Storage boxes

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Storage boxes

1Noisy
Modifié : Jan 6, 2015, 11:10 am

Sadly, my bookcases are just dreams of the future. So, I've decided that I'll replace my computer printout boxes (from *cough* some years ago) with proper storage crates. B&Q (UK store) has quite a range in stock at the moment so I carted some of my paperbacks in there to see how they stacked. I ended up getting some 42 litre Really Useful boxes, since they seemed to be the most appropriate for paperbacks. I now see that they're cheaper on the Really Useful site (but shipping needs to be added): http://www.reallyusefulstorageboxes.co.uk/ *** NOTE: THIS SITE DOESN'T SEEM TO USE https AND IS ONLY PARTIALLY BUILT ***

Does anyone have any alternative recommendations?

2staffordcastle
Jan 6, 2015, 11:32 pm

Hi, Noisy -
I love the Really Useful Boxes, and use them for lots of things, but I have found that if they are loaded heavily, the bottoms sag. If the box in question is not the bottom one in the stack, it can sag past the level of the bottom of the sides, at which point, if you put it on a flat surface, it rocks. :-(

I was storing china in them, which is very heavy; they are probably okay for paperbacks, but perhaps not for hardbacks.

Cheers!

3TheoClarke
Jan 7, 2015, 6:17 am

I, too, love the Really Useful Boxes but I store my books in double walled corrugated cardboard boxes. They are not of archival quality but I dream that the books will not be in them long enough for that to be a problem. I buy them from Davpac.

4DVanderlinde
Modifié : Jan 22, 2015, 10:54 pm

I am looking at a possible move and have been acquiring boxes for my books. Here is what I am using:

http://www.globalindustrial.com/searchResult?searchBox=&q=257813

I know this is a US site, but you might find something comparable in the UK. The boxes are heavy duty plastic with hinged lids, have one-piece molded bottoms that are watertight, are rated to hold about 50 pounds, and stackable five-high.

Might seem a bit pricey at nearly $20.00 US for each box, but if you treasure your books like I do, I think they are a good investment. Think of it this way: It's less than the price of a single hardbound book.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

5johnnyapollo
Jan 24, 2015, 10:52 am

I use magazine boxes that are shipped flat and sold by comic book suppliers. These are easily carried, are stack-able (up to about 6-7 high without deforming) and fairly easy to mark for reference - I currently have a few hundred of them. They aren't acid free but are made of better quality cardboard with a finished white surface. I can usually buy them in bulk for less than $5 each shipped (if you look on Amazon for "BCW magazine boxes" you'll see the type). Alternatively, for about double the money you can purchase archival quality boxes that are similar ("...cid-free, lignin-free, sturdy B-Flute corrugated material. They are buffered with a 3% calcium carbonate buffer, which prevents acids from reaching the contents. Holds up to 150 magazines....) - those are available from Bags Unlimited in the US and something similar should be available in the UK.

6DVanderlinde
Nov 4, 2015, 9:29 pm

Regular-size paperback books fit well in Rubbermaid Keepsakes boxes, which are designed for DVDs and CDs.

7bluepiano
Nov 5, 2015, 9:19 am

There was a time when I used those slatted wooden crates from the greengrocer's standing on their sides & stacked to hold books. Surprisingly, now and again someone would compliment me on the unusual 'bookcase' without having noticed what it actually was. (Myself, I'd have thought the colourful 'Jaffa Oranges' labels would be a give-away.)

8nate48281
Juin 8, 2017, 1:24 am

I prefer these Industrial Sterilite bins as the regular clear bins will bend/chip/crack/break with the weight of books. They are $9 USD when on sale, you can stack them 5 high (probably 6 or 7, but I'm not that risky), and they're waterproof (already saved me when a little water got into a garage).

The only down side is the initial up front cost, and then needing a place to store them when not in use. They can also get pretty heavy, but if you're used to lugging books around, that's not new to you. They do sell a bigger bin where you get more bang for your buck, but you'll need two people to move if when full (and it's still not easy to do).

https://www.target.com/p/sterilite-60-qt-industrial-utility-storage-tote-black-w...

I own at least 50 of these and have used them for several moves and I really like them. Other places sell them, but Target (which I know isn't everywhere in the world) always has the best price when they're on sale.

If you're books are bulky big biographies, they can do about 25-35 a bin, but a mix of regular sized hard covers or mostly paperbacks allows more like 35-50 a bin; one of my bins even has over 100, but it's because of this: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Black-Classics-Box-Penguin/dp/0141398876/

I have been using post-its and packing tape to do some basic labeling, but as that's not working as well as I'd like I'm going to switch to using these larger plastic envelopes that allow me to easily place a piece of folded paper in it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006ICM7/r

Hope this helps someone, as I moved about a dozen times in 10 years, and after awhile boxes just weren't cutting it.

Nate

9staffordcastle
Juin 15, 2017, 9:22 pm

I am in process of moving, and while I have been using archive boxes for most of the books, I have a good-sized handful of really large format books, and have not yet found a solution for them. I think the biggest one is Old Testament Miniatures, which clocks in at 12" x 17".

>8 nate48281: What are the dimensions of the Sterilite tubs on the inside at the bottom? The website only gives the top dimensions, which are the largest.

Any thoughts?

10nate48281
Modifié : Juin 22, 2017, 2:25 am

12" by 17" books will definitely fit, you'll just have to lay them down flat, which is what I recommend doing anyways. The issue with the big books is that they just use space awkwardly, so it's of course hard to fill in around in a neat way and organized way. If you're trying to do calculations, I'll get the inside measurements for you in 2 weeks when I go back to Chicago where all of my book bins actually are. You could also try sending Sterilite a note, http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=810&ProductCategory=277&s... , or asking a question on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-14649006-Gallon-Industrial-Latches/dp/B00KL7VM7...

So far I have never had a book not fit, and I have about 50 art/coffee table books and about 20 george macy books that can get fairly large with their fancy slipcases. The issue these books cause is weight as a bin full of them requires two people to safely move it, so instead I started only partially packing big books in a bin and then filling the rest of it with regular sized books.

Sadly, in regards to the Sterilite bins, I am seeing that some people on Amazon are complaining that the quality was lowered. I have not experienced that yet, but now I'm going to check the plastic # that is on my bins as I purchased a dozen 2 months ago and probably 30 last fall. I have seen a little bowing, but it's been expected as it's only been the bottom bin when 4 other bins are on top of it (so a few hundred lbs) and when the bottom bin is not filled enough so that the weight all gets compressed to the sides from the bin on top of it. Even if the quality has gone down some, I'll still be buying them as there's nothing else like this available that isn't way more expensive and they're still far sturdier and offer way more protection than a traditional box.

My friend bought some commercial grade bins from home depot, but they were $16 a piece, not $9, they didn't have latches, and they were made in China and even felt cheaper, so even with those negative reviews on amazon, I'd still recommend them based on my experience. Perhaps they are putting very heavy items in them that don't create a floor at the top of the bin by filling it to the top. When I fill a bin I try to fill it so that the above bin will get some support from the lid below (and not just the corners), but not so much that it will put a ton of weight on those books in that bin as I don't want to crush spines. So far I've been quite successful.

11Keeline
Juin 23, 2017, 2:36 pm

Locally in the U.S. I can find several storage crates similar to this one (though usually with colored lids). The quality varies, including the number of leaves in the interlocking lid, the rigidity of the lid plastic, the type of hinge used, how square the corners are, etc. The prices range from about $6 to $20 depending on when and where you shop. Some have notches which can accept metal railings for hanging folders (letter on the short side and legal on the long side).



Most of these styles have a fairly uniform overall dimension. They can be stacked but books are heavy so you want to be mindful of it. We have some in our garage and others in rooms in the house for books (and other items) which cannot be shelved.

We have purchased elements of the Ikea GORM system to assemble shelving that allows us to have reasonable access to these without putting all of the weight on the lids. Plus, when you need a box that would be low on the stack, it is possible to get it out without removing all of them. I had to be a little creative with the assembly instructions to make something that would work. However, it does give use a good deal of storage in a given amount of space.

There's always a risk with plastic. If it is not the right type, the outgas can harm books. They are good for blocking water and pests. The translucent plastic on the side can make it possible to get an idea of what is inside. Good labels and records in your LT catalog can help too. There was no effective means of storing location when I started my catalog and there are a few books I know I have but cannot find.

James

12staffordcastle
Juin 26, 2017, 12:08 am

>10 nate48281: Thanks, Nate! I appreciated the trouble, and will also see if I can get a response from Amazon.

>11 Keeline: James, I've used some of the wing-top bins, and had at least one that the lid actually tore because the boxes on top of it were too heavy.

I expect that whatever box I end up with will stop at half-full, just because of the weight issue.

13GreggS
Sep 9, 2022, 4:05 am

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