Yes. I was half kidding, but if you need large amounts of the stuff and already had one, it might work pretty well.
If you’re handy (or know someone who is) I found instructions for building a hot-wire cutter like Mangetout suggested.
Thanks Servo,
That was a great link.
At the moment, the hot wire cutter is not practical because of the fumes. But I see it as a real option if our operation changes and provides a more appropriate work space.
I didn’t realize that this was a sustained operation. In that case, I’ll recommend a bandsaw once again. Styrofoam cuts like butter, so a quality blade will last forever. And you can rig a shop vac so it will catch most of the dust as the styrofoam is being cut. The only question remains is whether the time savings justifies the capital expense. Even a lightweight saw like the Rigid 14" (available at Home Depot) is more than enough.
That’s just great. Give Mangetout the credit for my suggestion. Thanks…
This is way overkill!
700 $ is about 100 times the amount we might be willing to spend for a solution to this problem. Also, could you imagine setting up one of those things in the middle of a already over-crowded bookstore?
We need a hand-held, fume-free and inexpensive solution.
I think I’m going to try that bread knife.
forget foam - see:
much easier.
if you want to get rid of sttro, dissolve in in gasoline
it in gasoline
I received a book from Amazon the other day and this inspired me to revive this thread.
Aro, you are right on here. Amazon does a really good job of packing books really efficiently. No filler. Tightly packed in cardboard sheets.
Has anyone worked at Amazon or any other professional packing department and can give some pointers on how this is done. Might help shorten the learning curve for us.
Also, has anyone received more a package containing more than one book in this cardboard sheet wrap format. In my experience, single books come like this. And multiple books come in a box with filler.
For two books or more, as mentioned by akohl above, Amazon do tend to have a box the same size as the largest book, place the smaller books on top and fill the sides with pockets of air (like really big bubble wrap).
As for the actual method of packing the books in the card, I have no idea, sorry.
I have received books from Amazon.de (their German branch) wrapped in a very clever way.
I have tried to make a little drawing:
thick, elastic plastic foil
|
v
\-------------------------------------------------/
\ /
\ +----------------------+ /
\ | small book | /
\ +------------------------------+ /
\ | larger book | /
A-------------------------------------B
^
\ Heavy cardboard
The container is a piece of heavy cardboard, folded in two places, maybe a fifth of the way in from the edges (points A&B). Between these outer edges there is a thick, yet flexible plastic film stretched. When the piece of cardbord is flat, the piece of plastic foil lies perfectly flat on top of the cardboard.
The edges are folded up,and books are placed between the cardboard and the foil. Then the edges are folded back under the main piece of cardboard. This causes the foil to strech, and keeps the books in place, as on this little drawing:
_/+======================+\_
_/ | small book | \_
_/ +------------------------------+\
/ | larger book | |
=============-----------=============
I hope that the drawings are clear enough.
The whole bundle is then put in a box. I assume that this is sturdier than using airbags, although it must be more work.
Maybe it would work for you? (The only problem being to find the right kind of cardboard/plastic foil…)