Properly storing synths?

[sqweebking]

Im going to be moving into my sisters place in the next few weeks, switching jobs and trying to save money all at the same time. Unfortunately this means I wont have enough space to put all my keyboards and rack gear into her house as theres only a spare bedroom available.

This will only be temporary and im hoping less than a year if everything at the new job goes well. So in the mean time im going to have to get a storage unit to put about 90% of my belongings in. I know at the very least I want it to be climate controlled but how can I safely store most of my gear?

Ive got 16 keyboards, 2 8u racks and a ton of misc (drum machines, grooveboxes, desktop modules, cables). All that and Ive only got 2 cases, and 2 gig bags that will be used to enclose keyboards.

Are there any good/safe methods to storing electronic gear? Obviously want to make sure moisture and extreme fluctuations in temperature aren't an issue but what else do I need to take into consideration? Ive spent way too much money on all these pieces to have them degrade to worthless heaps during this transition. Any tips, tricks, general information on preserving my investments would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[Automatic Gainsay]

If I were you, I would probably pack them as if I intended to ship them... wrapping the item in bubblewrap, and sealing it airtight with packing tape, and putting that in a box with peanuts. (if you were really shipping, I'd suggest a layer of cardboard between sealed bubblewrap and popcorn, but yea) If you have a climate-controlled space, this should protect your gear for a long time. It's much cheaper than buying cases, too. Cases are also okay, but there's something to be said for being sealed!
I have stored equipment long-term in storage in less than this, and it's been okay. The real thing to avoid is dust, extreme temperature changes over a short time, and moisture. If you can avoid those three, your equipment should be fine.

[sqweebking]

Thanks AG, I was considering doing just that. Ill be needing to buy some boxes anyway...

[ColorForm2113]

Thanks AG, I was considering doing just that. Ill be needing to buy some boxes anyway...

buying boxes is for suckers. just go to your local stores (dollar stores, grocery stores, appliance stores, whatever) and find out when they recieve their shipments and then ask if you could take some boxes off their hands when theyre done unpacking merchandise. ive done this a few times, you may even get some packing peanuts and bubble wrap out of it. its free, ecofriendly, and saves dumpster space and time cleaning up for the shops. everybody wins

[Ashe37]

Thanks AG, I was considering doing just that. Ill be needing to buy some boxes anyway...

buying boxes is for suckers. just go to your local stores (dollar stores, grocery stores, appliance stores, whatever) and find out when they recieve their shipments and then ask if you could take some boxes off their hands when theyre done unpacking merchandise. ive done this a few times, you may even get some packing peanuts and bubble wrap out of it. its free, ecofriendly, and saves dumpster space and time cleaning up for the shops. everybody wins

That doesn't work very well in some areas (like here) because all the cardboard boxes are crushed,bound and sent out for recycling...

[ColorForm2113]

Thanks AG, I was considering doing just that. Ill be needing to buy some boxes anyway...

buying boxes is for suckers. just go to your local stores (dollar stores, grocery stores, appliance stores, whatever) and find out when they recieve their shipments and then ask if you could take some boxes off their hands when theyre done unpacking merchandise. ive done this a few times, you may even get some packing peanuts and bubble wrap out of it. its free, ecofriendly, and saves dumpster space and time cleaning up for the shops. everybody wins

That doesn't work very well in some areas (like here) because all the cardboard boxes are crushed,bound and sent out for recycling...

bah! all this recycling keeps screwing up my free-cycling...

[I12]

If your in a humid area get some desicant or what ever its called to absorb any moisture inside the packing

[Ashe37]

btw, dessicant can be recycled by putting it in an oven to dry it back out...

[Shreddie]

Dessicant = Silica Gel... You often find those tiny sachets bunged in the boxes of new electronics but you can buy big bags fairly cheaply... Just put a small handful in a muslin (or breathable fabric) bag, bung it in your box, job done.

Oh, and it can be dried out in an oven but try and keep it at a low heat (100^oC or below) or it can burn.

[Automatic Gainsay]

Thanks AG, I was considering doing just that. Ill be needing to buy some boxes anyway...

buying boxes is for suckers. just go to your local stores (dollar stores, grocery stores, appliance stores, whatever) and find out when they recieve their shipments and then ask if you could take some boxes off their hands when theyre done unpacking merchandise. ive done this a few times, you may even get some packing peanuts and bubble wrap out of it. its free, ecofriendly, and saves dumpster space and time cleaning up for the shops. everybody wins

I'm with ColorForm...

But what I usually do is go to music stores... not so much the Guitar Centers, but the local music stores which sell primarily pianos and also piano-like keyboards. They usually have TONS of extremely thick former-keyboard-encasing boxes, and other things like corner reinforcement. They're usually all too pleased for you to take it off their hands!

[balma]

we recently had some floods here due to the hurricane. The water invaded everything, leaving a lot of people homeless....

I bough like 50 thrash bags and wrapped them very tight to prevent any water infiltration..... I even put some styrofoam, maybe they could float river down.....


Well, that's not your case, but I just recently had to pack and unpack everything

[Cumulus]

One year we went to Europe during hurricane season, which meant leaving my gear unattended for a while and there were two storms potnentially heading our way.

I sealed up my synths in [;astic bags and got them off the floor. I lent a couple of other instruments to trusted friends fo rht duration of the trip.

The storms did not hit so I don;t really know how well it worked but I left the CS-50 in its wrapping for a year after that. I just never got around to opening it back up.

[sqweebking]

Alright cool, well ill probably wrapping and packing most of the stuff as if I were going to ship it. Some of the keyboards ill be lending to good friends to use/keep company for the time being. Having the others boxed will make moving them in and around easier and im thinking about selling a few anyway so having them ready to go may help..

[Zamise]

send them to me properly