Have you tried a store that delivers mattresses? They likely take the boxes back and dump them once they set up the beds.

check out some appliance stores and the refrigerator or chest type freezer boxes

Hmm, that's an idea!!

I did try Best Buy; he told me they're not allowed to do anything w/ the boxes except break them down for recycling.

But a mattress store is worth a shot!

Hello Tally Sue NYC!

I'm not sure how large you need but I've noticed some nice size boxes at our local bike store. The boxes are obviously large enough to hold a full size bike but the boxes are only about 6 inches wide since the bikes arrive without the handlebars or pedals attached. If you leave the box intact you could cut handles into the back side of the box which would make it easier to carry and more stable.

Width doesn't matter--bike stores is a great idea! Especially because they *don't* to home delivery. I may try them.

If you don't need them right away, what about cardboard voting booths after the primary??????

also foam core boards that you can buy at a craft store would work

rosepetal

I use a lot of foamcore boards to mount photos. At the craft stores they are $2.98 for a 24x36, sometimes you find them on sale for $1.98.

About a month ago Jan went shopping and when she got back she gave me a case with 25 24x36sheets of the foamboards and another box with 48 matts for 8x10, 30 packs with three mats in each pack for 4x6, 12 three packs for 5x7 and 20 matts for 11x14 photos. I said, "Why did you spend that much, I don't even need them right now?"

She said she found all of that at the Dollar Tree store, where everything is a dollar. She said she took six sheets to the register and told the girl she wished they had more for that price. The manager turned to her and says, I could give you a much better price if you want a case, to which she agreed, and he sold her the case of 24 for $5, then he asked what she was doing with them? She told him we mat photos for display at the senior center and he says, do you need any matts? She said sure, so the guy went in the back room and came back with that box of matts and asked her if she would give him $10 for the box?

We figured that they were discontinuing those items, but just three days ago we were in that store again and they had a pile of the mats and foam boards.

A pack and ship place might carry large sheets of cardboard, or they can order them for you. We had a place that we bought large sheets from to create custom sized boxes, they were the wholesaler of boxes to the local pack and ship places.

But free cardboard would be great. I'd check furniture and appliance stores.

The Dollar Store has a website you can order items by the case. I was surprised they had so much stuff online. Thanks for mentioning doing this at the store too.

If you need more than foam board and it doesn't need to be a box, what about rigid pink foam insulation sheets that are 4' x 8' and come in different thicknesses. These are very light weight.

dlhealdquilter, that's a great idea about the sheets of insulation! I used these one time under my house. They are very lightweight and easy to cut to size and I don't remember them being real expensive...that would be lighter than cardboard!

great idea, dlheald!
mattress sotres dont' have the cardboard, but they WILL
give you the huge plastic that comes wrapped around
the mattresses! lol
good luck Talley!

How about making a post on freecycle-wanted large lightweight material for nerf gun party? You never know what might turn up. You could do a craigslist wanted item too.

It would be more expensive than free cardboard boxes but a cutting board (used to cut patterns for sewing) would work too. They fold up accordian style for easy carrying up and down stairs. They would also be sturdier than a cardboard box and probably stand on their own.

Try a teacher supply store. The teachers always seem to have access to large pieces of cardboard.

I work for a custom cabinet maker...we often get 4' x 8' sheets of cardboard sandwiched between different species of plywood.
You may want to search your area for plywood distributors.
Maybe a lumber yard or big box store even.

A cardboard box manufacturer would have a large stock of cardboard, but they are not in the habit of selling directly to the general public. As an alternative, hang bed sheets and blankets on clothes line wire or ropes. A maze or "forest" could be made. Hang the pieces to touch the floor so that the players can not see each others feet. Watch the lighting, though. Players shadows are easily seen through bed sheets.

These are all great ideas--especially those pink foam insulation sheets! I have no idea how much they cost, but I'm going to look into it.

And the cabinet maker w/ the 4x8 sheets of cardboard.

Unfort. I can't get to the ceiling to hang ropes and blankets. I checked that idea already.

And we have some hefty art-supply stores here in NYC that just might have 4x8 sheets of foam-core board as well.

marie_cate: Thanks for the bike-shop suggestion!

I was on a road trip w/ DD to visit colleges the weekend after I posted, so I used some of the internet time I had at the hotel to e-mail a bunch of bike shops in Queens.

One of them called on the next Monday and promised to save all his boxes.

They were perfect! I split them and unfolded them, and they stood up!!

and the Nerf party was a genuine success. So I know what to do for next year.

We passed out business cards from the shop, and I'm going to e-mail him some of the photos.

Thanks for all the ideas. I thought you might want to know what had worked.

Great success story dont forget we want pictures too