When you’re preparing for a move, it’s not just your bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen that you need to pack. Your garage or shed is coming along too! And of course, you will need your tools for all the budget house remodeling you’re planning. But power tools are as dangerous as they are useful. Nobody knows this better than someone who uses them. It stands to reason that moving them can be dangerous too. That’s why packing your power tools properly is extremely important.
Getting rid of things
Moving is always a good time to go through all your stuff and reconsider whether you really still need everything. This goes for the things you find in your garage, tool shed or workshop too! There are two different types of things here that you shouldn’t pack for moving – tools you no longer need and things that you’re not allowed to move.
Tools you no longer need
Before you start packing your power tools, you should decide which ones are worth the trouble. Do you have unnecessary duplicates lying around, older models you’ve replaced, somewhat worse for wear items you’ve already upgraded? There’s no need to pack and move all of that!
A good rule of thumb is not to bring with you anything you haven’t used in the last year and don’t intend on using in the next six months. Be ruthless when making the decisions. Not only will you find it easier to pack and move, but you will also have no trouble organizing your garage once you’ve settled in. And remember, everything you regret leaving behind, you can always replace!
Non-allowables
Some things movers simply won’t move. Even top premium moving services Sudbury don’t include transporting items that are potentially dangerous to you, the workers, your other possessions or the environment. These usually include weapons, flammable, corrosive and explosive items, and poisons. In your garage or workshop, you may for example have:
- motor oil and antifreeze
- gasoline
- solvents
- pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, fertilizer
- propane tanks
- pool chemicals
- paints, stains, polishes, and paint thinners
- car batteries
- cleaning supplies
- lighter fluid, matches, candles, and lighters
All of these are considered too dangerous to move. If you can’t use them up, give them away or get rid of them safely.
Packing your tools for a move
There are different methods for packing your tools depending on the type of tools they are. The most important thing to think about is always how to do it safely. This means protecting both your tools from damage and the people handling them from injury. If you’re ever unsure about how to pack something or if you’re even allowed to take it on the road with you, always consult professional movers Ontario to be sure.
Preparing lawn equipment and other gas-powered tools
Did you see gasoline on that list of dangerous items up there? Well, gasoline is not just in the tanks you use to fill up your lawn mower – it’s in the tools themselves. You will need to clean it out before packing your power tools for a move. We cannot stress the importance of this enough: gas-powered tools are dangerous when not handled properly. Here are the steps you need to take before packing them:
- Drain all gas, liquid, and lubricants from lawn equipment and gas-powered tools first.
- Clean your equipment thoroughly of dirt, grass and other debris.
- Leave your tools to air and dry for at least 24 hours.
- Remove all attachments, especially blades and other sharp add-ons. Pack those separately, preferably in original packaging.
- Disconnect the spark plugs, collapse the push handles and tape them down. Even with all precautions, there can still be combustible fumes in the equipment and this prevents them from igniting.
You can use bubble wrap, blankets, and old clothes when packing your power tools to wrap the equipment and protect it from harm during transportation.
Packing your power tools
You should aim for packing your power tools in their original packaging where possible. It is, after all, designed specifically for the security of each tool individually. If you cannot find the original packaging, a replacement will have to do. Get some sturdy cardboard boxes in the dimensions for the tools you’re packing.
Disassemble the tools you’re packing by removing all removable attachments such as blades, extensions, batteries, and cords. Wrap the cords around the tools and then wrap the tools themselves in either cloth or bubble wrap, depending on how fragile they are. Use Ziploc bags for small removable parts so you don’t lose them.
If you’re moving especially large, heavy, bulky or dangerous tools such as a table saw or a drill press, you may have to look into specialty moving services. You are not supposed to handle these yourself and for good reason. Disassemble what you can and ask your movers if they offer any kind of tool moving services. If they don’t, you may want to consider temporary storage for your tools.
Packing your hand tools
Packing your hand tools is even easier than packing your power tools. The safest and easiest way to pack hand tools like screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, wrenches, files, manual hand saws, chisels, and similar is in a toolbox. A toolbox is handy because it keeps all your tools safe and in one place, while also being easy to transport and carry around. In fact, you may not even want to unpack it after you move. You can keep your toolbox in the garage, shed or workshop, and simply bring it out when you need it.
If you don’t have a toolbox, cardboard boxes will do again. They should be a small to medium size, sturdy and dry. Don’t forget that tools, however small, tend to be quite heavy. Overstuffing a box and making it too heavy will result in it being difficult to carry and may even damage it. Finally, make sure to cover all blades, sharp edges and pointy ends in bubble wrap, styrofoam or cloth. This prevents accidental injury and damage during transportation.