Transporting Quad G5 via airplane?

[Jubadub]

So, I'm about to move across continents sometime soon, permanently. And it's been bothering me for months, if not years, how I can safely ensure I get my Quad G5 there with me.

Removing the PCIe cards, GPU, HDD, SSD and RAM and cover them with anti-static wrappers to transport them separately is one thing. But what about the Quad itself, with its liquid cooling system? And although I lack the tools for it, even if I am to unmount the LCS, the problem remains: how do I transport it?

My concern is that, because of the nature of the LCS, it contains liquid, and I'm afraid my G5 would get confiscated because of it, because of security fears of explosives (even though AFAIK the liquid inside is completely harmless, and is just used for cooling, but airport security can not and should not take anyone's word on such things).

I never took a plane in my life, so that adds to the insecurity and to the concerns.

Is there some shipping option within an airport's services (instead of taking it with me as luggage) that would accept my G5 with the LCS and all? Or instead should I simply go to the post office and mail the G5 to my new address beforehand? Or?

I have similar concerns about bringing CRT monitors and TVs, but not as much, since those can still be bought locally, kind of...

Anyway, advices? Tips? I don't want to lose or damage my baby.

 

[reukiodo]

There are plenty of tales of woe in these forums especially of G5s getting damaged in shipment. I would recommend a huge package with a double-wrapping (G5 in bubble wrap in a box in yet more bubble wrap in yet another box) approach if you value the current condition of your PowerMac G5.

I once moved a server as carryon because I do not trust anyone to handle it carefully and got plenty of strange looks throughout the journey, but it didn't have an LCS, and I doubt an LCS could pass through security checks.

 

[1042686]

So, I'm about to move across continents sometime soon, permanently. And it's been bothering me for months, if not years, how I can safely ensure I get my Quad G5 there with me.

Removing the PCIe cards, GPU, HDD, SSD and RAM and cover them with anti-static wrappers to transport them separately is one thing. But what about the Quad itself, with its liquid cooling system? And although I lack the tools for it, even if I am to unmount the LCS, the problem remains: how do I transport it?

My concern is that, because of the nature of the LCS, it contains liquid, and I'm afraid my G5 would get confiscated because of it, because of security fears of explosives (even though AFAIK the liquid inside is completely harmless, and is just used for cooling, but airport security can not and should not take anyone's word on such things).

I never took a plane in my life, so that adds to the insecurity and to the concerns.

Is there some shipping option within an airport's services (instead of taking it with me as luggage) that would accept my G5 with the LCS and all? Or instead should I simply go to the post office and mail the G5 to my new address beforehand? Or?

I have similar concerns about bringing CRT monitors and TVs, but not as much, since those can still be bought locally, kind of...

Anyway, advices? Tips? I don't want to lose or damage my baby.

I have done plenty of plane travel ie: cattle car with wings. I have not shipped a g5. I have seen plenty of crunched, broken legs of g4 & g5 Powermacs however. I completely agree with the box in a box strategy. This is how my music tube amplifiers are shipped & they survive quite nicely this way. Expensive to ship? Yes. Safe? Yes - everytime.

One added area of protection I would be painfully specific about is having stiff foam or styrofoam on the top & bottom of the g5 (that is taller than the legs) to where the load is being supported by the base & top of the unit vs the frail & unrepairable legs. This way if it is dropped, the load goes through the entire base or top of the g5 case vs up & through the tiny legs alone. Peanuts around everything else filled fully I think would be good.

I would take everything else apart, bag in antistatic bags & ship that way in a single box.

The LCS? Im unsure if it’ll be accepted that way. You’ll have to check. If it was me though I’d drain & take that apart & on the other end use it as an opportunity to fill up with new coolant & seals as I clean & reassemble the computer.

Obviously though at their beginning, Apple shipped them whole-hog ready to go in the box, so there’s that too.

Best of luck to you!

 

[eyoungren]

So, I'm about to move across continents sometime soon, permanently. And it's been bothering me for months, if not years, how I can safely ensure I get my Quad G5 there with me.

Removing the PCIe cards, GPU, HDD, SSD and RAM and cover them with anti-static wrappers to transport them separately is one thing. But what about the Quad itself, with its liquid cooling system? And although I lack the tools for it, even if I am to unmount the LCS, the problem remains: how do I transport it?

My concern is that, because of the nature of the LCS, it contains liquid, and I'm afraid my G5 would get confiscated because of it, because of security fears of explosives (even though AFAIK the liquid inside is completely harmless, and is just used for cooling, but airport security can not and should not take anyone's word on such things).

I never took a plane in my life, so that adds to the insecurity and to the concerns.

Is there some shipping option within an airport's services (instead of taking it with me as luggage) that would accept my G5 with the LCS and all? Or instead should I simply go to the post office and mail the G5 to my new address beforehand? Or?

I have similar concerns about bringing CRT monitors and TVs, but not as much, since those can still be bought locally, kind of...

Anyway, advices? Tips? I don't want to lose or damage my baby.

Look on eBay for anyone who has an empty MacPro shipping box with the inserts. The dimensions are the same and those boxes are designed to make sure the handles do not bend.

In my former job that's the box my MP came in and I kept it. It's been to Kentucky and back and with a bit of modification a PowerMac 6500 shipped there safely.

My own Quad was shipped back in that box and there was no damage.

 

[z970]

Look on eBay for anyone who has an empty MacPro shipping box with the inserts. The dimensions are the same and those boxes are designed to make sure the handles do not bend.

In my former job that's the box my MP came in and I kept it. It's been to Kentucky and back and with a bit of modification a PowerMac 6500 shipped there safely.

My own Quad was shipped back in that box and there was no damage.

Exactly what I was going to suggest.

Is there a reason it can't simply be flown like that in cargo, especially as a retail computer box?

 

[philgxxd]

When I bought my Quad I shipped an empty box from my 2.7Ghz G5 to the seller just because I was afraid of damage. Shipping the empty box was the same price though...I paid more for the whole shipping process then for the computer itself but I wanted so badly this Quad

 

[Jubadub]

Is there a reason it can't simply be flown like that in cargo, especially as a retail computer box?

I don't know, perhaps it can. I'll investigate.

 

[Project Alice]

I second getting an original box or cMP box with inserts. I bought my first G5 on ebay, I can't remember how it was packed but it got here in good shape.
My Mac Pro 3,1 also came from ebay, in an original box again in good shape.
Personally, I think you're over thinking this. People buy these things online all the time.
You could wrap it up, and put it in a suit case and "check it". The liquid rule doesn't apply there.

 

[bobesch]

My concern is that, because of the nature of the LCS, it contains liquid, and I'm afraid my G5 would get confiscated because of it, because of security fears of explosives (even though AFAIK the liquid inside is completely harmless, and is just used for cooling, but airport security can not and should not take anyone's word on such things).

I guess security is now more focussed on searching for recent MacBookPros prone to catch fire, than to hunt for dinosaurs like your G5 ...