Flat boxes for shipping art?

[John Ranes II, CPF, GCF]

Fellow Grumblers...

I've seen a major increase in my online art sales and need to find a source for print boxes. I ship several thousand gift items a year and found that ULINE (http://www.uline.com/) is a great source for general shipping supplies including a giagantic selection of boxes, EXCEPT they really lack flat boxes for shipping artwork/prints like the ones we receive from major publishers.

-- I have created my own with cross layering corrigated to 4 or six layers but this is simply getting too labor intensive. :icon9:

-- I realize that the larger publishers probably have these custom made by I need a good source to purchase these in the dozens, not hundreds.

-- I need box thicknesses in the 1-1/2 inch range, not the 2-4 inch range.

Any suggestions? :shrug:

John

[kdub]

Haven't used these guys so I don't know how good they are but I do remember seeing they had strong boxes (lined with eggcrate foam) but they might have other stuff too.

http://www.airfloatsys.com/shop/index.php

[wpfay]

Air Float does make Print Packs as well as Strong Boxes. They come plain or lined with thin polycarbonate sheeting (bullet-resistant). You can get them from AirFloat or Masterpak.

[PEframes]

Fellow Grumblers...

I've seen a major increase in my online art sales and need to find a source for print boxes. I ship several thousand gift items a year and found that ULINE (http://www.uline.com/) is a great source for general shipping supplies including a giagantic selection of boxes, EXCEPT they really lack flat boxes for shipping artwork/prints like the ones we receive from major publishers.

-- I have created my own with cross layering corrigated to 4 or six layers but this is simply getting too labor intensive. :icon9:

-- I realize that the larger publishers probably have these custom made by I need a good source to purchase these in the dozens, not hundreds.

-- I need box thicknesses in the 1-1/2 inch range, not the 2-4 inch range.

Any suggestions? :shrug:

John


Uline has come out with a new box for framed art:

https://www.uline.com/ProductDetail.asp?model=S-5597

[seido]

http://www.elitepak.com/

Awesome boxes!

Joel

[JFeig]

I see that Uline sells the convoluted foam. http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_863.asp?keywords=convoluted+foam

[John Ranes II, CPF, GCF]

Thanks for the info on Elitepak (http://www.elitepak.com/) doesn't tell us where they are located anywhere on their website...even under company info. Where do they ship from Seido?

I see that they sell the same three products as Air Float Systems (http://www.airfloatsys.com/shop/index.php)? Who actually manufactures these? I see a third player pops up here...MasterPak (https://plus12.safe-order.net/masterpak-usa/order.php?xn=brochure) also selling these three items.

The PrintPads look interesting and for the high price, I should assume that they'll protect. The description doesn't really tell me much about the construction...
"PrintPads from Airfloat. An Airfloat PrintPad is a container within a container, which means your print is nestled inside multiple layers of protection. PrintPads come in the following sizes: 17” x 22”, 24” x 34” and 32” x 45”. And you can customize your package further with adjustable corner triangles that create a snug fit for your shipment."

Can any users elaborate on the protection provided?

PEframes... I may have seen those new ULINE boxes for framed art, but I was a little leary about the adjustable sizes. I tend to gravitate towards a fixed size, as I'm looked for shipping flat artwork, NOT framed artwork. Thanks. I may ask them to send me a sample.

[seido]

Not sure where they ship from, haven't used them in quite a while and don't remember, but love the product...should survive even above average UPS abuse!

Joel

[GUMBY, GCF]

I still use a 1x2 pine'(atual size is .75"x 1.75"),
luann board front & back. 1" dry wall srews every 6 inches.
Takes about 15 minutes to make the box.
Optional old style gargage door handle..on the side.(lets UPS "oops"guy carry it better.)bought bunch of these years ago at a surplus store for $.50@
Eggshell foam inside.
23x27 (not including the foam) cost is about $11.00

No dented corners on these....

1x3 can be cut on your mitre saw or but jointed
Luann can be cut with a utility knife, sabre saw or table saw. Oh yea a hand saw if anyone has on eof those LOL..

[FrameMakers]

John, I think the way your are doing it now is the best way. So instead of trying to find a different solution, why not try to find what you are doing pre-sized. Most cardboard companies and even my local frame supplier will provide me with custom sized corrugated. Order 100 26x32 or what ever you need and then just corner place the print in its sleeve between 4-6 layers of cardboard and tape the edges. I don't think that you could get less labor intensive then that.

I just received a box from a supplier that was interesting and might be another option.
They took a single sheet of corrugated and had 2 strips of particle board that were 2"x24". These formed the ends of the box, the corrugated was stapled to the particle board and folded around forming the rest of the box. It was extremely stiff and light weight for the amount of strength it had.

[DVieau2]

Cedar Box Company, Minneapolis (612) 332-4287.
They will make up boxes, in small quantities, to your specs.

FYI: Gunnar has a template for cutting boxes out of a single sheet of cardboard.

When I mentioned this to Wizard they acted like it was the dumbest idea ever.

When I mentioned selling boxes to one of my suppliers they also acted like it was the dumbest idea ever.

Doug

[Greg Fremstad]

I've made smaller shipping boxes out of cardboard by making 2 telescoping trays however deep I need. Score the bend lightly with a screen door welting roller tool.

The secret is 4 cubes of medium density foam rubber in the corners to completely isolate the frame from the box. Cut a slit in each cube to accept the corner of the frame. A 4 x 4 x 4 cube in a box 4 inches wider than the frame will give you 2 inches of foam all around the frame. These cubes will absorb the shock. A box dropped on its corner will have to crush 2 inches before it will affect the frame.

Larger boxes can be made with 1x's the depth needed and covered both sides with either double corrugated or luan ply. I cut my own foam cubes with an electric carving knife.

For shipping just the art, consider a 12x12x36 stock box. Roll up the art gently to about 8-10 inches in diameter with butcher paper 36 inches wide. The butcher paper should be left sticking out past both ends of the art. Put this all in a plastic sleeve. Isolate the rolled up art from the sides of the box by stuffing loosely wadded up newspaper in the corners - centering the roll.

This will protect the art without the weight of a thick cardboard tube. The box will have to be crushed quite a bit before the art is affected.

[John Ranes II, CPF, GCF]

I've made smaller shipping boxes.............will give you 2 inches of foam all around the frame...

Greg,

I certainly appreciate your effort and creative suggestions, however you and several others have NOT read my initial posting correctly nor my follow-up. :shrug:

I'm seeking FLAT boxes for artwork/prints, and NOT for framed artwork which has been discussed on this forum multiple times!

So far I really like the idea of ordering pre-cut sizes of sheets ready to tape together.

Thanks though,

John

[mik]

John, have you tried Light Impressions (http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/item.action?itemGroupId=448)
or Tharco corrugated boxes (http://www.tharco.com/products/ccm/) or call your local paper supplier and ask them if they know of any company that can supply you with what you are looking for.

[SportShots]

I ship photographs flat, matted and/or framed in a simple, lightweight and very strong package made from two or three pices of the blue or pink sheets of compressed foam insulation. (extruded polystyrene foam) The stuff that is tough, won't bend and is almost impossible to drive a pen or nail through without really working at it. If dropped the corners don't bend and any dents are very small. If I am shipping a framed piece I cut out a 'window mat' of the middle piece to fit and put the other two top and bottom. If flat art I use top and bottom only, making sure the artwork is wrapped in appropriate slip covers and taped in place so it can't come loose even with airline baggage gorillas handling it.

Tape all around, a couple of bracing pieces of tape and slap on a shipping label and you are all set.

It is very lightweight, protects the artwork well and if dropped in water it floats. A decent taping all the way around will protect it from water coming in as well.

With a wall cutter you can easily make them to size a bit larger than what you are sending and have the cuts clean and looking nice. If you want to get fancy put some logos on it.

If you let the client know to look for "The big PINK package... or The bit BLUE package" they will wonder until they see it. One thing is sure, it doesn't get lost easily as these really stand out in FedEx or UPS trucks.

One friend makes his like described above using wood, spacers and screws. He has gotten thin maple faced plywood, stained it after having another buddy laser etch his logo in the wood and it really looks nice. He adds in a 'please return the shipping box' note inside with postage and usually gets them returned. He tapes the address label over his permanently laser etched address on the front. That way they peel off the label and it is pre-addressed to come back to him. They really look beautiful and he had a couple of clients who sent him payment to keep the box after calling to find out how much he wanted for them.

Or, go the pre-made stuff as suggested by others here.

[Kirstie]

John, when you get it worked out, please let us know your solution. Also, how are you shipping these? We are finding that larger boxes are priced by size rather than weight, thus raising the shipping cost considerably.

Do you ever ship anything framed? IF so how, and what carrier are you using?

I like the fact that you are asking this question because it shows how well your online business must be doing. Congratulations!

[Jake7]

John- I have 38" x 64" double wall corragated pads made that can be folded over. If I am shipping a 24 x 30 print as an example, I cut a pad to 26 x 38 and protect the print with shrink film or the like and tape it to the cut pad. Cut another the same size and sandwich them. Take a 38 x 64 pad and fold over the sandwich, tape the ends and ship. It's fast and easy. I've been shipping art like this via UPS for a very long time and have had very little damage.

[John Ranes II, CPF, GCF]

...Take a 38 x 64 pad and fold over the sandwich, tape the ends and ship...

Jake,

It sounds like you end up with a print sandwiched by two double layers on either side = 4 double layers total with the grain running in the same direction? Please confirm.

We've received prints similar to (what you describe) this, and are now using a 3+3 single layer technique where each alternate layer is cut cross-grain.

What I really was hoping to find without having them custom made was pre-sized boxes to drop these 1 inch "sandwiches" into. Thanks for your information.

...Also, how are you shipping these? We are finding that larger boxes are priced by size rather than weight, thus raising the shipping cost considerably.

Indeed, Kirstie! We use UPS for all domestic shipping (1,800/year) and USPS for our International shipments. All carriers are calculating dimensional weight, so there is really no way around it, except recognizing those size levels when you calculate your pricing.

...Do you ever ship anything framed? IF so how, and what carrier are you using?

Yes...again with both UPS and USPS. Here, we'e had absolutely NO damage claims with our packing. :thumbsup: I've described this in a couple of previous threads on the Grumble....one of these days, I'm going to take some photos to post.

As our online orders have increased with art, I'm trying to create a good, efficient system for packing these. I'm leaning towards stocking standard sized double-wall corrigated sheets.


John

[Ruth Yheulon, CPF]

Not sure if this is what you are looking for but:
Apac Paper and Packaging in Michigan offers jumbo corrugated bookfold boxes.
These boxes range from 24 x 20 to 38 x 26 all can accomodate up to 6" in depth. They are scored so that they can fold down to 1".
Their info is:
Apac Paper & Packaging Crop
4000 Enterprise Dr
PO Box 640
Allen Park, MI 48101
313.982.6400
800.922.1986
fax 313.982.9900

[Elaine]

John,

I had a local box company make custom boxes for me to fit my picture packers and also so that they would not get bumped into the oversize category of UPS. They also would do small runs that were affordable.

:thumbsup: I'm sure they could make a custom flat print sleeve for shipping; they can also be imprinted with your website domain for further reach of advertising :-).

When I did this, the cost of having them made locally and custom was equal or slightly less than ordering minimums and having them shipped by truck.

my 2 cents

Elaine

[ahohen1]

Packaging system appears to be the best way to safely ship packages AND probably is.... just as long as it is not sent via FedEx or UPS! You can package it as strong as possible and then even put it in a welded metal box, BUT, if they drop it from a plane and lands on solid concrete and broke apart in two pieces and it's contents is destroyed, YOU will be blamed for "poor packaging"!!! Your best bet would be to ship it using US Mail. No item was ever sent from my shop that a customer received damaged (AND almost every framed item ever sent was framed using regular glass, NOT acrylic). How would US MAIL know when a package is fragile and to handle it "carefully"? Simple, just write it on the box. If you write "FRAGILE" on a box and send via FedUps and it does get damaged they will tell you (and i hate the phrase) "all packages are handled equally no matter what is written on the box"!!

[Pat Murphey]

While doing "walkaround" preflight inspections in my previous career, I watch many USPS boxes and letter boxes fall of the sides of the loading ramps.