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packing materials

updated wed 17 dec 03

 

Christopher J. Anton on fri 18 dec 98

One of my favorite packing materials is popcorn, unbuttered and unsalted. =
It's
cheap, easy to find/prepare, and
when the package is opened (or if there is left over packing material) the =
birds
and squirrels think it's great. What has worked best for me is using small
recyclable/reusable bags packed tightly with popcorn and taped closed. This
keeps the packing material from shifting away from the pot.

- Chris Anton

- I am a figment of my own imagination,
and one of these days I'll cease imagining myself=21

antons=40bellsouth.net

Milton Markey on mon 21 dec 98

In a message dated 12/18/98 6:02:57 AM PST, antons@bellsouth.net (Chris)
writes:

> One of my favorite packing materials is popcorn, unbuttered and unsalted.
It'
> s
> cheap, easy to find/prepare, and
> when the package is opened (or if there is left over packing material) the
> birds
> and squirrels think it's great.

To which I add: So do mice, rats, ants, and the bigger animals seeking rodents
and insects as prey! While this might be a great packing material in
some locations, out here in the "wilds," popcorn used in this manner might
attract unwanted critters to mingle with one's delicate pottery! The best and
cheapest packing material is wadded newspaper. One can wrap ceramic ware in
several layers of newspapers, then surround the item with tighly wadded
"balls" of newspaper, once the ware is placed in the center of the box. Almost
everybody has a stack of old newspapers, or can refer you to someone who does.

Another resource for packing material I've used: plastic grocery bags. This is
a lightweight substitution for newspaper. Providing that the ceramic item
isn't bigger than the bag itself, one can insert the item into several
"layers" of bags, then surround the item with wadded bags, once the item is
centered in the box.

Note that much of my work is under 18", and is quite suitable for wrapping,
using either newspaper or plastic bags. Low-fire and other delicate ware might
require better protection than the high-fire items I usually wrap. In
addition, ink from the newspaper may smear on unglazed (particularly low-fire)
surfaces.

Milton MiltonsLin@AOL.COM

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE MOJAVE!

Ross Hartman on tue 22 dec 98



Milton Markey wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> The best and
> cheapest packing material is wadded newspaper. One can wrap ceramic ware in
> several layers of newspapers, then surround the item with tighly wadded
> "balls" of newspaper, once the ware is placed in the center of the box. Almost
> everybody has a stack of old newspapers, or can refer you to someone who does.

TWIMC:

I have been watching this thread recently and I wanted to toss in my $0.02 worth
I had the experience when I was younger to manage a ceramic decorative accesorie
manufacturing business. While I realize that packing whiteware is probably
different than packing stoneware..

What we determined after testing practically every conceivable material (we were
shipping $10K..20K per week) that newspaper is superior. We found less returns
and complaints from breakage with good newspaper packing techniques than any
other combination of materials. Plus it was less expensive. We did use a combo o
sheet wrapping individual pieces and stuffing the box with shredded newspapers,
but shredded newspaper is still pretty cheap compared to all the plastic foams,
bubble wraps, microfoams, peanuts, etc.

Hope this helps..


L8R/Ross

John Rodgers on mon 15 dec 03


Another good packing material is sawdust. Not the fine stuff, but the
really coarse stuff that comes from ripping long boards from logs. Some
of the chips are 1/2-3/4 inches long. Once a pot is surrounded by that
stuff, it ain't going nowhere!!!

John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL

Weiland, Jeff wrote:

>The end-rolls of newsprint are good stuff, but pretty wimpy when you are wanting a bit more "protection". In the town where I teach is a Fasson/Avery Dennison plant that produces adhesive-backed paper products. I have befriended the Assistant Manager and can get a truckload of heavy weight paper every day if I chose. Works great for packing and without the newsprint ink problems. This last summer, He just about killed my '87 pickup with a forklift load of rolls. My point? Check around your area and don't be afraid to dumpster-dive. I am also able to get large rolls of the adhesive paper that I use for endless labeling in my classroom/studio. If any of you are in the Indianapolis area and want some free paper, let me know and I can get all you want...FREE. It comes in 7' lengths and can be cut down to any size with a skill saw. Good stuff!!
>
>Jeff Weiland
>Greenfield-Central High School
>810 North Broadway
>Greenfield, Indiana 46140
>317-462-9211
>jweiland@gcsc.k12.in.us
>
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Weiland, Jeff on mon 15 dec 03


The end-rolls of newsprint are good stuff, but pretty wimpy when you are =
wanting a bit more "protection". In the town where I teach is a =
Fasson/Avery Dennison plant that produces adhesive-backed paper =
products. I have befriended the Assistant Manager and can get a =
truckload of heavy weight paper every day if I chose. Works great for =
packing and without the newsprint ink problems. This last summer, He =
just about killed my '87 pickup with a forklift load of rolls. My =
point? Check around your area and don't be afraid to dumpster-dive. I =
am also able to get large rolls of the adhesive paper that I use for =
endless labeling in my classroom/studio. If any of you are in the =
Indianapolis area and want some free paper, let me know and I can get =
all you want...FREE. It comes in 7' lengths and can be cut down to any =
size with a skill saw. Good stuff!!

Jeff Weiland
Greenfield-Central High School
810 North Broadway
Greenfield, Indiana 46140
317-462-9211
jweiland@gcsc.k12.in.us