[Killietalk] Shipping boxes; was NEW Flat rate priority mail boxes

["Kenneth Combs" <KCombs at mergerx_net>]

 Funny, 
I just mailed out a few homemade boxes and just saw those new Flat rate
priority mail boxes this weekend...neat!

Anyway, just so happens my dad was a packaging engineer, I thought I had
"picked up" a few things from him; so I made a few boxes last weekend
using those 1" foam sheets from Home Depot (a "6pack" of 4ea 4'x2'
sheets sells for $5ish I think)...

- I placed a thermometer in one of my "homemade boxes" along with a bag
of warm water, I set it outside overnight and checked the temp in the
morning: Overnight temps dropped into the 30's and the thermometer
inside the box read about 48F...
While not the most "scientific" test, the cheapo thermometer and 10hrs
of exposure to temps under 40F did give me some clue how poorly
insulated a "home-made" box can be (I even glued the foam, sealed the
box corners, et)...

-I've done similar "test" using those "standard" tropical fish boxes:
the short square one (approx 18" X 18" x10" I think) and the rectangular
type (18" x 10" x 8" I think)...Anyway, those are not much better if at
all...

IMO, the best boxes are the "cubicle" ones you typically get from
hospitals or pharmacies, et(1.5" thick Styrofoam & 12x12x12..I
think)...those from Omaha Steaks are not bad either, both types seem
insulate a lot better than std "fish boxes"...

BTW, IME, I've found assorted "Heat packs" to be of inconsistent
quality, it seems the those less than 36hrs get hotter, while "some"
60hr HP barely even get warm...either way, I've never received a
shipment where ANY heat pack felt even the slightest bit warm upon
arrival..not saying they don't work, just I'd rather put more faith in
the box insulation...

Anyway, if you ship fish a lot, this is not the type of thing to take
"my word for it", the whole matter is a worthy experiment to try
yourself//// try peanuts, shredded paper, heat packs, et...see what
happens.

KC


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