Shipping a Small Tool Box

[Bull]

What is the easiest, most efficient but also effective way to safely ship a benchtop tool box? It's heavy, and want the finish to avoid damage. I always find it to be a hassle to hunt down a box that is the right thickness to support the weight as well as the perfect dimensions to fit the object and allow room for padding. I look to you wiser folks to make this less onerous for me.

This is for Pinky. She needs to be shipped off to have her hair and nails did, and she needs to be on her way SOON.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I haven't shipped anything like that, but I would almost think of building a custom wood framed box for that to ship it.

 

[wreckercologist]

I bought a couple of Kennedy machinist chests off of Ebay. They were just wrapped in heavy walled cardboard and a bunch of reinforced packing tape (the stuff with strings in it). They were fine, but these were used toolboxes.

I wonder if a guy could get a cheap blanket or maybe a beach towel and wrap the box in that and then go with cardboard and packing tape.......

'67's idea is too bad either. Build a pallet slightly larger than the box, screw the box to the pallet, then build a frame around the box and cover with cardboard of something. A "do not stack" sticker might be called for too.

 

[Outlawmws]

Any warning sticker will do nothing except possibly attract added punishment (Trust me on this). Always remember this about shipping: Anything you ship MUST be packed to withstand a 5 foot drop! This is because that is exactly what some of the conveyor systems in the shipping industry do.

If you can get some old carpet padding, pad it, box it, then pad that box and box it, you have a chance.

Other options include single layer padding and boxing and shipping it by bus (Requires PU at the other end) or same deal and by padded van, (Moving industry) that can gt it delivered to the door.

A more expensive padding might be 2" Styrofoam, use the 6" stretch wrap to keep it together, and then box that. I've shipped tool box sized speakers that way successfully. (2" Styrofoam is not cheap however)

 

[Vettman]

I'd visit a Sears or appliance store and obtain the preformed cardboard corners used to protect major appliances during shipment. Cut them to size and tape them to all the edges of your box. You could get by with 4 and leave them a couple inches longer than your toolbox. Then find a box suitable in size to fit your toolbox.

 

[JC23]

You will also want to protect the paint from vibration damage. Think cotton or blankets then plastic bag.

 

[Skyline]

Last one like that I shipped, I let the UPS store box it up for me. I made sure it was insured. It arrived crushed.

I think the only proper way to ship that is on a palet, truck freight. If it's UPS, and a box that heavy, it will get dropped and destroyed.

If you do decide to try to UPS it, their rules do require rigid foam for something that heavy. Some sort of expanding foam inside plastic bags all around is the way to go.

 

[930dreamer]

Last one like that I shipped, I let the UPS store box it up for me. I made sure it was insured. It arrived crushed.

I think the only proper way to ship that is on a palet, truck freight. If it's UPS, and a box that heavy, it will get dropped and destroyed.

If you do decide to try to UPS it, their rules do require rigid foam for something that heavy. Some sort of expanding foam inside plastic bags all around is the way to go.

X2 on UPS boxing, packaging and shipping.

 

[diesel research]

crate and truck ship.

My coworker had his snap on roll cab and most of his house hold goods shipped from our old job to his new job on the other side of the country. I believe it was north of 700lbs, perhaps over 1000lbs. How much ever a typical 26" cabinet full of tools weighs. A 4ftx4ftx4ft wood crate. It fell out of the back of his truck on the way back from weigh scale. After 8 of us built ramps in the middle of the street and wrestled it barely between wheel wells, it went back to the shop to be shipped from Tx to Michigan.

He paid about $200...

Think he used AAA cooper less-than-truckload (LTL)

The stipulation for him was a "business address with forklift/docks on both ends" For such a small item this might not matter.

 

[diesel research]

Greyhound is also an option providing you remove drawers or any extra weight, to keep it under the limits. Again, wood crate.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

You should probably just deliver it in person... wait to have it's hair + nails done, and drive it back home. Althought this would be the most expensive way to ship, if anything DID happen to it, you would instantly know. Besides, this way you can meet the hair dressers and maybe even get your own pedicure LOL!!!

Actually if you have a container company in your area, they could make you up a 200# grade double wall corrugated cardboard box with corner protection and then just wrap it in some microfoam and I would think that would be suffiecient, then it also could be sent back in the same box, and not mess up it's new hairdoo.

 

[BloodySinner]

You might want to check out foam packaging.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd visit a Sears or appliance store and obtain the preformed cardboard corners used to protect major appliances during shipment. Cut them to size and tape them to all the edges of your box. You could get by with 4 and leave them a couple inches longer than your toolbox. Then find a box suitable in size to fit your toolbox.

This is probably what I would do. I might even consider putting the box is a trashbag, and spray some expanding foam around it.


How is it going to get shipped back to you ?

 

[KCarGuy]

I am a Service Tech for a Packaging Company.
All you need is a Box that has 2" of space around your Part (Tool Box)
Sealed Air Corporation sells a Cool Expanding Packaging Foam Product called "Quick"
It comes in a Sealed Bag (a few different sizes)
you unfold it, press and pop a pouch with a chemical component in it that reacts with a second component.
within seconds it starts to expand.
You place these bags between the Tool box and Shipping container and it expands to that shape.
Holding it firmly in place, while protecting it from shock and harm.
Check it out at Sealedair.com

For Heavier products there is Quick Tuff
It works extreemly well...I have shipped Corvette hoods in boxes across the country using this method.

 

[Ric in Richmond]

You know greyhound ships cheap and fast. You just have to drop off and have receiver pick up at a bus station. I shipped a BMW roll bar to chicago for about 25 bucks, overnight!!

I have to think that it would be safer in the hold of a greyhound than in the hands of a lot of the shippers out there.

 

[Bull]

I just finished packaging the box. I hope to have her on her way to the salon tomorrow for a mid-week arrival.

UPS should be $25 or under.

Do you fellows know if UPS cares that the box is loaded with graphics from what originally came in it? Do they only want a plain brown box?

Towels and zip ties. Look at that shine!

I love these things, and use them all the time. I've even used them to hold a flex plate in place while I broke the bolts loose.

Thank goodness I saved these heavy-duty corner reinforcements from a long-ago shipment. The miter saw cut them off nice and clean.

I filled the small voids with tightly packed peanuts and pieces of cardboard.

Trimmed a thick piece of styrofoam to act as a cap for this end. The other end has another piece of styrofoam and lots of packed peanuts.

Ready to ship, or do I need to wrap this in brown paper or clear shipping wrap before UPS will accept it?

 

[Bull]

Here is the only thing I see on the UPS website with respect to shipping guidelines for recycled boxes: Remove any labels, hazardous materials indicators, and other previous shipment markings on the box that are no longer applicable

My reading of this is that I just need to remove old labels, but all the pics and graphics are a non-issue. Do you read it the same way?

They also state: Do not use string or paper over-wrap

So, wrapping it in paper seems like a no-no.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

bull where are you shipping it to

www.freightcenter.com worked well for shipping the polomb box to slocobrar a couple of monthers ago no damage on a pallet lemme know

 

[Bull]

bull where are you shipping it to

www.freightcenter.com worked well for shipping the polomb box to slocobrar a couple of monthers ago no damage on a pallet lemme know

Hi Jay, it's going to Ohio. I had an old, well-built crate that I saved from receiving a transmission years ago. I thought about using it for the box. But, UPS Ground seems quicker and easier, and it's only going to be $25 or less.

 

[rkevins]

as far as I remember as long as threr are not any old shipping lables or as you said any hazmat lables ups does not care if there are pictures/ graphics on a box and I would wse a perminant marker and mark through any barcodes on the box sense everyone now uses barcodes for shipping.

 

[JC23]

Heck, Bull! Breeze is right!

Get outta Dodge and deliver Pinky yer own self!

Oops, I might be too late...

 

[Lump]

Bull, For my peace of mind, with a box which reads, "SNAP ON (anything)" on it, I normally break the box apart, and then reassemble it inside out. Then I have a plain brown box, with no bar codes, addresses, hazardous warnings, or theft-invitations on it.

I think you've packed it really well. But I hope that new paint has had plenty of time to cure. Paint can remain "green" and uncured for several days or even weeks, and gets stronger over time as solvents continue to evaporate (this process is the reason you can smell a recent paint job on anything...the solvents continue to evaporate for quite a while). If a paint job is still "green" (even though it is dry), it is very easy to scratch. I have even seen them pick up texture patterns from surrounding rags, etc. My old Dad used to carry recently painted parts outside into the sun during nice weather days, and back into the garage at night when he was refinishing parts of our antique car resto projects, etc.

Good luck. I think you will be fine. -------------Jim W

 

[neonnblack]

i got a banana box of sorts a little bigger than the box, then stuffed mass amounts of cardboard into the sides, bottom, top. Then wrapped it in tape.

 

[Bull]

Lump, is powder coat the same? Because the pink is actually powder coat and not paint.

Someone else mentioned to me about the SO box being a lure for thieves. I figured it was no biggie since it's just a cheap, licensed pressure washer and not a "real" and expensive SO item. But, I fogged the box to show whatever loser might otherwise want to steal it for its supposed SO contents that the box is, in fact, being recycled and does not contain the original contents!

Bull, For my peace of mind, with a box which reads, "SNAP ON (anything)" on it, I normally break the box apart, and then reassemble it inside out. Then I have a plain brown box, with no bar codes, addresses, hazardous warnings, or theft-invitations on it.

I think you've packed it really well. But I hope that new paint has had plenty of time to cure. Paint can remain "green" and uncured for several days or even weeks, and gets stronger over time as solvents continue to evaporate (this process is the reason you can smell a recent paint job on anything...the solvents continue to evaporate for quite a while). If a paint job is still "green" (even though it is dry), it is very easy to scratch. I have even seen them pick up texture patterns from surrounding rags, etc. My old Dad used to carry recently painted parts outside into the sun during nice weather days, and back into the garage at night when he was refinishing parts of our antique car resto projects, etc.

Good luck. I think you will be fine. -------------Jim W

 

[JC23]

Oh good! Now it needs flames and pinstriping!

The box, that is...

 

[Lump]

Bull, No, I don't think there is any worry with powder coat. You should be fine. Sorry if I worried you with that "theft" comment. But we hear so much about missing packages these days.

Good luck.

 

[JC23]

He might be sendin' it to you, Lump. You'd better make sure you get it...

 

[V70R]

Good call on the cover-up of anything to temp a thief to steal the box. Had a supercharger sent through UPS in a VW box last year come up missing in Louisville.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

Did it get shipped back yet?