcart or trolley.

 

To add to this: Most liquor stores get their deliveries on Wednesdays, so Thursday would be perfect. 750ml wine bottle boxes are the perfect size.

 

It's only because those in those moving boxes liquor bottles can easily be stored and moved.

 

Bags Unlimited Ultra Box LP boxes are the very best. I've used them for decades and they are still great and not one LP damaged in multiple moves. They are made of corrugated plastic and can be stacked with no crushing.

 

Any good quality 14 inch square box would be large enough. Walmart carries moving boxes here in the USA, std and double thickness heavy duty. I suggest stiffeners for the bottom and ends. The stiffener on the bottom protects the album corners, no flexation of the box, and also on the ends to keep the albums from bowing... which can cause warping. I have employed two different materials, 1/2 inch hard board (adds weight) or 1 inch stiff insulation (very light) which does not bend. The stiff insulation panels cut easily with a single edge razor (always exercise caution) or a fine blade saw. I have stacked my 14 inch square boxes up to 4 high without any bending or settling.

Stiffener dimensions for 14 inch cubical box:
bottom stiffener: 13.75 x 13.75 inches
end stiffeners: 13.75 x 12.75 inches
optional stiff spacer for next layer of boxes (up to 4 high) for stability, three boxes in a row: 14.0 x 42.5 inches, and strap boxes together.

The stiffeners are extra time and trouble, but your records will survive the move without any damage. These boxes can be used (stacked safely) for longer term storage.

 

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