Everyone knows that moving can take a lot of work. During the whole moving process, packing might be the hardest part yet. Now imagine you need to pack something unusual, big and heavy, but fragile at the same time. This is what packing musical instruments for transport feels like to piano movers Manhattan. There are all the things you need to take into account like when you pack regularly. However, there are even more things you need to be careful of now. The instruments can be a fragile thing. You need constant care, safety measures, and temperature control to keep them in good conditions. In this article, find out how to prepare your instruments for transport.
Packing brass and woodwind musical instruments
For those who don’t know, brass instruments are things like horns and trumpets, while woodwind ones are flutes, saxophones, and other similar instruments. Even though there is a difference in the way these instruments produce music, packing and transporting them consist of similar, or identical, steps.
When it comes to brass and woodwind instruments, the rules are simple. The first thing you will need to do is completely take them apart. Now, you should also have a hard case for these parts. The case will make it easy to transport them since it is sturdy. It will protect the instruments from stronger impacts, and keep them safe from other damage as well. They are also usually designed in a way to keep these parts in place, so you will know that they won’t jump around during transport.
However, if you do not have a case for these, there are still things you can do. You will want to wrap each piece individually with bubble wrap. This is there to protect them from impacts. Moreso, it will also stop them from bumping into each other as well. Then, all packing services Manhattan will tell you that you should use a box should be big enough to have a layer of protection on the bottom and the top of the parts. You can use inflatable cushions, towels or packing peanuts for this. Just put 6-inch layers on the bottom and the top of the box, to keep these items from spilling out or being damaged by other boxes.
Another thing to remember is that if you are using packing peanuts, you should seal the bubble wrap with the tape. If you don’t, there is a chance that a peanut can get inside an instrument and damage it that way.
Packing stringed instruments
These are your guitars, cellos, harps and other instruments. Unlike brass and woodwind ones, when packing musical instruments for transport that are from the string group, you will need to put in more care. The first thing you want to do is loosen the strings. This way, they will not snap during transport. Also, if your instrument has keys, make sure you turn them parallel with the headstock so they don’t break off.
One same thing between stringed and woodwind or brass instruments is the hard case. If you have it, you will obviously want to transport your instrument inside of it. However, here, you need to use something to stop the instrument from shaking within the case. You can use crumpled paper for this. Pay special attention to securing the headstock. Also, you should not use shredded paper or packing peanuts – they can get inside some stringed instruments as well.
Packing musical instruments for transport if you do not have a hard case
Again, if you don’t have the hard case, you will need to use various different methods of packing musical instruments for transport. If you are looking for cheap moving, then you should get a lot of plastic to wrap your instrument in it. You can use things like garbage bags or dry cleaning ones. Then, seal the bag and wrap the instrument in bubble wrap for added protection. This also ensures no water will get to the instrument even if there is rain, or someone drops the box in a puddle.
Finally, the box for packing musical instruments for transport needs to be a bit bigger than the instrument itself. Just like before, you will need to put some protective material, like packing peanuts, around the whole instrument. They will protect the instrument from bumps and shakes. You can search for an appropriate box in your local music store. Just remember to mark what side of the box needs to go up.
Packing drums
When it comes to drums, you will need a bigger box. Go for one that is a couple of inches (2-4 inches are enough) larger than the drum itself. This way, you will be able to add stuffing to protect your drum. First, you need to disassemble your drums. Remove their heads and rims, and then nest them inside one another. Small pieces of hardware – like tension rods – need to go in a separate bag. Remember to seal this bag shut so something doesn’t fall out during transport. When packing spurs, legs and similar equipment, use a lot of bubble wrap or similar protective material.
Packing musical instruments for transport with the help of local movers
As you might have noticed, there are a lot of things you need to think about when packing musical instruments for transport. Every type of instrument is different, and every instrument within these groups is different as well. You need to be very careful when packing them and transporting them since instruments aren’t easy to repair. Because of this, you might be under a lot of stress during the move. Luckily, there is something you can do.
You can always count on your professional movers when it comes to packing musical instruments for transport. They have a lot of experience, and – if you do not have a case – they will have the proper equipment to pack your instruments up. This is why relying on them when it comes to packing is useful. While they pack you up, you can focus on other tasks. This way, you will reduce stress and make your move fast and easier.
