gmo - Posted - 05/28/2010:  20:51:15

When packing a banjo for shipping, what is the best padding material to put in the case to prevent the banjo from moving about ? Is there anything one should avoid that might be damaging to the finish ? I'm about to send one off to get some work done on it and I need to be able to get it right. Thanks.
George

Bill Rogers - Posted - 05/28/2010:  21:20:22

This works for banjos too: frets.com/fretspages/Musician/...ing1.html

It is important that the instrument be level, and the plane of the fretboard be parallel to the plane of the case bottom.

Just to emphasize: frets.com/HomeShopTech/ShopTips/054.html

Edited by - Bill Rogers on 05/28/2010 21:21:45

gmo - Posted - 05/28/2010:  21:39:19

Thanks Bill, That helps a lot . I had thought about using bubble wrap, but I think I will stick to newspaper or some other paper . Bubble wrap might react with the finish (nitrocellulose ) . Thanks again.
George

Bill Rogers - Posted - 05/28/2010:  22:28:53

I tend to use whatever's around, but generally I like newspaper for inside a case, and bubble wrap around the case in the shipping box. If you don't have a case, bubble wrap is by far the best thing to wrap the instrument in. It should be double-boxed absent a case.

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 05/29/2010:  02:49:58

I use bubble wrap and peanuts. A key point: there should be no movement in the box. I pay close attention to wrapping the weak points with double layers -- the fifth string peg area, the nut. If the banjo can shift in the box, there's more chance for a whiplash that will take the neck out at the nut. I offer some pointers at my website, noted below. Bernunzio also has careful instructions on how to wrap a banjo.

Also see: littlebearbanjohospital.com/20...-new.html

I found newspapers tend to make for a heavier package.

Take care,

Lew

steve davis - Posted - 05/29/2010:  03:36:58

When I shipped a banjo, UPS packed it.
They put the banjo which was in its case into one of their shipping boxes.
They put nothing in the case.
It arrived at its destination unharmed.

Helix - Posted - 05/29/2010:  04:40:14

There is an archived thread called banjo shipping.

I rejected double boxing because they were dragging it down the dock. the peanuts would come out .

I learned to use a 7 gallon sealed plastic bag with about 5 double handfuls of styrofoam peanuts under the rim or resonator. FLOAT the banjo, suspend it, bubble wrap the neck, bag of sealed peanuts in the peghead chamber, sealed bag under the rim.

NEVER loose peanuts, the bags inside prevent shifting.

THEN I standardized my use of a $50 styrofoam black zippered banjo case that looks like a banjo, I shrinkwrap with glad wrap, heavily, use clear mailing tape over the gladwrap to immobilize the lid of the case, cut a hole and pull out the handle, seal it up.

I conferred with UPS management. WE ALWAYS use a handle tag with a package cocooned like that, LOOKS like a banjo, they carry it and scan from the handle tag.

If I disclose how many times I've done this successfully, let's say more than 29, but less than 30 in a row. People howl about this, but get real with your shipper and they'll help ya. Look how many instruments travel and get broken, cherished ones.

Also, a customer was shipping back to me for service using the same case, but the UPS store wouldn't do the handle tag, insisted on getting extra money to double box, filled it halfway, so it slammmmed around, we documented with photos to management, they corrected, see? If the customer hadn't used my method to re-ship the banjo we could have had damage.

Never let somebody at a local store bulldog you, call management, know their regs.
Never let somebody pack it for you, that's how we got an empty box for an extra fee. It's better if you are informed, and forearmed, and proactive. Take responsibility and you get better sleep.

Shake your package creation, no shake allowed.

Not much damages Nitro, newspaper immobilizes things nicely.

steve davis - Posted - 05/29/2010:  04:47:02

I figured UPS knew more about shipping stuff than I did so I just let them figure it out.
It didn't hurt to know that the packer was a bass player.

Helix - Posted - 05/29/2010:  05:04:37

It's cool, but franchised employees aren't all sympathetic musicians. glad you got yours through.

Sgtp3pp3r - Posted - 05/29/2010:  08:11:58

IMPORTANT: NEVER ship an instrument with the strings at full tension!. With full tension on the strings (100 to 240 lbs, depending on the instrument), if the box falls or is dropped, the peghead can snap right off.

--Steve

Pepper Laing - Posted - 05/29/2010:  08:28:59

I just came from the post office, picked up a mandolin that was shipped to me from Arizona. Looked like it was packed well. It was packed by the UPS store, it was in it`s TKL hardshell case, wrapped in bubble wrap, filled with styrofoam popcorn/ peanuts. I opened it up and the head stock was broken off! I packaged the banjo I shipped to Arizona in a box with newspaper and some strategiclly placed styrofoam that I got from a microwave packageing I just bought, I packaged up some smaller boxes with newspaper and fit them inside to help with structure. The banjo made it un-scathed.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 05/29/2010:  23:16:37

The mando peghead, I'll bet, was not immobolized. It snapped from the momentum of the peghead when the case was dropped. That's why cars have headrests and airbags. If your head were left to snap around like that peghead was, all the immobilization of your body and cocooning in your crumple-zoned car would be for nought and your neck would be broken--just like the mando neck. UPS store employees for the most part have no idea how to pack instruments. They packed the case, not the instrument.

pickerjim - Posted - 05/29/2010:  23:34:20

Sorry to hear that Pepper...I remember your post not long ago about waiting for that Mando....that really sucks!!....Jim

El Dobro - Posted - 05/30/2010:  08:54:38

Gruhn's now removes the neck when shipping banjos.