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Topic: How To Pack a Steel Guitar for shipment |
Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2005 8:19 am |
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With all the UPS woes being expressed I am concerned about shipping my old (Sho-Bud)guitar. I have had 3 guitars shipped to me via UPS with no damage. The last one was a Williams and it had the case handle exposed for use by the shipper.
My Sho-Bud has a solid case with aluminum corners and edging. If the guitar is securely packed in it's case then I would think that the only thing remaining to protect is the case itself.
So my question becomes, what type of material is best for securing the guitar in the case and what type of packing best protects the case? I was thinking about putting a few layers of bubble wrap around the case and then encasing that in cardboard. I see many people mention foam. What kind of foam (convoluted?)and where can I find it?
It would be helpful if those who are just now receiving or shipping guitars would post pictures here for all of us to view. When I do get my old guitar packed up and also when my new one arrives I will post pictures of the packing.
Maybe a separate and permanent part of the forum could be set aside with all of this information and pictures showing good packing techniques. We could all learn a lot about packing these heavy but fragile items and avoid future disappointments.
Greg |
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Mark Herrick
From:
Bakersfield, CA
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Posted 30 Dec 2005 9:11 am
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I constructed a cardboard box lined with 1" styrofoam sheet. (The insulation sheets you can buy at Home Depot are basically the same.) The dimensions of the inside of the box (with the foam lining) was exactly the size of the guitar case; so the case fit inside with no slack. I left an opening for the case handle, but I'm not sure that really made any difference in how the box was handled by the shippers.
It took a bit of measuring and cutting and I glued the cardboard box together with contact cement. It managed to get a D10 Push/Pull to and from Mike Cass with no damage. |
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2005 10:36 am
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Its hard to explain:
first make sure the guitar cannot move even a teeny bit inside the case, if it can move at all even the slightest bit, put some thin packing tissues in there with the guitar inside the case till it no longer can move at all.
after that if the case is strong and structurally sound, you just need to bubble wrap it twice on each side with small bubble bubblewrap. After that I use flat cardboard sheets cut to size of the bubblewrapped case, then scored and folded over the corners (this part is difficult to explain..I wish I could draw a picture). I use two peices of cardboard wrapped completely around the width of the case, and then two peices wrapped completely around the length of the case...so what you end up with is two layers on each corner and four layers of cardboard for the majority of the package.
Some things to remember about cardboard. It has a front (smooth side) and a back (ribbed side). You may have to look cloesly to see the difference but one side will be slightly more ribbed looking than the other. Try and have the smoothest side facing out at all times as its less likely to yeild under pressure. My method of packing ensures that the "grain" (or direction of the ribs) will be crossed also. This is important. Try this..take two small peices of cardboard and put them together and try folding them with the ribs facing the same direction...it folds easy. Now try it with the ribs at 90 degree angles to each other..much harder to fold. so you want to cross the direction of the ribs on your cardboard layers when possible.
Finally I use plastic tape and tape each and every corner, and then run tape over every side of the box so that only the two sides have exposed carddboard (again hard to explain). This not only really tightens up the box and makes it tougher, but prevents any possible water damage at the seams. Ive seen many wet UPS boxes sitting in the rain on a hand cart while the driver runs in to drop off another package.
Most of all, you wanna make sure the case can not move around at all in the enclosure youve constructed for it, put packing peanuts oo bubblewrap scraps or whatever you have to to make it FIRM in there so it cant move at all.
I probably did a lousy job explaining that... sorry.[This message was edited by Ben Jones on 30 December 2005 at 10:40 AM.] |
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Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2005 11:24 am
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Address it to me  |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 30 Dec 2005 3:40 pm
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I had two experiences getting pedal steels delivered to me:
An MSA arrived with nothing but some cardboard attached to the steel case, with the handle exposed. The guitar was untouched and in perfect condition.
A few months ago, a Sho-Bud arrived in a box that was filled with styrofoam peanuts. The tuners and the rods at the endplate were bent up, seemingly from a violent drop on its end somewhere along the way.
Both guitars were sent by reputable dealers, who obviously know what they're doing. I can only relate to you my experience, and it leads me to the opinion that it's a lot easier for an employee of a shipping company to carry a steel with its handle exposed. He/she is less likely to drop it, or get frustrated with its weight and mistreat it.
I had a lot of trouble even carrying the Sho-Bud from my porch to the music room, when it arrived in the big box. When the MSA arrived, the postman simply walked in the house carrying it by its handle. It makes perfect sense to me.
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2005 3:54 pm
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sounds like the sho-bud wasnt in a case but just in there with some peanuts? again you cannot allow for any movement inside the box, so if a heavy object is inserted in a box larger than it with just peanuts, its is likely to move around and eventually move close enought to the edge of the box to meet with a hard surface if dropped.
My main concern about leaving a handle exposed is that it can get snagged on UPS conveyor belts, etc...and that it allows water a place to get into your package. I undertand some of you put cardboard beneath the hand , but there is still an exposed seam there. whatever works tho i guess. Ive seen flight cases arrive demolished and Ive seen glass objects arrive unharmed with the flimsiest of packing. sometimes it defiesall logic...I do know that I shipped thousands of fragile items worth millions of dollars and never once had a package that I shipped damaged in any way.
again, I say the absolute KEY is to have the object firmly in your container so that it cannot move around even if dropped. That is job one. |
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Jim Bates
From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2005 5:28 pm
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If your Sho-Bud case has a pedal / accessory compartment on the end, be sure and put some wood blocks in it (compartment) to brace so that it doesn't collapse if case is stood on end (and it will be). The guitar will shift after that space collapses and could cause the knee levers to break. Also, at least put a towel around the body of the guitar to protect it.
Leaving the handle exposed for the shipper to use, can help to keep it from being stood on end during shipping.
Thanx,
Jim[This message was edited by Jim Bates on 30 December 2005 at 05:30 PM.] |
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Grant Johnson
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 30 Dec 2005 5:55 pm
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Greg-
That is one of the most beautiful Sho-Buds that I have ever seen! Pack it well!
I emailed you about the copedent but it never came through could you resend?
It looks like it will go for higher than I can afford, but i am going to hang in the bidding as high as I can...
This is a beautiful Bud!
------------------
www.bigsmokey.com
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 31 Dec 2005 2:51 am
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aside from leavin' the handle of the case within grasp /accessible fer the carrier.
never had one broken ....... yet
i have : THROW ME ! (optional: you bastards)
as handling instructions on the box
sure beats FRAGILE 
i take Fedex over the brownies[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 31 December 2005 at 02:52 AM.] |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2005 4:46 pm
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Thanks for the tips! I ordered 12" x 175' of thin (3/8" bubble) bubble wrap for $20 shipping included. The guitar case takes about 34 square feet for one layer so this should go pretty far even with 2 or 3 layers.
Greg |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2005 5:46 pm
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| With heavy stuff I always use 4 - 6" of hard foam in all corners. The same stuff your TV came packed in. And I never use the small bubble wrap - it's far too thin for any impact. The bigger stuff is much better (and there have been many threads on the eBay message boards regarding this topic). |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2005 10:37 pm
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Duly noted, i added a role of the heavy to my order and will test both.
Greg |
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Mark Vinbury
From:
N. Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2005 10:51 pm
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I receive a lot of large heavy boxes via UPS.They contain premade draws for my cabinet business.
The shippers pack sheet foam to imobilize the contents then band the outside of the box with heavy plastic strapping bands.These are extreemly tough and give the carrier somthing to hang onto. Lots of lumber yards have the strapping and tool to apply it. |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2006 9:37 am
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Funny you should mention the plastic strapping bands and the plastic wrap. I get stuff at work all the time with the plastic wrap like encoders, servo motors etc. and I have a lot of it left over. We also ship a lot of plastic banded packages and we have banders all over the shop. I never would have thought to use them, DUH! We also have a pallet wrapper that enshrouds a whole package in plastic wrap. Thanks for the tips!
Greg |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2006 11:25 am
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The problem is not with the shipping, shippers, or the packing...
Its with the Insurance, claim end.
most go with out a hitch, but when you need it.. the whole thing is put back on the sender, and they want you two to fight it out... ask them how to pack, and it is up to the sender to know this..
its a run around... good luck ken |
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John Poston
From:
Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2006 11:52 am
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| Is there any point in loosening the strings for shipping like you would a guitar or fiddle? |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 1 Jan 2006 1:26 pm
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| I guess a guitar or fiddle neck is more prone to warping or breaking with string tension combined with altitude pressure. A big hunk of birdseye maple, I would think, would not be so affected by string tension. |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 27 Feb 2006 3:27 pm
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I posted detailed pics click here of the amps and steel that I shipped. Definitely overkill but the buyers seemed impressed and everything arrived in one piece.
Greg |
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Grant Johnson
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 27 Feb 2006 3:33 pm
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Greg-
I still wish I won that Sho Bud! It topped out about 400 bucks more than I could have afforded...
I hope that it went to a good home! |
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