How to pack a bandsaw to ship Parcel Post?

fgrule · Post by **fgrule** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:09 pm

I need to ship a bandsaw by Parcel Post. How does this sound for packing it? Remove the cast iron table and wrap in thick bubble wrap. Remove the aluminum blade guard & locking post up/down assembly and wrap separately.Tighten down anything that moves on the saw.

Fit a cardboard box tightly to the bandsaw with the removed parts also in the box (packed where nothing inside the box can move).

Put this box into a second box with 2" of padding all the way around the inner box (i.e double-boxed with outer box 2" larger in all directions). Tape both boxes VERY well.

Doing this, I can stay within the Post Offices' 108" girth + length limit (barely).

I thought about building a wood crate from 1 x 2s and plywood covered with cardboard, but I'm not sure there's any advantage over the very heavy cardboard I have.
I guess this question applies to jigsaws, bandsaws, belt sanders, headstocks, etc.

Thanks for suggestions.

Fred

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:59 pm

Looks like it should work fine as long as nothing can bounce around during the shipping process. Avoid the use of peanuts as the padding, they can disintegrate in transit.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:04 pm

fgrule wrote:I need to ship a bandsaw by parcel post. How does this sound for packing it? Remove the cast iron table and wrap in thick bubble wrap. Remove the aluminum blade guard & locking post up/down assembly and wrap separately.Tighten down anything that moves on the saw.

Fit a cardboard box tightly to the bandsaw with the removed parts also in the box (packed where nothing inside the box can move).

Put this box into a second box with 2" of padding all the way around the inner box (i.e double-boxed with outer box 2" larger in all directions). Tape both boxes VERY well.

Doing this, I can stay within the Post Offices' 108" girth + length limit (barely).

I thought about building a wood crate from 1 x 2s and plywood covered with cardboard, but I'm not sure there's any advantage to the very heavy cardboard I have.
I guess this question applies to jigsaws, bandsaws, belt sanders, headstocks, etc.

Thanks for suggestions.

Fred

I have successfully shipped two bandsaws with the parts packed (after being dismantled) inside of the bandsaw housing. The shaft protrudes but nothing else. Then that bundle was bubble wrapped and placed inside a cardboard container. Void spaces were packed with pieces of bubble wrap.

The resulting bundle is not all that heavy and the bubble wrap protects it from impact.

No free movement within the container I believe is the solution.

Good Luck

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:49 pm

WOW!!! Sounds like ya have it "DOWN". The only thing I can think of is to trash bag the bandsaw.

derekdarling · Post by **derekdarling** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:33 am

beeg wrote:WOW!!! Sounds like ya have it "DOWN". The only thing I can think of is to trash bag the bandsaw.

Trash bag the bandsaw, then place a couple of more trash bags around it top and bottom inside the outer box, and fill those with expanding insulation foam... enough to expand to fill the outer box, but not so much it blows up. Guaranteed nothing moves or settles. Using two bags allows you to part the packaging upon delivery.

Derek

fgrule · Post by **fgrule** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:25 am

derekdarling wrote:Trash bag the bandsaw, then place a couple of more trash bags around it top and bottom inside the outer box, and fill those with expanding insulation foam... enough to expand to fill the outer box, but not so much it blows up. Guaranteed nothing moves or settles. Using two bags allows you to part the packaging upon delivery.

Derek

Are you talking about the stuff in a can? Have you done this before? Seems like it might be hard to control and very messy.

Thanks, Fred

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:14 am

fgrule wrote:Are you talking about the stuff in a can? Have you done this before? Seems like it might be hard to control and very messy.

Thanks, Fred

This method works very well, especially if you have a foam machine that is designed for this specific purpose. I used to work in a manufacturing facility that used this method. However, I have never tried it with spray cans of foam. I am sure the foam would work but can you afford it?

fgrule · Post by **fgrule** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:42 am

dusty wrote:This method works very well, especially if you have a foam machine that is designed for this specific purpose. I used to work in a manufacturing facility that used this method. However, I have never tried it with spray cans of foam. I am sure the foam would work but can you afford it?

Of course, those foam machines are very expensive and not for the average consumer. That would be ideal but for the cost.

Instapak is another high $$ system I have seen. I don't think it's cost efficient for things like SPTs.

Fred

joedw00 · Post by **joedw00** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:04 pm

[ATTACH]17215[/ATTACH] $2.94 Walmart

fgrule · Post by **fgrule** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:11 pm

joedw00 wrote:[ATTACH]17215[/ATTACH] $2.94 Walmart

That is the spray-can stuff I was referring to.How much volume per can?

I know from previous use that this stuff is really messy and extremely hard to remove. Any experience with is for packing?

Thanks, Fred