PacKing Tip: This is the most important box in any move that contains valuable breakables. Due to its double walled structure, the Dish/China Box is the strongest professional moving box. It is also the box that lays the foundation in the truck. Remember, every void in a moving truck is filled as this is, of course, part of the fixed cost of the move. Yes, many items are stacked & the China Box also known as the Dish Box or Kitchen China Box, is the foundation box when packing the truck - that is why it is double walled!

 

1.The first step in preparing this size of box for shipping is to tape the bottom seam of the box.

a. Please do not skimp on tape; once a box opens, the damage can be significant.

b. we make sure to at least double tape the bottom seam (that is if you cross tape the bottom as well).

Note: If you are not cross-taping (the other direction as seam); then you should use 3 strips of tape over the seam. In our PacKing.com shipping department, we use the same tape we sell to our customers and we tape each seam 2 times & then across the seam at 2-3 times & then all the way around the box to keep the tape from popping up in transit due to heat, humidity and/or rubbing against other objects. If you were to go to USPS, FedEX or UPS to pack your box you would find that they use this same technique when packing heavy boxes with valuable breakables. 

c. Once you have the bottom sealed, you start to build a "nest" of paper on the bottom. Take one sheet at a time to make sure you get the most cushioning possible from each sheet. What you want is to protect anything on the bottom from breakage due to sharp pressure, such as in a drop of the box and/or from an object pressuring the box from the top or from below.

 

An Imprortant NOTE: you cannot secure your valuables in any box unless each object is completely wrapped in paper (or other protective material, i.e., foam, bubble wrap or corrugated bubble) and ALL voids are filled well; over the years we have found that most people do not purchase enough paper & end up having to purchase more as they move along the packing process.

 

Rule of Thumb for Packing Paper: the average kitchen with more than one set of glass ware and dishes (the every-day set and the casual dinner party set  & the "wedding" set for the fancy parties) will require at least 10 pounds of paper and you can estimate another 3-5 pounds per room for all of your breakables and scratchables. If you are a collector and/or pack rat (use the higher side of the range)

 

Rule of Thumb for Tape: one roll of 110ft tape per room -remember everything that is wrapped with paper or other protective material, should be taped as well so the protective material stays in place & the object remains fully protected in transit. Then add no less than 3 rolls of tape for an average kitchen. Back to the packing process:

 

d. Once the nest is laid on the bottom and, if you are not using a dish box cell kit, then you will prepare small vertical stacks of your breakable dishes first:

a. taking 2-3 dishes at a time, wrapping each one (or using a foam sheets) & then set them down in the center of a few sheets of packing paper

b. roll the paper around, once or twice (depending on the size of dishes you are rolling) while tucking in the sides as you roll over the last pass & tape shut.

c. By creating these smaller tight packages, you have added to the strength of the more fragile dish by making it into a thicker less fragile small set.

d. ALLWAYS stack dishes vertically as they are less likely to break due to any pressure this way.

 

NOTE: the use of dish pack cell kits that are made for the dish box creates a much stronger interior structure of walls that further reduces voids to fill & reduces the likelihood of any impact causing breakage.

 

You can also purchase dish and glass pack kits that contain the foam pouches that you can use for each dish. These also each contain a cell kit that can be used for the small moving box.