Browse resources
Products and specs
Buying guides for the product types we have written up: sizes, construction, grades and what to check.
- Bulk Bag (FIBC) Buying GuideHow to buy FIBC bulk bags (super sacks): U-panel vs. 4-panel vs. baffle construction, Safe Working Load ratings, 5:1 vs. 6:1 safety factors, top and bottom fill/discharge options, and when to use reconditioned bags.Guide
- Cardboard Bale Buying GuideHow to buy and sell cardboard bales: OCC grades #11 and #12 DS-OCC, vertical vs. horizontal balers, mill-size bale specs (~1,000–1,500 lb), contamination rules, and how commodity pricing works.Guide
- Gaylord Box Buying GuideHow to buy gaylord boxes: single-, double-, and triple-wall construction, Grade A vs. B, full-flap vs. partial-flap bottoms, weight capacity up to 3,000 lb, and common sizes for 48×40 pallets.Guide
- IBC Tote Buying GuideEverything you need to buy an IBC tote: 275 vs 330 gallon sizes, HDPE bottle and cage construction, condition tiers from food-grade to un-rinsed, valve types, and UN/DOT ratings for hazmat use.Guide
- Reclaimed & Pallet Lumber Buying GuideHow to buy reclaimed and pallet-grade dimensional lumber: nominal vs. actual sizing explained, SPF vs. Southern Yellow Pine vs. hardwood tradeoffs, KDHT for export, and common uses from pallet repair to blocking and bracing.Guide
- Steel Drum Buying GuideHow to buy steel drums: open-head vs tight-head construction, 18 vs 20 gauge, lining types (epoxy, phenolic, unlined), UN/DOT ratings (1A1 and 1A2), and when reconditioned drums make sense.Guide
- Moving Boxes Buying GuideHow to choose moving boxes: standard sizes from small to extra-large, specialty types like dish packs and wardrobes, single- vs. double-wall corrugated, and whether new or used boxes make sense.Guide
- Wooden Pallet Buying GuideHow to buy wooden pallets: the 48×40 GMA standard, stringer vs. block construction, grade A/B/recycled differences, weight ratings, and ISPM-15 export rules.Guide
- Plastic Crate Buying GuideHow to buy plastic crates: stack-nest vs collapsible vs attached-lid types, vented vs solid walls, common sizes, load ratings, and the right crate for produce, distribution, and automotive loops.Guide
- Plastic Drum Buying GuideHow to buy plastic drums: open-top vs tight-head, 15/30/55-gallon sizes, UN/DOT performance ratings (1H1 and 1H2), and how condition grade affects food and hazmat reuse.Guide
- Plastic Pallet Buying GuideHow to buy plastic pallets: HDPE vs PP materials, nestable vs stackable vs rackable types, static/dynamic/racked load ratings, ISPM-15 export exemption, and when plastic beats wood.Guide
- Shipping Boxes Buying GuideHow to choose corrugated shipping boxes: RSC vs. other styles, A/B/C/E/F flute differences, single- vs. double-wall construction, ECT vs. Mullen strength ratings, and how to measure inside dimensions correctly.Guide
- Wood Crate Buying GuideHow to buy wood crates for heavy or irregular cargo: open vs. closed construction, lumber and plywood materials, ISPM-15 heat-treatment for export, and custom vs. stock sizing.Guide
- Wooden Spool & Cable Reel Buying GuideHow to buy wooden spools and cable reels: flange diameter, drum diameter, traverse width, arbor hole sizing, and how to match a reel to your cable's minimum bend radius.Guide