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Topic: Shipping A Pedal Steel? |
Bob Snelgrove
From:
san jose, ca
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 8:16 am |
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Hi Gang
I need advise on Shipping a loaded D-10. I'm sure "avoid UPS" is a given? 
Do you pack bubble wrap in the case to protect the guitar from shifting?(In front of the apron)
If you put it in a box, do you put something between the box and the case?
Do you make sure the case handle comes through the box?
Who is the best (most careful) shipper?
thx
bob
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 8:58 am
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Bob, I cut 2/4 blocks to fit in each end of the leg compartment to support the partition so it will not be broken loose. Put the case in a good fitting box with the handle exposed. If it is going where Greyhound goes you can ship it on a bus and it is only handled at loading and unloading once. A little more expensive but I think it is less likely of damage.
Jerry |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 10:03 am
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Bob,
I have had problems with just about EVERY shipper, and the only way you have a better shot is if you DON'T send it ground shipping , but it will cost you ...No matter whether you send it 2 or 3 day shipping or ground shipping these tip's will still apply ...
1) Make sure that noting inside the case can move around by adding either newspaper, bubble wrap, styrofoam pellets , etc ...You want to be able to shake the case and hear and feel NOTHING !!
2) As Jerry stated, put 2x4 blocks in the leg compartment to stiffin it up ..You don't want your steel to hit that divider and let the leg's loose to damage your steel ...
3) Bubble wrap the case so that you have a good couple of inches of wrap around the case.
4) drop the case in a good couple of inches of stiff foam or foam pellets so that it's TOTALLY surrounded by these pellet's or by stiff insulation ...
5) Make sure that the box you ship it in is a good strong sturdy box ...
The most important thing is to make sure that nothing can bounce around inside the case, and that everything is very tightly packed ...When things can flop around, there is more of a chance of damage ...Sometimes damage can NOT be avoided , like if your steel fall's off a truck from 4 or 5 feet !!....Or if someone is carrying it, instead of using a hand truck to save time , and they drop it ( how many times have I seen this ) ..A lot of times the delivery people and the warehouse people have about 12 hours worth of work to do in 8 hrs, so there's gonna be damage somewhere along the line , not to mention just plain human error..
Hope this helps....Jim |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 10:15 am
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I recently had a "hands on" lesson from the "experts" who ship fragile items on a daily basis.... my wife recently bought some china (as in dishes) that was shipped UPS.
When it arrived I noted that it was in a box protected by eggcrate and bubble....and was then placed inside a larger box insulated by styronfoam bubble.
Everything arrived intact..nothing broken!
www.genejones.com |
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Greg Simmons
From:
where the buffalo (used to) roam AND the Mojave
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Terry Hickey
From:
Arroyo Grande, California, USA
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 1:58 pm
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Bob
Find someone in the with a insta-pak system(sprayed liquid that turns to foam).
I sell the system so when I sent my Mullen back for service I went to one of my customers and shot foam around my guitar.It went both ways by UPS in perfect shape. The people at Mullen commented on the packaging.
Thanks, Terry[This message was edited by Terry Hickey on 25 February 2004 at 01:59 PM.] |
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David Cobb
From:
Chanute, Kansas, USA
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 4:35 pm
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I recently received a D-10 w/case that had been protected by 1/4" plywood.
The plywood was cut to roughly the same dimensions of the case, 4 pieces to cover the four sides and 2 small pieces to cover the ends of the case.
BTW, the plywood doesn't have to be cut so that the edges butt together precisely.
Then all the plywood was secured tightly with black plastic banding.
This package travelled a great distance and came thru like a champ.
If you don't have access to the banding apparatus, lots of fiberglass reinforced tape might be a solution for holding the plywood in place. |
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Bob Snelgrove
From:
san jose, ca
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 4:48 pm
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Thanks, everyone
Has anyone used these guys?:
http://www.baxglobal.com/default.asp
I thin Mike Cass said they were the only shipper he would use?
thx
bob |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 5:13 pm
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| I've had good luck shipping with Delta Air Cargo. |
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Drew Howard
From:
48854
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 5:38 pm
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I've shipped several pedal steel guitars. When I box the guitar, I pack pieces of styrofoam insulation on each end of the box that sandwich the case and thinner styro pieces along the sides. Pack your guitar right and you shouldn't have any problems.
Good luck!
Drew
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The Saltines
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 6:38 pm
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I would follow James and Drews very good advice........al
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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/
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gary darr
From:
Somewhere out in Texas
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 8:43 pm
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Good advise thus far, if your case has a conpartment for the volume pedal,be sure to fill that void with a foam block or even a wood four by four block. If the case takes a hit from the end, the steel can break the divider out. Not long ago I had my steel shipped to me, the individual was not comfortable packing the steel himself so he had it "professionaly packed" at one of those box stores. They charged him what I thought was a outragious price for a oversize box filled with foam pellets. To make a long story short the steel got to me in good shape but the case was no longer centered in the middle of the pellets, it was flat against one side of the cardboard box that it was shipped in. If there had been some solid foam blocks or spacers to keep it centered in the box, it wouldnt have been moving around. Just common sense stuff I guess.....Oh and dont forget to insure
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Dekley S-12 Session 500,American standard Strat,Shecter tele,Peavy Classic 50
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2004 5:30 pm
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I wouldn't bring my steel to ANY of those UPS Stores or any of those Mailbox ect stores...
There boxes are thin, and they put the foam pellet's in very loosely ...This why the pedal steel is jumping around inside the box !!..
when I'm putting the pellet's around a pedal steel that is bubble wrapped or even if it's just in it's hard case, I PACK those little buggers in there TIGHT !!.. You pay a few more buck's for packing material, but you can be assured that the guy on the other end will get his/her steel in one piece... How much is it worth not to have to deal with UPS insurance, after they just destroyed your $3,000 pedal steel ?
If you've even dealt with them , you certainly understand what I'm sayin !!...Jim |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 27 Feb 2004 1:33 am
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A block of 2x4 in the volume pedal slot if it's there.
One drop on that end and the wall breaks,
and your steel is sliding around like a ice skater.
Assume that TOTAL IDIOTS are moving your steel around.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 27 February 2004 at 01:33 AM.] |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 27 Feb 2004 2:39 am
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Once you understand how a shipper like UPS ships then you can pack it for the correct protection.
Like mentioned above, pack it so that if it is dropped off a conveyor it will survive.
There are actually very few "LIVE" people invloved but many conveyors etc..lots of room for error and falling off. Remember, they don't know whats in the package.Ans a conveyor cannot read " Caution"...assume that it will fall off and worse, end up on the bottom of a stack as well.
This will be the case unless you ship AIR..but very very costly...
I shipped UPS exclusively... over 500 packages/ year which can be damaged..and I have shipped 4 Steels, and 3 or 4 guitars and 2or 3 amps and speaker cabs.
I can count the damaged items on one hand..actually 3 or 4 fingers. The Instruments /amps all arrived damage free..as they were packed in my view..correctly.
Take your time packing..don't cheap out..use extra packing and cardboard inside the package for protection..leave just a tad of room for movement..not so tight that there is no give..
For the steels, place packing inside the case for minimal movement,and then build a box around the Steel case with the handle exposed. Give yourself about 2 inches all the way around the Steel case for filler material.
My rule of thumb is to spend a few minutes extra packing rather than a few weeks waiting for a damage claim reimbursement.
I should also add I receive packages from many of the top carriers, they are all good if the items are packed well.
I have been thinking about the Greyhound thing, but they are really pretty far away for me and may not be convenient for the guy at the other end..but it is a good choice to explore.
I too have heard many UPS horror stories..but I would like to see the package and how it was packed before I pass judgement.
One time a friend sent me his Tascam 80-8 recorder.it weighed probably 50 pounds. He stuck it in a box and filled it with newspaper. Yes, it had some damage, from inside the box moving around..he complained that UPS was horrible..I told him the packing was horrible. A 50 pound bulk thing is not gonna be protected by newspaper alone.
t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 27 February 2004 at 02:46 AM.] |
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Chippy Wood
From:
Elgin, Scotland
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Posted 27 Feb 2004 4:52 am
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Hi,
Carters shipped my guitar via Baxglobal it arrived in perfect condition. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 27 Feb 2004 6:18 am
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It seems that the fewer times the item is actually handled, the less chance there is for damage to occur.
Three years ago I had some fifty items - boxes of books, several guitars, framed pictures and glass-fronted furniture - shipped from Derbyshire in England to Asheville, NC; everything arrived in perfect condition. It was packed by the firm (Seagate) at my friend's house in Derby, processed through US Customs and delivered six weeks later - all this cost $1300, which I thought was amazing! Apparently all my stuff travelled on a palette and secured by shrink-wrap. It's called 'part-container', or something of that sort.
It's interesting that all my effects could travel 4000 miles without incident, and yet it's a risky business sending a steel across the USA.
I wonder how many new steels have suffered damage on their first journey from the manufacturers? I've had four new steels in the last few years - Emmons and Zum - and all arrived exactly as they left. I do know that none had much in the way of 'internal padding' - just a good fitting cardboard box with the handle exposed.
RR[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 27 February 2004 at 06:20 AM.] |
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Drew Howard
From:
48854
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Posted 27 Feb 2004 11:05 am
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I also didn't like the looks of the boxes for sale at the mailbox stores. I went to the music store I used to work at and got permission to fish around in their dumpster (like they would've cared) as they're always throwing away big cardboard boxes. I found a box used to ship a keyboard. Using a carpenters knife, some elbow grease, shipping tape and cuss words I made a cardboard box that looked rough but was very thick AND fit the steel guitar case.
Drew
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The Saltines
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Feb 2004 4:14 pm
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Drew. Since you're getting started, a word or two of advice. NEVER walk around the edge of the dumpster, and be sure that you have a FIRM footing before you lean in.
They are not always on a level surface.
Good luck.
EJL |
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