How to pack a turntable for shipment

This video is about packing a technics 1200 or 1210 turntable for shipment. If you would like to ship us your turntable for repair, you should check this video out. We are unpack a beautifully packaged deck which came to us all the way from Japan. As you can see, the deck arrived safe and sound. This is a really well-done job! All you have to do is follow these steps in reverse when it's time to pack up your deck for a journey to our shop.

[@ednewmy]

This was really helpful. I have to package up a turntable and was getting confused looking at all sorts of fancy foams etc...but will go with a good amount of wide bubbled bubble wrap instead. I imagine a good rule of thumb is to use as much as you think you need then double it! Just need to source a suitable box now.

[@hyperactivists9390]

Wow glad I watched this thanks for making the video appreciate the effort

[@manukkee]

Great stuff, i have to pack one and send it, so this was a great video , Thank you !

[@djfix8731]

👍

[@ByTorAndMe]

Very good overall advice. A few tips I would give is that plastic wrap is your friend. It is an excellent tape substitute or a protective layer you can add before tape to protect the surfaces from scratches/tape residue and it just holds stuff together so well. Also, it's best to go ahead and remove the platter to protect the bearings, either put it in it's own flat box or just place a layer of cardboard on the bottom of the turntable followed by the platter and saran wrap it so it can't move. Finally, styli might snag or bend when touching any kind of material, so I would recommend keeping the stylus on the cartridge and into a small sturdy box zip died down with the stylus touching nothing.

[@DJFixNYC]

Really good points, Blake. Wouldn't disagree with any of that! If there is enough extra space in the box for a separate "platter package", it's a great idea!

[@ColetteO_]

@@DJFixNYC Hello. I have to ship a Technics SL-5 to someone who bought it from my online shop. Do you know if there is a way to lock the tone arm in place on that model? I'm told by the buyer that there is a sliding piece on the inside of the tone arm that will lock it in place, but I don't see anything like that. Can you recommend what I can do to keep the tone arm safe? It's already embedded in the lid so that is half the battle, but I want to keep it safe. Should I just tape it in place or do you have a better idea? Many thanks 😌

[@HighFidelityFox]

Thank you for the video. I’m a reseller and sold one of these recently and had no idea how to ship this! I will pay extra for “THIS SIDE UP” and “FRAGILE” services.

[@ColetteO_]

I have to ship my first sold Technics SL-5 turntable today and am a bit stressed wanting to do the best job I can... I was told there is something on the inside of the tone arm that you can slide to keep the tone arm in place, but I haven't been able to find that. The tone arm is already embedded in the lid, so that helps, but I want to secure it. Do you have any advice? Tape? Foam? Thank you!

[@Eyeballpaul84]

Somebodys pride n joy

[@grahamhall2662]

Excellent, thank you.

[@DJFixNYC]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kfl611]

Great video. I just had a turntable shipped to me. It was in a great big box, with tons of peanuts - nothing was held down, not hing was bubble wrapped. The tonearm weight and head shell were in a separate box. But not an ideal packing job.

[@ericburdon2042]

Thank you for this wonderful video, very helpful indeed. Say one word to be shipping a record player with a dust cover… Would you ship the dust cover separately? In its own box and wrapped/packed accordingly? I have it in the original box, so maybe it is possible to ship with it. Thank you for your time!

[@bornagainbornagain6697]

Highly recommend to use foam padding instead of bubble wrap. Remove the platter and DO bubble wrap it and put it under the TT. Headshell can be put in an empty pill container of proper size. Packed with cotton balls inside, and wrapped with bubble wrap. Sending the dust cover is not recommended, really no need to. I would have taken the feet off as well.

[@sebaz1295]

another very useful advice would be to take out the puck adapter and pack separately and NOT leave on the turntable even though taped. My experience was that the turntable got packed the way shown in the video. Yes it was in general all good but the puck adapter came out by the transport and caused a "beautiful" scratch on the actually mint+ faceplate :(

[@DJFixNYC]

Really good point, Seb Az. Yes, unless some really great care is taken with the 45 adapter, it is best to just pack it separately!

[@PhonoDirect]

The platter should have been removed and packed separately under the turntable. Leaving it on the spindle possesses risk of damaging the bearings and in case of a sprung floating subchassis also a risk of damaging the plinth of the turntable.

[@DJFixNYC]

You are correct in that removing the platter and packing it separately is certainly a recommendable way to go. With regards to the Technics 1200 that we are demonstrating here, it does not have "bearings" per se. In the "shaft assembly", as it is known, the platter is supported by a bushing, which is robust enough to handle most shipping adventures.

[@vlais3534]

What if i have turntable flight cases ? I need to take them back home,by car...looong drive...do you recommend removing weight,cartridges,etc ? I also have the lids,which i will pack separately

[@DJFixNYC]

If they are going to be treated gently and kept "shiny side up" then you may only need to remove the counterweights. But if they are going to be jostled around or stored on their side, it would be advisable to secure the platters and put some padding in the case.

[@taksiobs]

what if i still have the original box? can i ship it with that without the bubble wraps?

[@DJFixNYC]

yes, if you have the original box, by all means, use the original packing material. Would be ideal!

[@taksiobs]

@@DJFixNYC Wow! Didn't expect to get a reply this fast! Good thing I kept the box and my wife didn't throw it. what a relief! Thanks a lot!

[@warppizza]

Waiter, there's a hair in my bubble wrap!

[@marcs2960]

What are the dimensions of that dhl shipping box ?

[@DJFixNYC]

Here at the shop we use 24 X 18 X12

[@SC36DC]

@@DJFixNYC Do you have a link to where you get your boxes? Thanks.

[@bornagainbornagain6697]

Perfect box would be a wardrobe box from Home Depot. Super tall so you could cut it down to the size needed. Super thick and protective too.

[@ColetteO_]

@@bornagainbornagain6697 thanks for that tip. I have to ship a Technics SL-5 today to someone who bought it from me and I'm stressing about how to do it best. The buyer told me there is a sliding thing on the inside of the tone arm to lock the tone arm in place, but I don't see anything like that when I look. Do you have a suggestion for how to keep the tone arm safe? It is already embedded in the lid, so that helps, but I want to do the best I can... thank you for any advice.

[@bornagainbornagain6697]

@@ColetteO_ You can get the tone arm to one extreme end and use tape to keep it in place. Of course foam below and above to also keep it stationary. Also a wardrobe box from Home Depot. These boxes are huge and super thick. You can use a razor to custom size it to your table. Good luck with the shipping.