Official Luthiers Forum!

Any general advice for mailing wood? In the past I've received just the back/sides wrapped in cardboard with no problem, but it seems like there is a possibility of damage. Does anyone recommend cutting out hardboard or the like to act as a shield? I'm just selling a bunch of extra sets (my eyes got too big at one point, and I now own several lifetime's worth of wood), so it's not like I have a bunch of scrap cutoffs or the like.

Also, any advice for getting cardboard cheap? I have a few boxes around to salvage, but after that I'll need to buy cardboard. Those shipping stores charge crazy prices for cardboard.

Roger I've mailed quite a bit over the last year or so. I get my boxes from Uline.....34x10x6 (I think). I don't put other pieces of wood in the box for support. These boxes are very sturdy and when cut down (don't use the entire 6 inch depth if you don't need to) are very rigid. I'll put a small smattering of packing peanuts in the box just to settle into the cracks and voids to keep things from moving while the postal workers practice their hail mary's with them. I've never had anything reported as damaged or abused. I do my shipping here at the house with Paypal. Just measure and weigh...and some pitter patter on the keyboard and the postal worker's yer uncle. A back and side set that is going across the country is going to cost you 14 bucks and that does not include the cost of the box and blah blah blah.

The one thing I fail to do as often as I'd like is charge enough for shipping. The only time I really don't end up covering the balance is on the USPS flat rate boxes.

Hope this helps.

Chris

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

It does, thanks.