I have several larger prints or art pieces I would like to list. I have been afraid to because I don’t want the glass with them to break and possibly damage the prints or art.
Does anyone have successful experience with this. Are you willing to share, please? Many thanks…
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ZenGirl Reputation: 40 See ZenGirl's booth |
Artwork is one of the hardest to pack and ship. I worked for 6-1/2 years at one of those pack and ship stores that was gobbled up by the UPS Store. What we did was we ran a strip of about 3/4 inch masking tape around the outside edge of the glass, right up next to the frame. Then we had a roll of what is called “glass mask” which is basically a 12" roll of masking tape. We covered the entire glass with this. The reason you ask? Most glass breaks because of vibration rather than impact, although impact certainly will break it. The package will travel by truck, which if you ever rode in the back of a pick-up as a child you may recall the vibration, so it’s going to ride in a vehicle for part of it’s journey. You need to protect from vibration as well as impact. Also, should the glass break, the sticky side of the glass mask will grab the shards and hold them, lessening the possibility of the shards scratching the dickens out of the artwork and damaging it. Once the glass mask was applied, a piece of plain cardboard was cut to fit the face of the glass and set in side the edges of the frame. Then it was 2 layers of large size bubble wrap, one layer in each direction. Then to create corners for each of the 4 corners of the frame by taking a 1 foot wide piece of the large bubble wrap and creating a roll of it the long way (most is sold in 2 feet wide by 1 foot increments). Take your bubble wrap log and curve it around the corner and tape it in place, cut off the excess and do the same around the whole frame, you may need to create 2 bubble wrap logs. Usually 8" of the roll will do the job on each corner. Then the box, the most important part of artwork packing. You need to get what has been designated as an “art box”. Your local box store will stock them. You need to size that box so that there are at minimum 2 inches of packing peanuts surrounding all sides of your artwork. If your artwork is expensive, then you will want to ship it with a fast service such as over night or 2 day at least to keep it’s exposure to handling and vibration at a minimum. Some artwork is best removed from frames due to the expense of the packing and rolled then shipped in mailing tubes. It just depends on the value of your item and what your buyer is willing to pay for and if out of the frame is acceptable. Personally, knowing what I know, if I had an expensive piece of art, I would have it professionally packed, it makes the packer liable for the packing job. And shop around, they all have different pricing and guarantees. I highly recommend anyone who was a Mail Boxes Etc. that got gobbled up by the UPS Store, they were well trained in packing and shipping.
Yes, it’s a lot of work and expense to do it right, but that’s what it takes if you want to do it right.
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johngermaine Reputation: 576 See johngermaine's booth |
You’ll want to pack them as if they were dishes. TONS of bubble wrap, wrapped around and around the picture, in many overlapping layers. Then, tape over the whole thing with packing tape, to seal the bubble wrap in place. Then, over that, I wrap paper, several layers thick. Then, the whole thing is boxed with a minimum of 3 to 4 inches of packing peanuts on all sides. Then, depending on the value of the piece, I’ve been known to take this whole package, and place it inside of another box, and pad around that.
Much depends on how valuable the item is. Some pieces I just don’t list because it would cost more to properly package and ship than the piece is worth.
Good luck!
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lovelylittlethings Reputation: 62 See lovelylittlethings' booth |
I’ve sold framed art and found that the safest way to package is to let one of those package stores do it. Or FedEx or UPS. :-) However, it’s costly and the cost cannot always be transferred to the buyer. I watch how they do it and follow their process and so far, all’s well. I also found a video online with directions on packing art.
First, I find a big, sturdy cardboard box and fill it about one-quarter full with popcorn. For the piece of art itself, I wrap it in bubblewrap a couple of times over and then frame it in cardboard braces, especially at the corners. Then another layer of bubblewrap over that.
Then I immerse it in the box and pour substantial amounts of popcorn all around the painting. I make sure the painting has little to no motion within the box. I also make sure that it is not touching the sides or the bottom of the box. It’s usually slightly tilted in the box. I usually cap this off with another full layer of cardboard directly under the top flap before sealing the box.
The cost of popcorn gets very expensive so be aware when setting your prices! You’ll also find that any estimate of the weight for shipping purposes will be substantially increased with all the packaging materials. So take that into consideration too if you hope to make a profit.
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florida_vintage Reputation: 14 See florida_vintage's booth |
You also must consider the “shipping provider” as part of your plan. I just sold a couple of very expensive pieces of art to a client; my planned shipper was FEDEX but the customer had a cow about it stating that he just had a couple of art pieces shipped from near my location via FEDEX and they arrived fairly messed up even with the glass taped, the broken pieces tore into the prints rendering them useless. The client said that every shipment via UPS arrived safely. Even if your shipment is insured it doesn’t cover disappointment and stress and shipping costs.
Now, there is both logic and opinion working the program here. To me, even USPS could be safe, provided that your packaging is safely assembled, and as everyone has said here…it is costly.
Can you dead-drop an egg in a box fron 50’ without breaking the egg? Yes, by suspending the egg within the box it won’t break. We have packaged ours with foamboard over the glass, sandwiched that with THICK foam board and foam along ALL edges; that then is enveloped in 1/2" bubblewrap; double thick cardboard encasing the entire package and adding plastic corners (you would typically see these on strapped pallets; they make a great bumper guard). Once more around in bubblewrap before taking heavy cardboard and making a tight custom fit around the entire project. What you have done is made your art “float” or suspend itself.
Overkill? Perhaps, but when you are talking big bucks paid, then spend the bucks to insure you get to keep the bucks you earned and a happy customer for your efforts.
If you don’t do this often or you have the hebbie-jeebies about it all, by all means have the professionals do it — and watch as it is being done. Most professionals take alot of pride in their work and don’t mind that you are watching what they are doing.
Good Luck
BTW, our paintings have made it safely (UPS).
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treasurenook2k8 Reputation: 12 See treasurenook2k8's booth |
Many thanks for all your detailed answers. You made my day by answering so thoughtfully. I think I will try to find a way to sell my artwork locally. Really scared to ship now! Best wishes to each of you.
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ZenGirl Reputation: 40 See ZenGirl's booth |
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