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Old 08-10-2004, 11:01 PM   #1
Linda Brandon Linda Brandon is offline
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Airfloat Strongboxes




Kim, I have used Strongboxes for many years. (I'm having trouble linking this, try this site: https://secure.redmagnet.com/airfloatsys/strongbox.asp )They are sturdy and reusable heavy cardboard boxes with (optional) tough plastic liners. They're lined with two layers of "eggcarton" dark foam in which you can cut a shape to exactly fit your painting. Your painting rides nestled cozily to its destination. The whole thing is reusable and if you're mailing to an art show the repackers just pop it back in and the system comes right back to you if the painting is unsold. You can reuse the boxes many times. They are worth the investment if you plan to enter many shows. I would also use them to ship paintings to a client.

It seems to me that this company gives, or used to give, a discount to artists who are entering the Arts for the Parks national competition. It wouldn't hurt to ask.

I didn't fully appreciate these boxes until I helped uncrate paintings for a show last year. Show participants who shipped paintings haphazardly (one painting had seven layers of intricate tape and paper, a nightmare to unwrap) were thoroughly cursed by the unpackers.
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Old 08-11-2004, 12:11 AM   #2
Kimberly Dow Kimberly Dow is offline
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Debra,

Thank you for that information. I am a huge fan of Stephen Gjertson. I am jealous you got to visit him!

Thank you Linda - I am going to visit that site right now. I found a few online, not sure if that is the one. I guess spending the money put me off, but I am sure you are right that it is worth it. The husband keeps telling me he can build one easy enough (he builds multi-millon-dollar buildings so it must be true), but he is just so busy and hasn't gotten to it. Luckily the Fed Ex guy told me today that they come way up on our mountain and pick up. All I have to do it stand on a bathroom scale and get an approximate weight and I can write him a check at my front door. They are so trusting here in the country
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Old 08-29-2004, 02:28 AM   #3
Kimberly Dow Kimberly Dow is offline
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If anyone was interested I thought I'd post these photos of the crate my husband did make me. The lining inside is foam that is meant to wrap around pipes I believe. This is a keeper and I was very pleased with it. It was so exact that nothing else was needed to cushion the painting besides what you see here. The top was hinged for easy removal. Suprisingly enough - it weighed about 51lbs with the painting and only cost me about $30 to ship with FedEx.
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Old 08-30-2004, 10:19 AM   #4
Michele Rushworth Michele Rushworth is offline
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Sorry to throw cold water on something your husband must be proud of, but I don't think this crate has nearly enough cushioning to ship a painting in. When I shipped paintings often in the past there was about two inches of foam all around the painting. It looks like the foam here is only about a quarter inch thick and that there's only maybe a half inch sheet of plywood beyond that.

The idea is to have something so strong and so cushioning that when the baggage handlers throw it out of the cargo hold onto the sharp corner of another box on the ground, the painting will still survive.
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Old 08-30-2004, 01:01 PM   #5
John Crowther John Crowther is offline
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Crates

Michele is quite right, alas (even though the craftsmanship is superb). The reality is that we have to do as much as reasonably possible to anticipate abusive baggage handling. I sold a beautiful antique sewing table and sewing machine on e-bay for a friend. In a warehouse en route from Los Angeles to Wisconsin a handler ran a fork lift through the shipping crate, and the table was destroyed. -- John C.
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Old 08-30-2004, 02:16 PM   #6
Kimberly Dow Kimberly Dow is offline
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Actually I feel pretty confident about the crate. The plywood is 1/4" with 1/2" surround and sides. The foam is 2" thick at the top and bottom - thinner at the flat sides.

I am certainly not saying this is the best way to ship it. Not everyone has the tools, etc. I like the look of those boxes Linda recommended. Personally - I only feel safe delivering a painting in the nice padded back seat of my van.

I don't think any box or crate will protect a painting is a forklift is involved....

I'm gonna have to stand by my man on this one. He is a builder who started as a carpenter - he now builds 35-millon-dollar buildings. And he is trained as an engineer. Now - if I have to eat my words (the painting hasn't arrived yet) - I'll be sure and stay out of this building....
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Old 08-30-2004, 07:27 PM   #7
Mike McCarty Mike McCarty is offline
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Here's one I built earlier this year. It has withstood one adventure, boy do I get nervous. I shipped two framed 12x15 paintings in it. I wrap the paintings several times with sheeted bubble wrap and then filled the voids with more packing material.

The edges are made of 2x6 studs and the sides are 1/2 plywood. With the exception of the lid, which is attached with countersunk screws, it is all nailed. The handle, which I got at the hardware store for a couple of bucks, is a real benefit for hauling through an airport or in and out of the car.
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