General Woodworking

[harry_rutland]

Hi all--

We are trying to take advantage of the current real estate market to upscale from our condo to an actual house. The condo has sold quickly, but now I'm faced with packing up my garage workshop to move it, and my biggest problem is...how do I "pack" all my wood? Short pieces, long pieces, wide, narrow...how can I try to consolidate it into a more easily carry-able mess?

Now, I've just started at woodworking, and it's not like I have hundreds of board feet laying around, but I think it's enough that I want to keep that investment and take it with me. Does anybody have past experience or wisdom or suggestions?

If I can't come up with something, I just know I'm gonna have to battle my wife over this, and I always lose those....

Thanks,

Eric

[MSWOODcraft]

My best suggestion would be to build a few stackable crates, akin to the big long boxes that clamps come in.

A few feet of 1X material, matched with some ugly 3/8" ply from the big-box store and you have the ability to make knockdown crates to haul the wood.     Use the 1X material for the corners, screw the ply to that, and add in cross-reinforcing 1X material at the bottom to elevate it up off the floor and permit you to be able to lift the boxes.

Then let the movers move them!

[JL North GA]

It depends on how long your pieces are.  Short pieces are easy - do as Matt suggested - put them in crates.

Long pieces - rope them together - or use LOTS of blue painters tape (just make sure you remove the tape in a week or two).

Try moving this stack

Alternatively, rent a pick up truck.  Throw it all in the back and sort when you arrive at the destination.  That also works.

[rph816]

I'd check out your local movers place and get some shrink wrap (it's like saran wrap on 'roids).  Get a big long piece of lumber and stack the short and narrow on top and wrap the whole thing.  You get some good tension and moisture/humidity control as well.  packages might be a little heavy but they'd stick together.  This is how I've recieved some exotics when I've had them shipped and it seems to work very well.  Good luck.  I recently moved and had 2 16' stock trailers and 2 loads on my 5x10 trailer of "shop stuff."  It's a pain but hopefully you'll get more work space.

Ryan

[firejohn]

Unless you're moving cross country, just rent a trailer or truck (HD has stake trucks for rent) and haul it to the new digs yourself.  If you're using a moving company, talk to them.  It is part of your household goods and they should be able to accommodate it.

[Jimca]

I'd like to second the shrink film idea.  That stuff is great.  My brother uses it to transport covered dishes in the car during the Holidays!

[Sawdustr]

Hello Eric,

First of all Welcome to the best woodworking forums on the internet and we hope you will continue coming back even after the move.

Now in regard to the move; Are you talking long distance or just across town?

The latter would be a piece of cake because all you have to do is crate as the others have mentioned and then use casters under the load use a ramp and load them in a trailer or a U haul truck.

However if you are shipping long distance let the movers handle it as it will save a lot of headaches as well as insurance against damage. The extra cost will be well worth it.

[Sawdustr]

Hello Again Eric,

I just re-read your post and since the wood is loose simply rent a trailer long enough to handle the longest boards you have and start filling with the longer pieces on the floor and everything on top of them. Even if you have to make several trips it will also be worth the trouble.

[TNT Sr]

Howdy and welcome Harry -

Again, alot depends on the pieces and lengths and such.  I was able to get most of mine in a wardrobe box.  They're taller than regular boxes and a little more sturdier.  We found a couple after someone else had moved in and we were moving out. 

Troy

[Michaels Woodworking]

I know what a hassle that can be - I've moved my shop twice in the last 5.5 years!

My suggestion is to move all the equipment first and get it in place (or as close as possible). Then just load all the wood in the back of a pick-up and bring it to your new place. Personally, I wouldn't spend a lot of time making boxes to hold the wood - you have enough on your plate just moving!