Greetings!

Has anyone ever used shrinkwrap like they use on stored boats to protect items that may need to be stored outside for short or longer periods of time? Our current interest is to use it to protect items smaller than railcar like a spare engine for a locomotive, a signal case or even a track car.

We currently use tarps to cover some different items if they have to be outside while many are kept indoors, however, the shrinkwrap looks like an interesting alternative to tarping. It can be conformed right to the piece or a frame around the piece which would seem to reduce the chance of wind pulling it off and might reduce rain infiltration. Plus, some of the suppliers, Dr. Shrink was one I found on the net, offer vents which can be added to reduce condensation and mildew build-up.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Again, this looks like an interesting method and is used extensively to protect boats. Yet it is not necessarily an inexpensive method to get into since one may need to purchase some specialized equipment(heat guns?) up front to help in the process.

Thanks!

Until later,
Chris Hauf
Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum

R&GV Railroad Museum
crhauf@frontiernet.net

Interesting concept, I checked out a retailer selling the same stuff and it appears that the initial retail cost is comparable to a tarp. The site however recommends buying a new "wrap" each year. That could be presumably due to seasonal usage of the boats. However, I have my doubts that shrinkwrap 7-8mil can stand up for the 9-10 years we are getting from our tarps.

wyld@sbcglobal.net

A comment and a question. I definitely agree that this material is not a multi-year solution for outdoor storage at that thickness as this material seems to be aimed at seasonal storage like you point out. However, we have some items which need to be outside for a "season" if you will. Here is one example where it may have merit for us. We are looking toward pouring the concrete floor in our restoration building during the coming summer. We have been using the building over the past five years and have some items that will probably need to be outside for a "season" while the floor is poured and then brought back into their new resting place on the floor. The shrinkwrap looks ideal for this. Anyone else have any thoughts?

Now for the questions, what types of tarps do you use and where do you get them?

Thanks.

Until later,
Chris Hauf



crhauf@frontiernet.net

> Now for the questions, what types of tarps
> do you use and where do you get them?

Absolutely the most expensive, best and longest lasting tarps are the rubberized ones that truckers use. Cheap if you know any truckers or have connections or can get a damaged one and use part of it. We have two big ones that it takes 4 people to place but they hold up well in the wind and weather.

lamontdc@adelphia.net

I agree that next to indoor storage, tarps would be the best for protecting railway equipment outdoors, MUCH better than shrink wrap. Here at PTM we use 18 0z rubberized vinyl tarps that are Orange. Don't use dark colors, they generate event more heat inside. We get them custom sown so they resemble "toaster covers." This allows them to stay on the cars better in high winds. We have grommets along the bottom every 30" and these are tied to the car's trucks or underframe using rubber straps. We get them from Neilly Canvas (1-800-745-4837), a Pittsburgh firm that supplys tarps for trucks. As wood boat people will tell you, shrink wrap is terrible for wood since it doesn't allow any air changes. If there is moisture inside, you will get rot. OH Railway Museum tried them and they don't last either.

Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
sbecker@pa-trolley.org

Last summer I took the tour at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base where they mothball aircraft. They are mothballing some aircraft with the boat shrinkwrap. I don't remember what the tour gide said about longevity but I did videotape the tour. I will try to listen for that part again. He did say they can get a plane back in the air in several days compared with weeks using the old method.

> Absolutely the most expensive, best and
> longest lasting tarps are the rubberized
> ones that truckers use. Cheap if you know
> any truckers or have connections or can get
> a damaged one and use part of it. We have
> two big ones that it takes 4 people to place
> but they hold up well in the wind and
> weather.


http://rypn.org/TRPA
Greg.Radler@parsons.com

Scott,

Thanks for the info and the leads on tarps for railroad cars. We also have the need to probably acquire some new "toaster covers" for some of our equipment including the body of Rochester, Lockport & Buffalo Interurban #206. This would be really amusing if we were covering a GE Dash 8 or Dash 9 "Technotoaster". Of course, that would be one heck of tarp!

However, my real interest in shrinkwrap is for smaller items that need to be stored outside for less than a year. Here is another example. As you know along with our railroad collection, we have a collection of historic construction equipment. In our restoration building, we have the old engine we took out of a 1968 Cat D-7E bulldozer we restored last year. This engine will need to be temporarily stored outside until we find a better home for it long term since we will not have room for it in our building when we work on the floor. My thoughts were that the shrinkwrap with vents installed might work very well for this application over the use of tarps given the item is smaller and possibly transient, i.e. we may choose not to hold on to it for the long run.

I understand the moisture issue, but it appears the manufacturers have accounted for this by providing venting systems. I am sure they are not perfect and rely on proper installation, but they must be better than nothing I guess.

So I look for any further comments and thoughts.

Until later,
Chris

P.S. I included a pic of the D-7 below. I helped with the mechanical work (our Master Mechanic for whom the piece is dedicated is in the pic "smoking it up" for the camera!) and painted and lettered it for our Construction guys last year. In trade, I get driving lessons in the spring!


crhauf@frontiernet.net

Have you considered Mobil stretch wrap? If you start at the bottom and wrap around the item moving upward with each layer the stuff clings great and the layering may allow some breathing. I have used it ast home with good results. It is commonly used to protect palletized loads.

> I understand the moisture issue, but it
> appears the manufacturers have accounted for
> this by providing venting systems. I am sure
> they are not perfect and rely on proper
> installation, but they must be better than
> nothing I guess.



wyld@sbcglobal.net