Summer is a great time to be enjoy the outdoors. It is also the best time if you are relocating from one place to another though it has it’s own challenges as well. Whether you are moving down the street or across the country, moving is one of the most stressful time. Making sure you properly pack your vinyl records for moving is crucial to keep them intact. In this blog post, I’ll discuss some of the ways you can pack and move your record collection.
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Checklist for moving your record collection
Before diving into what you need to do for moving your collection, here is a checklist of the items you will need to ensure you can pack you records and get them ready for the move.
- Moving Boxes – at least 12 5/8″ x 12 5/8″ x 12 5/8″
- Poly Inner sleeve
- Plastic Outer sleeve
- Duct Tape
- Bubble wrap, Styrofoam or newspaper
- Fragile adhesive stickers
Download Free Printable Vinyl Records Move Checklist
Catalog your collection
The very first step to moving your record collection is cataloging them. Whether you have a large collection or small, it is always beneficial to document them. You can save them by artist or genre or whatever you are comfortable with. You could also use an app like MusicBuddy or Discogs or my Vinyl Record Excel Template which will automatically categorize it for you. Cataloging will ensure that your entire collection is moved intact to it’s new destination.
Prepare records for shipping
Now that you have your catalog ready, it’s time to start prepping for moving the records. Take the records out from the jacket and store them in poly inner sleeves. Keeping the records out of the jacket will prevent the ugly depressed ring on the jacket. The sleeve will also prevent it from gathering dust and static and prevent scuffing. Next, store the jackets in plastic outer sleeve separately to protect it from rubbing against each other while storing. This way both the record and jacket are protect from damage.
Shipping boxes for vinyl records
The perfect boxes to move vinyl records need to be at least 14 inch x 14 inch x 14 inch in size leaving enough space to store the record and packing around it. U-Haul’s small moving boxes are perfect for storing vinyl records and can store about 80 – 100 records per box. Use bubble wrap, Styrofoam or newspaper to pack the records so that they do not move. The records needs to be stored upright (not like pancakes). Make sure to tape the boxes using duct tape and label them. Ensure not to stack more than 2 boxes over each other and mark them with “This side up” so they are stacked properly.
Keep your records cool
Lastly, if you plan to move your record collection cross country driving in a car or truck, it is very important to keep your records in a cool place. Avoid putting the box in the trunk or where it would be exposed directly to the Sun. Prevent heat and directly sunlight at all times. Direct exposure to sun and heat will warp the records and damage them. Best is to store the records under a blanket in an air-conditioned vehicle during the move or use a storage box like Vaultz Vinyl Storage Box to hold the records
Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Share some of your tips and tricks when you moved your record collection in the comments below.
