PACKAGING AND SHIPPING FINISHED METAL ART

Joel H. wrote: 12/10/2016

I Need Help. I need to know how to ship clear-coated items so that wrapping doesn’t leave marks on the product. Thanks. Joel H.

Hi Joel,

I’d be glad to tell you how we do it. It’s important that the clear-coat is cured to at least 90% before packaging begins. On projects I’ve had to cut, finish, clear & ship in the same day, I used an infrared curing lamp, identical to the one pictured below, which gives me a 90-95% Clear-Coat Cure in <15 Minutes.

**Cures 2-Part Automotive Clear-Coats in Under 15 Mins**.

We wrap the steel in NEWSPRINT, (not newspaper), tape the paper closed with 2″ wide packing tape (2.5-3.0mil), then wrap again in .125″ thick,closed-cell foam. I would advise against using tissue-paper, or any type of paper other than Newsprint. And, don’t use any Styrofoam, only closed-cell foam, which you can buy in several widths, perforated for easy tearing every 12″.

Inline image 2 — **USING NEWSPRINT TO PROTECT STEEL ART**

We make our cardboard (fibre-board) boxes from 4′ X 8′ sheets of DW (Double-Wall, 375# Test Cardboard, available at most packaging distributors or online. ULINE.com is a good source & they have several distribution centers throughout the U.S. & Canada.

We cut the cardboard 2″-2.5″ Strong on width & height, lay the foam-wrapped piece/s on one of the 2 sheets we cut & tape it down in a few places along the edge of the steel.

Then, the top piece of cardboard can be stapled together, or in most cases, we use 3″ wide/3.5 mil Packing Tape, to seal the edges.

If the steel being packaged & shipped is over 30-35#, we’ll often take the cardboard packaged box to a crating service that will encase what we’ve done in Luan, OSB or 1/4″ plywood & 3/4″-1-1/2″ Edge Framework, along with poly or metal banding, for the ultimate in rigidity & protection during shipping.

I’ve done the crating myself a few times & found it’s much cheaper (& way faster) to find someone that has the right equipment. It’s been my experience

that crating services are very reasonably priced.

We always crate Railing Panels or Large Signs for shipment, even if the project is only going to a nearby state.

Some of the crates we’ve shipped were nearly 10′ Long X 36″ Wide X 6″-8″ Thick, Overall. I try to limit Railing Panels to 3 per crate.

Your local LTL Trucking Services should know a crater in your area. We use ODFL for our shipping as they allow us to ship Class 50 (sheet metal) at tremendously reduced rates, usually less than $1.00 per pound, even to the east coast. We’re in Utah, so I find that very, very reasonable.

Since 2005, we’ve shipped many hundreds of pieces in the manner described above & never had damages or inner-wrap marring, sticking or scratching the clear-coat.

Hope that helps a little. If you have further questions or need source recommendations, please let me know.

Thanks,

Bill