Shipping Sewing Machine

[ArtS]

I need to ship an old leather sewing machine. Anybody have any suggestions on finding a reasonable priced way or company to ship it?

Thanks,

Art

[Rawhide]

You can try uship I think people bid on shipping your stuff for you.

Marlon

[Bree]

If it has cast iron components be certain to treat it as a fragile item. An old treadle for example is made of metal that is very brittle and will easily crack if dropped. I had a Singer treadle shipped from Montreal via DHL that arrived with 18 breaks. It was poorly packaged and roughly handled.

[undeberg]

If you can find a heavy duty box you could pack it yourself. I've had good luck with using some of that spray foam in a can.

Just make SURE that you don't let it contact whatever your shipping or it sticks.

I start by putting a chunk of styrofoam in the bottom. Those one inch thick sheets work pretty well. This gives me some initial padding. Then I spray a liberal amount of foam in a plastic garbage bag. It should kind of fill it like a bean bag. Not bursting full. You need to be able to allow for your "item" to move the foam around, and foam expansion without bursting the bag. I place the foam filled bag in the box. Wrap my item that I'm shipping in a plastic bag, as a precaution against leaking foam, and set it on top of the foam filled bag. This will allow the foam to expand around your object making a tight, movement free package.

I usually let that sit until it's done expanding. Then I stuff all four sides and the top with foam filled bags. Once again leave some space so the foam can expand. If you don't your box will burst.

I let that sit overnight so it fully cures. Then I can open the box and determine if any open spaces need to be filled with more spray foam, or blocks of foam, or peanuts for that matter.

I know this is kind of complicated, but it's the best way I've found to ship anything fragile.

I would recommend shipping with FEDEX. My last box from UPS came in in a black plastic garbage bag. I counted 6 different boot prints on my leather. I'm pretty sure it didn't come from the supplier that way!

[ArtS]

Good warning. Thanks. I never would have thought about that.ArtThanks. I wouldn't have thought about the spray foam.Art

If you can find a heavy duty box you could pack it yourself. I've had good luck with using some of that spray foam in a can.Just make SURE that you don't let it contact whatever your shipping or it sticks.I start by putting a chunk of styrofoam in the bottom. Those one inch thick sheets work pretty well. This gives me some initial padding. Then I spray a liberal amount of foam in a plastic garbage bag. It should kind of fill it like a bean bag. Not bursting full. You need to be able to allow for your "item" to move the foam around, and foam expansion without bursting the bag. I place the foam filled bag in the box. Wrap my item that I'm shipping in a plastic bag, as a precaution against leaking foam, and set it on top of the foam filled bag. This will allow the foam to expand around your object making a tight, movement free package.I usually let that sit until it's done expanding. Then I stuff all four sides and the top with foam filled bags. Once again leave some space so the foam can expand. If you don't your box will burst.I let that sit overnight so it fully cures. Then I can open the box and determine if any open spaces need to be filled with more spray foam, or blocks of foam, or peanuts for that matter. I know this is kind of complicated, but it's the best way I've found to ship anything fragile.I would recommend shipping with FEDEX. My last box from UPS came in in a black plastic garbage bag. I counted 6 different boot prints on my leather. I'm pretty sure it didn't come from the supplier that way!

[ArtS]

You can try uship I think people bid on shipping your stuff for you.

Marlon

Thanks Marlon. I'll try them out. That sounds like my best bet.

Art