Not sure if anyone mentioned this, as I read through this thread quickly...I get my boxes from BJ-s..On certain days they seem to have just the type I need in good quantity...And for packing Styrofoam, you can't beat the back of a PIER 1 store...All those imported treasures are protected with Styrofoam in 1/2 to 2 inch sheets of all sizes...
Minor problem is that the management is always wary about strangers hanging out in back for fear that some employees might be giving away the house, but with a little explaining, and making your visits fast, I have overcome that...
I notice that on certain days they get shipments, and you will have to learn that schedule for yourself...

Carpet padding is OK for some stuff but its HEAVY... It will add a lot of cost to your shipping. Upholstery foam is better but expensive unless you have a source for used or discarded pcs.

LARGE CELL BUBBLE WRAP can NOT be beat for overall packing. A large roll of it runs about $40 from the wholesale packing suppliers (look under packing in your local or on-line yellow pages). Wrap anything 5-6 times around with it.

If shipping a large or extra fragile or heavy radio, say a box over 50lbs or larger than 24" on any side, consider using Greyhound Bus. Main drawback is the recipient must get to a station nearest them and get the item.

NEVER, EVER ship a radio in a box of peanuts. It will shift to one side and be damaged for sure.
You can use them to add to other packing material, or for smaller items that do not weigh much, or for around a double boxed item. They are otherwise a great nuisance to home based businesses as getting items out of a larger box filled with them is a pain, they fly everywhere and have static cling so they attach to everything too. HATE THEM.

Mark Oppat
www.oldradioparts.net

Wal-Mart! I know they recycle but if you ask them they will save a shopping cart full of boxes for you. The last time I moved they gave me over 200 first class boxes. Anytime I need to ship something I tell them the approximate dimensions and they always seem to come up with an appropriate box.

HTH

Bill

Hospitals are loaded with Boxes.
Vin

I gotta ask.

Is this carpet padding new or used? If it's used then it's probably gonna be filthy. I installed carpet years ago and the worst part of the job was handling that nasty used carpet padding. Everything that's ever been on the carpet ends up in that foam pad. Vomit, pee, dirt etc. Makes my skin crawl just to think about it.

New remnant pieces is what I pick up. Even the very small pieces are useful for small boxes.

Packing peanuts have a bad rap because of all the inexperienced packers out there. If you use them RiGHT, you can use them for anything. I've shipped fragile 20lb+ cast iron motors across the U.S. in packing peanuts. Zero problems.

Packing peanuts are ok ONLY for items with large size to weight ratio. Also needs to not be a narrow, thin or pointy object. I can only imagine them working for Nick's 20 lb motors if the boxes were fairly small and the peanuts really packed tight. Not the best scenario but it might be ok.
Otherwise, a heavy item will always shift thru the peanuts to the bottom of the box and the item will be damaged. I have seen it many times.
Large cell bubble wrap traps the air cushion around the item and keeps it where you want it. The ONLY drawback to it is cost, its more than the crappy peanuts.
Peanuts make a mess of anywhere a large box of them is sent. I HATE them, and try to get rid of them in smaller boxes as soon as I get them. I can understand (and will use them) in smaller boxes, with lighter weight items. But, I still HATE them !

Mark Oppat
www.oldradioparts.net

Packing peanuts should be outlawed, especially white peanuts. They are lousy for most types of packing, bad for the environment, and they get a static charge and stick to everything from your cat to your couch. They absorb odors and don't protect anything unless it weighs less than 5 pounds and is large.

I have great luck with the bio-hazard boxes. UPS is very careful with them!

Carpet padding is a HEAVY option to ship and old padding is, well old.
Paper boxes from a law office work good.

After years of having stuff shipped to me, I think I've seen every possible way it can be done, including many ways I'd have never dreamed of. I agree with Mark completely, the large-cell bubble wrap is best by far.

Larry

You can even get SMall and Large Cell Bubble wrap at Home Depot (probably Lowes has it too) also they sell moving boxes. While there, get some of the cardboard trays that cans of paint sit in on the shelves. they have both 4 gallon and 4 or 6 pint can trays. FREE, and they make nice storage for your shop. The gallon ones hold miniature tubes standing up.

MarkOppat
http://www.oldradioparts.net

If you're near a university or college, the research buildings usually have a wide variety of cardboard boxes that the housekeeping staff sets out for recycling in the late afternoon/early evening.