The Energon Pub

Any hints on how to move and count your collection?

I'm moving to a new place and I have what I'd guess is about 500 some loose figures most without boxes to travel in.

Moving means a good opportunity to do an actual tally of the collection. Also, I'm moving at the end of the month and can't get overly detailed about it. Right now I am planning on using MS Excel with categories like in the figures gallery here, and just using the total rows for each column to get my figure. Anyone have any better ideas though?

Moving also means I need to keep everything together. I'm planning on buying several storage tubs and I have a big assortment of ziploc bags, with intents to put one or two TFs per bag and wrapping fragile or valuable figures in paper towel first.

This is my first big move with a collection of this size, am I on the right track? Am I missing something obvious I should be doing?

I would suggest bubble wrap or styrofoam shells to fill the gaps between figures. Be wary of soft plastic. When I moved I wrapped movie leader prime in bubblewrap. When I took him out the smokestacks were slightly bent.

i dont know, but i could use some tips aswell.

the thing i can think of us using really helpful boxes from staples and a few hundred shoe boxes.

HOw about toilet roll tubes for minicons and tiny bots?

I keep count of my figures by listing the series (classics, sw, etc.) and how many there are. You could also keep count of autobots and decepticons.

For loose figs, plastic grocery bags work nicely. Put the fig with its accessories in the bag, wrap it up in the excess bag, and place neatly in a box. For higher value items, I would use something more substantial (bubble wrap). I would also transport those in the car with you instead of on the truck.

I moved last year, and for the most point I did the following.

-- Items I have kept packaging for were simply re-packed and placed into a bigger box
-- I sorted the loose collection into size ranges, and were transformed in to whichever mode would be better for packing, wether by shape or durability.
-- Larger loose items were packed first, some pieces I gave a wrapping of paper or bubble wrap. Due to size, I tried to fill as much with out leaving gaps and then to be filled in the rest with a few smaller pieces.
-- Smaller ones were grouped into how concerned I am about them. (I'm more concerned about my G1 special teams than robot heroes after all) to decide how much wrapping I was worried about.
-- Ones I was more concerned with were packed into fresh boxes, while lesser ones were given a softer wrapping and used is fillers for the boxes with larger items.

The main exception to this rule was Primus. Placed in planet mode, and in a small box with the OP and BB Poople plushes to keep him from rolling around.

I didn't count but it would likely be smarter to do before hand if you are concerned about having a good record incase anything goes missing/damaged in the move. However If you are just concerned about knowing, don't worry about it while you are packing as you have better things to worry about. Once you have moved, set up your computer first (or grab a sheet of paper) and then slowly go thru things as you unpack them, you'll have more time and be able to make a better list/notes about your collection than while you are packing.

Space Bridge Sorry couldn't resist.

Editor wrote:
The main exception to this rule was Primus. Placed in planet mode, and in a small box with the OP and BB Poople plushes to keep him from rolling around.

you monster! treat the plushies with respect!, i give my little guys a sofa when their traveling. i just love those guys

If you're using a moving company, write something unimportant on the boxes. I stupidly labelled a box 'dvds'. And another one 'games'. Guess which two boxes magically 'disappeared' during the move? Learn from my stupidity! Write "UNDERPANTS" or 'used baby clothes' on it instead.

I have an old Palm Pilot (hand me down of a hand me down--my sister the big important doctor lady upgraded) and you can find open source database programs for it, and it's portable. Or you can use Excel.

I keep a few dbs of stuff--the dreaded 'replacements from stuff my idiot ex horked' one, my yarn stash one, my knitting needles by size and manufacturer, my list of obscure CDs I'm hunting, etc. You can customize these very easily and it's portable. Of course you look like a dork, but....

As for padding, nothing works better than clothes. I mean, you have to move your t-shirts anyway, don't you? So why not roll up a fig in a shirt--saves money on packaging materials and protects figures pretty well.

HK, who has sworn to die before moving again.

mattyc1007 wrote:you monster! treat the plushies with respect!, i give my little guys a sofa when their traveling. i just love those guys

How much more respect can I give them beyond tasking them to protect their home planet?

My plushies have been treated with mucho respect, as I tend to be protective of them anyways.

Editor wrote:

mattyc1007 wrote:you monster! treat the plushies with respect!, i give my little guys a sofa when their traveling. i just love those guys

How much more respect can I give them beyond tasking them to protect their home planet?

My plushies have been treated with mucho respect, as I tend to be protective of them anyways.

thats what wanted to here soldier! never use them as padding! treat them like they were erm....... not royaltee i hate them erm....... like if obama stayed over at your house thats the respect they deserve.

The only reason I wouldn't theat them like royalty is because that honour is saved for my GF.

I'l not comment on the House of Windsor as the Queen is our head of state here as well. As for Obama, I very much doubt I would be hosting a visiting head of state, I'm sure he wouldn't want to either.

"Yes, Mr. President, I would have loved to be able to vote for you, maybe I'll have the chance after Fox News convinces your nation to invade us after our troops have been busy fighting the wars of the man who had the job before you. Watch out when you pull the coach out to sleep on, It's only Ikea so it might be a bit uncomfortable. Hey have you seen the Disney Label TF yet?"