Packing, Shipping and Insurance

Antonio Cejunior · 17th November 2005, 10:26 PM

Rick,

Actually let me add a few comments on my own personal experience and Museum experience with the recent Masters of Fire Exhibition, please refer to the Preparations page

I have always used FedEx and spent a fortune, and never had a problem.

You see, the shipping being sponsored by FedEx means they will be taking extra care for their name is at stake. It happened with the Masters of Fire and everything came in pristine condition.

As you can see there were even FedEx boxes with a plastic tube inside.

I agree with light PVC tubing, but please don't settle for anything yet. We still have time. Let me talk to FedEx after the Grand Prix which makes me grumpy.

But again, you will receive special labels from us to download and print.

Look at this page with Shipping Instructions.

In due time I will put something up similar. FedEx contacted every FedEx station once they have all smiths (contributors in our case) addresses and gave them special instructions in handling. Anyone who would make a problem would be in trouble.

It may not be so soon, but let me get back at you folks, once I have news.
The recent exhibition is a good experience and reference.

Best,
Antonio

Federico · 18th November 2005, 02:11 AM

Jumping ahead of myself here, since we are not yet to the point of shipping, any suggestions as to where I can get shipping materials? I had contemplated making a wooden crate, and then lining the inside with foam cells so that my whole contribution could be shipped in one package, but realize that would mean one really big crate. I like the PVC tubing idea, though I do not have scrap and would need to buy all the tubing at the hardware store. I understand we will get vouchers for the actual shipping, but will the packaging materials be re-imursed? Particularly if many individual shipments have to be made, I can see the cost for purchasing tubing and appropriate cushioning materials may be quite high.

Antonio Cejunior · 18th November 2005, 09:53 AM

Hi Fred,

Please have patience. Packing is an art as I have learned many years ago with the people of the Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, and without having enough information at the moment, depending on what the shipping list is, I cannot develop further information.

Please be patient

Mark · 18th November 2005, 12:46 PM

We still don't know how much material is coming from where, and likely there will one be a single answer to your question. While it showed FedEx's competence and care, the Masters of Fire exhibition is a case somewhat different case from ours, because only one piece was coming from each contributor. Still, FedEx ships elephants, so they can handle our swords (and will recommend the best way to package them), when that time comes.

To be honest, with respect to working on my own section, the shipping process itself is the thing I personally am least worried about. I am obsession over what we need to have in it and how to arrange it! I keep sending re-writes of our article to my poor collaborators before they even have a chance to revise the last one.

If you have ever known someone that has been in what is called a "12-step" program, you might have heard the Serenity Prayer (I hope I have this right):

Quote:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the strength to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

If you turn this around a little, you get Mark's Serenity Blessing:

Quote:

God, thank you for the serenity of not having to worry about things I don't have to, and not worrying excessively about the things I do, and the ability to appreciate the difference.

Antonio Cejunior · 19th November 2005, 11:15 AM

Wow

Amen.

God, grant me the grace to become a lawyer when I grow up, so
I can write these kinda things and what not?

Okay, jokes off now. I agree. I will help with suggestions when the time comes.
One has to assess first how many final swords one is shipping.

Mark · 24th February 2006, 07:34 PM

Hi, folks.

Now that we all are turning to the packing and shipping process, I've started to focus on some issues. Mostly, what packing materials to use?

A big issue that has to be kept in mind is weight. Naturally, a fiberglass or aluminum gun case or a wooden crate would be nice and safe, but those are going to weight too much.

For the Masters of Fire exhibition, I understand that FedEx set a 5kg per package weight limit, and that is very likely going to happen for History of Steel as well. That means most of us will have to divide our contributions into several packages. Bear in mind that the Museum is paying for all of this, and the shipping alone is going to cost tens of thousands of dollars. It is going to be crucial to strike the right balance between protection and weight.

We have spoken a little about using PVC pipe, which would be very good, but I am afraid about the weight factor. It was used successfully by many of the Masters of Fire smiths, but they each had only one sword to ship. I am going to buy some and do a trial package of three or four bundled pipes to see how much it weighs. Rick has found some stuff that looks very sturdy and is not too expensive (again I don't have the link right now, but I'll add it), but I still wonder at the weight factor. If I can I'll get some of that this week-end, too, and do a weight trial. Added: the pipe is called ADS and is $4.00 per foot in 8" diameter

Now, we all love our collections and want the safe, but let's be honest. Haven't we all used cardboard most of the time for shipping, even internationally? And how many problems have their been, at least when the internal packing was careful? Personally, I have not had a single problem in the course of dozens of cardboard-packed swords. The only packing failures I have had have been when I or the other guy used a recycled box/tube that was weakened from prior use.

Antonio has put up a page with some suggestions on how to pack in carboard tubes. I'll add in the link later because I don't have it on this computer. Please consider this way of doing it, at least for the swords & knives. I am pretty sure that I will use this packing when it comes down to it. It will keep money in the budget for things like catalogue printing and promotion, which will be key to the exhibition's success. Obviously, axes, shields, armor, puppets (yes, I have two Burmese marionettes with swords that we might use!), etc., need a different treatment.

But in any case, let's get the ideas out here for discussion on the forum, so we can share the knowledge and experience and find the best way to do this.

Mark

Link to pipe manufacturer: http://www.ferguson.com/

Spunjer · 25th February 2006, 06:01 AM

Quote:

I understand that FedEx set a 5kg per package weight limit

is the weight definite? i was talking to rick about the tube issue. my problem is i can't find anyone here in this bustling metropolis of chillicothe that carry anything similar to that. i will be going on midnite shift this coming week, not to mention, a big competition for me on march 4(next weekend), and getting ready for that big time. needless to say, it's gonna be a hectic week.
as for packaging, i found a box at work, 50"x10"x10", rated at 165lbs/sq in. i was gonna line it with masonite, then place all the swords in it (individually bubble wrapped and peanut packed).
my other option was gonna run me around $919.00 (pvc pipe, caps)...

if i order that on the link provided, will i have enuff time to get it? when is this gonna ship anyways?

17th November 2005, 10:26 PM	#1
Antonio Cejunior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Macau Posts: 294	SOME RECENT EXPERIENCE Rick, Actually let me add a few comments on my own personal experience and Museum experience with the recent Masters of Fire Exhibition, please refer to the Preparations page I have always used FedEx and spent a fortune, and never had a problem. You see, the shipping being sponsored by FedEx means they will be taking extra care for their name is at stake. It happened with the Masters of Fire and everything came in pristine condition. As you can see there were even FedEx boxes with a plastic tube inside. I agree with light PVC tubing, but please don't settle for anything yet. We still have time. Let me talk to FedEx after the Grand Prix which makes me grumpy. But again, you will receive special labels from us to download and print. Look at this page with Shipping Instructions. In due time I will put something up similar. FedEx contacted every FedEx station once they have all smiths (contributors in our case) addresses and gave them special instructions in handling. Anyone who would make a problem would be in trouble. It may not be so soon, but let me get back at you folks, once I have news. The recent exhibition is a good experience and reference. Best, Antonio

24th February 2006, 07:34 PM	#6
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Some packing issues Hi, folks. Now that we all are turning to the packing and shipping process, I've started to focus on some issues. Mostly, what packing materials to use? A big issue that has to be kept in mind is weight. Naturally, a fiberglass or aluminum gun case or a wooden crate would be nice and safe, but those are going to weight too much. For the Masters of Fire exhibition, I understand that FedEx set a 5kg per package weight limit, and that is very likely going to happen for History of Steel as well. That means most of us will have to divide our contributions into several packages. Bear in mind that the Museum is paying for all of this, and the shipping alone is going to cost tens of thousands of dollars. It is going to be crucial to strike the right balance between protection and weight. We have spoken a little about using PVC pipe, which would be very good, but I am afraid about the weight factor. It was used successfully by many of the Masters of Fire smiths, but they each had only one sword to ship. I am going to buy some and do a trial package of three or four bundled pipes to see how much it weighs. Rick has found some stuff that looks very sturdy and is not too expensive (again I don't have the link right now, but I'll add it), but I still wonder at the weight factor. If I can I'll get some of that this week-end, too, and do a weight trial. Added: the pipe is called ADS and is $4.00 per foot in 8" diameter Now, we all love our collections and want the safe, but let's be honest. Haven't we all used cardboard most of the time for shipping, even internationally? And how many problems have their been, at least when the internal packing was careful? Personally, I have not had a single problem in the course of dozens of cardboard-packed swords. The only packing failures I have had have been when I or the other guy used a recycled box/tube that was weakened from prior use. Antonio has put up a page with some suggestions on how to pack in carboard tubes. I'll add in the link later because I don't have it on this computer. Please consider this way of doing it, at least for the swords & knives. I am pretty sure that I will use this packing when it comes down to it. It will keep money in the budget for things like catalogue printing and promotion, which will be key to the exhibition's success. Obviously, axes, shields, armor, puppets (yes, I have two Burmese marionettes with swords that we might use!), etc., need a different treatment. But in any case, let's get the ideas out here for discussion on the forum, so we can share the knowledge and experience and find the best way to do this. Mark Link to pipe manufacturer: http://www.ferguson.com/ Attached Images Last edited by Mark Bowditch; 24th February 2006 at 09:14 PM. Reason: I mistyped the weight -- 5kg NOT 50kg! Also added links and tube info

18th November 2005, 02:11 AM	#2
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	Jumping ahead of myself here, since we are not yet to the point of shipping, any suggestions as to where I can get shipping materials? I had contemplated making a wooden crate, and then lining the inside with foam cells so that my whole contribution could be shipped in one package, but realize that would mean one really big crate. I like the PVC tubing idea, though I do not have scrap and would need to buy all the tubing at the hardware store. I understand we will get vouchers for the actual shipping, but will the packaging materials be re-imursed? Particularly if many individual shipments have to be made, I can see the cost for purchasing tubing and appropriate cushioning materials may be quite high.

18th November 2005, 09:53 AM	#3
Antonio Cejunior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Macau Posts: 294	Hi Fred, Please have patience. Packing is an art as I have learned many years ago with the people of the Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, and without having enough information at the moment, depending on what the shipping list is, I cannot develop further information. Please be patient

19th November 2005, 11:15 AM	#5
Antonio Cejunior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Macau Posts: 294	Wow Amen. God, grant me the grace to become a lawyer when I grow up, so I can write these kinda things and what not? Okay, jokes off now. I agree. I will help with suggestions when the time comes. One has to assess first how many final swords one is shipping.