Getting to Know Specialty Mover's Boxes

Mover's boxes come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Most people are familiar with the normal everyday box sizes such as small, medium, large, and extra large. These boxes are used for the majority of household good such as books, records, tapes, weights, toys, packaged foods, clothes, shoes, and many general household items and tools. However there are specialty boxes designed for specific items that most moving companies carry and use and we are going to shed some light on what they are and what they are used for.

There are a lot of common specialty mover's boxes such as: dish packs, picture cartons, lamp cartons, wardrobes, and mattress cartons. There are also the more unusual specialty cartons such as grandfather clock cartons, office file cartons or totes, electronics boxes, TV boxes, and couch boxes.

On the top of the common specialty box list is the Dish Barrel, or Dish Pack. The name barrel refers to the "old" days, when actual wooden barrels were used to transport dishes and such. These cartons are usually cut to 18" x18" x 27" for a total space of 5 cu ft. They are designed to hold china or kitchen glassware -- plates, saucers, platters, coffee cups, stemware, and any other glassware or fragile items you wish to pack in them. They are double walled boxes for extra protection. You may also purchase cell dividers which will allow you to compartmentalize items for greater protection.

Wardrobes are another specialty box. These generally come in two sizes, 20" x 18" x 48" or 24" x 20 x 48, and have a hanger bar for hanging clothes. These are like a portable closet. The can also be for shipping drapes and curtains, and also are great for consolidating hand tools. Lay down wardrobes are occasionally used, especially for international shipments. These wardrobes have no bar, and the clothes are just laid flat in them. This is a space saver.

Mattress cartons generally come in two sizes, single or queen/king. The single is one piece, and the mattresses just slide right in, while the king/queen is two pieces and they slide over each end and are taped together.

And of course let's not forget the picture cartons. Some picture cartons are one piece and sized to fit specific cartons. Others come in adjustable parts that slip down over the picture and then are secured together with tape. These are the most versatile, since they can be adjusted to fit most any picture.

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