Packing CI for a move???

[Claudia Killebrew]

I understand the importance of double boxing with lots of padding for shipping/mailing a piece of cast iron, but what is the best/safest way to pack for a move?

Hubby and I are planning to move from FL to MD in the next few months, and I would like all my cast iron to arrive in one piece. How much and what kind of packing? How many pieces to a box? Anything else I'm forgetting? Any first hand experiences you want to share?

[Mark Zizzi]

I would think a single box with bubble wrap between any nested pieces, tape tightly around so it stays, and more top, bottom and sides so there is no movement inside the box. You could even cut more cardboard and slip it down inside where a handle or other protuberance could possibly poke through. Label it fragile and tell your mover in person to handle it carefully. I'm assuming you will be using a moving service?

[Dwayne Henson]

My tip would be not to many in a box. Think small boxes. Somebody has to lift those things!

[Corinne Wetzel]

Ditto to what the others said. I've had several international moves with professional packers and CI. My collection then was smaller--just modern Lodge items for scouting and cooking--but I learned a few things:
--Packers don't always have the good sense not to combine items in a box that shouldn't be combined, like a CI skillet and a ceramic bowl (voice of experience here--bad experience).
--a #12 Lodge DO with lid is enough for one box. Don't overload.
--if boxes are too heavy, the packers unloading will sometimes drop them jarringly to the floor
--pack the items you really care about yourself. No one will be as careful as you are.

I've seen some amazingly good prof packers and some that had no clue. If they send 4 guys and you're there alone, you can't watch them all, so be sure you're organized when they walk in the door.

This is more advice than you asked for, but figured I'd share. This was my life for a lot of years. Husband is now retired from Foreign Service and now we're staying in one place and I can buy all the heavy stuff (CI) I want!   [smiley=25.gif]

[Claudia Killebrew]

Thanks for the suggestions. I plan on packing some of my stuff myself, including the CI, but letting the movers get it all in the truck.

Corinne, no, it is not more advice than I asked for. I like your voice of experience. I only had one big move and that was over 30 years ago, so the memory has faded somewhat. It was also really my parents move with me along in tow. LOL

[C. B. Williams]

I got to ask. FL to MD ??? why? I like the other direction.  :-/

[Claudia Killebrew]

I got to ask. FL to MD ??? why? I like the other direction.  :-/

LOL! I have to say I like my direction better. Been here in Flori-duh for 30+ years and hated every minute. Yes, I'd rather deal with snow than worrying if I'll be blown away in a hurricane.

The main reason though is that since my father died last Thanksgiving, I have no family left to keep me here, while Hubby's family all lives in MD. And we both miss the four seasons, snow and all.

[Karen Kale]

I got to ask. FL to MD ??? why? I like the other direction.  :-/

That's what I was wondering!  ;D

Seriously, I'm very sorry about your father. Moving closer to other family members is the best reason I know of for making a move.

And, as much as I joke about the horrible weather up here, I would miss the four seasons too.

I actually have been thinking about this question recently, as I am contemplating a move myself. I began collecting (accumulating?) CI after my last move, so I can't speak from CI moving experience, but my previous moving experiences have taught me a few things in general that I've been keeping in mind for myself.

In addition to Corrine's great advice, I would also recommend:

- Taking your favorite/most valuable pieces in the cars with you (assuming you're driving your cars back).

- VERY clearly labeling your boxes Fragile (amazingly, my movers have actually heeded that warning).

- Packing in the smallest boxes possible to adequately protect each piece. For me, one piece per box is ideal, though that may not be reasonable. As Corrine mentioned, you run the risk of movers just dropping the boxes when you pack too heavy, but with large boxes you also risk the movers using them as a base layer in the truck, where they could be crushed by heavier things above if there's shifting during the trip. I prefer to put fragile things in small boxes, so they end up higher up in the truck when the movers are playing truck packing tetris.

Maybe these things are obvious, but wanted to throw them out there. I hope the move goes well, good luck!

[Roger Barfield]

Claudia, I moved twice in one year.  I used banana boxes and plastic tubs.  I padded the hell out of the bottom and put a layer of small bubble wrap in between each skillet and filled the box and padded the sides and top.  Dutch ovens and such were stacked inside of each other with one layer of bubble wrap between each piece and wadded up bubble wrap and news papers to fill in the gaps.  I tried to put cast iron boxes on top of a layer of other boxes so they wouldn't be on the floor.  We used pods and moving trucks.  I really don't wan to ever do that again. :D  I have too much iron. ::)

[Mark Zizzi]

I can think of one season I wouldn't miss. January, February and March! A white Xmas is nice but that's about it.  [smiley=kodama.gif]

[Claudia Killebrew]

Roger, I like the plastic tub idea. I was also thinking that I could wrap/pad the CI with towels, sheets, clothes. Kill two birds with one stone in a way.

Karen, I was thinking about taking as much as I could in the cars. Not only for protection from damage and possible loss or theft, but also it would be nice to be able to have something readily on hand to cook with once we get there.

[Bryce King]

If I were making such a move I would pack all the CI stuff myself.  I would put each piece in its own box per the directions found elsewhere on this site.  Then mark the boxes with what was in it and FRAGILE.  When I contract with the mover I would have an understanding, written if possible, that the treat the CI marked stuff like it was nitroglycerin! Would be there to make sure the CI is moved and packed per the agreement.  If possible I would be at the new home when the movers deliver and unpack the truck just to be sure that they do not screw things up. 

Many folks who are not into CI might figure that if they break it their insurance will cover it.  That might be true in a monetary sense but having a Erie Spider Loge ruined not only cost money but it destroys a great piece of history.