Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 19

Thread: Protecting A Finial For Shipping

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Prosper, Texas
    Posts
    1,474

    Protecting A Finial For Shipping

    I have a hollow form with finial that I want to ship. Bubble wrap will adequately protect the vessel but I am somewhat concerned about the more delicate finial. I want to assure that the recipient does not reach in the box and damage the finial while removing the contents of the box while at the same time assuring that he/she realizes that there is more than just the vessel in the box so the finial is not disposed of inadvertently. I think a great solution would be a clear plastic tube similar to those used for cigars. Obviously the inside diameter (something that approximates 1.75") must be great enough to accept the finial and its length must be adequate. However, if I could find a much longer tube, as long as the ID is adequate, I could cut the tube into multiple lengths for future use. Each tube could then be capped off with something like duct tape when shipped. This would protect the finial while at the same time making its presence in the box obvious so it does not wind up in the trash with the box.

    I have no idea who might sell something like this. Any ideas?
    Regards,

    Glen

    Woodworking: It's a joinery.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Elizabeth City, NC
    Posts
    190
    A quick google search for "clear plastic tubes" brought up lots of options.
    Here is one
    https://www.uline.com/BL_3651/Clear-...s=clear%20tube
    I am not saying go kill all the stupid people......
    I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem sort itself out.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Roseville,Ca
    Posts
    455
    Check Amazon for "shipping tube" lots of choices.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Prosper, Texas
    Posts
    1,474
    I checked Hobby Lobby and Michael's last week with no success. Guess I was making it more difficult than it needed to be.

    Thanks.
    Regards,

    Glen

    Woodworking: It's a joinery.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    E TN, near Knoxville
    Posts
    12,298
    Quote Originally Posted by Glen Blanchard View Post
    ...I think a great solution would be a clear plastic tube similar to those used for cigars...Any ideas?
    Glen,

    I bought plastic mailing tubes like that and caps from U-Line, although I don't think they will sell just one tube - I bought a box of 50. I use them to protect spindle turnings for shipping and as presentation tubes for gifts (I turn nice wooden end plugs for that.)

    It seems to me that any mailing tube, plastic, cardboard, etc. would work fine. I see Amazon offers a variety. A visit to any office supply store, UPS store, or even Walmart might get you what you need.

    When shipping, I like to tape things like that with special masking tape with extra strong adhesive - the tape is bright green so it's hard to miss.
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004Z4AY
    I find many uses for this tape in the shop and around the farm. (It is nothing like the green or blue painter's tape)

    JKJ

  6. I would use two wooden strips as splints, and wrap them onto the finial with painters tape, and then put them into bubble wrap........and if possible put the finial down inside the hollow form for shipping with a note to the customer to use care in removing the tape. Painters tape usually does not leave any residue, and the splints. It is likely it would all arrive safely.
    Remember, in a moments time, everything can change!

    Vision - not just seeing what is, but seeing what can be!




  7. #7
    Fluorescent light protector tubes? Big box stores. May not be big enough diameter... 1 1/2 inches...

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Vadnais Heights, MN
    Posts
    1,607
    Does it have to be plastic? What about a cardboard poster tube? They make some that are thick and durable for shipping artwork and such. You could cut them to whatever length you needed....
    Doug Swanson

    Where are John Keeton and Steve Schlumpf anyway?

  9. #9
    2" PVC pipe. Your local plumbing supply store should have cutoffs or visit a new subdivision and scrounge for scraps.

    Left click my name for homepage link.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Fredericksburg, TX
    Posts
    2,576
    Make a small cardboard box or tube to encase the finial wrapped with bubble or foam and stick it in the larger package. Should not be that complicated. PVC tube is also good suggestion but might require a trip to store (and other purchases).

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Prosper, Texas
    Posts
    1,474
    Thanks for the many replies. As I stated earlier, I suppose I was making this more difficult than it needed to be. U-Line and Amazon both provide what I am looking for. I made a purchase from Amazon for a 36" tube which should work nicely. The reason I wanted to stay away from cardboard or opaque plastic such as PVC, both of which would provide adequate protection, is that I don't want the recipient to overlook the finial.

    Thanks again!
    Regards,

    Glen

    Woodworking: It's a joinery.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    San Diego, Ca
    Posts
    1,647
    Here's an out-of-the-box idea (sorry for the pun):

    Take the piece to a place that does foam-in-place packaging. They take an empty box, line it with very thin poly and then squirt in enough foam so that it is about 1/2 full. It is covered with a poly bag and while the foam has not completely "set up", the piece is pressed into the foam to the 1/2 way point (like a "parting line"). Then they cover it with another thin poly bag and squirt in the other half of the foam. It all cures and holds the piece perfectly. Because of the use of poly bags, each half of the (eventually) rigid foam can be removed. This same process can be used to hold several parts whether or not they are connected.

    A contents of a box that were foamed in place is totally safe and secure.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Spring City, TN
    Posts
    1,537
    At a recent auction I bought a HF that had a real long finial. I simple wrapped the HF in saran wrap, covering the hole in the top, reversed the finial in the hole (finial pointing down) and wrapped it again to secure it inside the HF. Bubble wrapped, boxed and it traveled just fine.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    TX, NM or on the road
    Posts
    845
    For a finial I would get a piece of PVC pipe about 4 inches longer than the finial. Cap one end, and fill part war with Styrofoam worms place the finial top in first so that it is about 2 inches below the top. Finish filling with worms, sort of "stuffing" gently with more worms so that it cannot move. Cap it off, with a note OPEN THIS END FIRST. Then place inside of another with the rest of the object also packed so it doesn't move around.

    Things get broken because they either move or shift around in the container or the container gets squashed. When you ship something, most times the only personal hands on attention is when you hand it to the clerk and after it gets to the delivery person. A lot of machines move the packages by reading the bar codes that will assigned to the package. Those machines do not read fragile, handle with care or this side up, only the bar code to route it the bin for the next delivery destination. If your package is first into the hamper, and my order of 60 pounds of maple is next, your box better be able to take the weight of my maple falling on top of it. If not, it is your fault, not mine and not the shippers.

    If you want personal hand service all the way, you have to hire a private courier service, or a long distance hot shot service to deliver your packages.

  15. #15
    Whatever you end up doing, ALWAYS first wrap your objects in tissue paper. Many finishes do not like direct contact with bubble wrap and some plastics.

    Left click my name for homepage link.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •