SHIPPING YOUR INSTRUMENT
Whether you’ve sold your horn and need to deliver it to the new owner or you need to send in to the repair shop, it’s critical that you take the proper steps to ensure your instrument travels safely and can handle the rough journey.
When (not if) a box is dropped, the instrument inside wants to keep moving after the box has stopped - that inertia is what damages instruments so often. Rough handling is expected and unavoidable - preparation is key!
Keeping the instrument stable and secure within the box will greatly reduce the risk of damage.
Our goal in packing is to stop all motion inside the box and ship our instrument and box as a solid unit.
Preparing instruments in the following way is how I’ve been able to ship horns for years with great result. It’s a good starting point for almost any instrument.
Keep in mind that you may need to modify your box to fit your instrument. Shipping costs are calculated using weight and size so keep both to a minimum.
Please share feedback with me if you need more information on a step or process.
SUPPLIES
BOX
STURDY, SOLID, DOUBLE-WALL IF POSSIBLE.
AT LEAST 3-5 INCHES BIGGER THAN YOUR HORN IN ALL DIMENSIONS
TAPE
BLUE/GREEN PAINTERS TAPE
FOR TAPING ON BUBBLE WRAP
CLEAR TAPE FOR SEALING THE BOX
DON’T USE ON BUBBLE WRAP
PACKING MATERIAL
VOID FILL - PEANUTS, PAPER, FOAM
HAVE ENOUGH TO PACK THE BOX TIGHT
BUBBLE WRAP
5/16th OR 1/2 inch SIZE BUBBLES
ENOUGH FOR 3-4 LAYERS AROUND EACH SIDE OF YOUR HORN
supports
FOAM CONE FOR INSIDE BELL
GOOD FOR ALL INSTRUMENTS, WE USE THEM MOSTLY WITH LARGER BELLS
SPACERS FOR DELICATE JOINTS
WE USE OLD WINE CORKS OR STIFF FOAM
TRIGGERS, LIGHTLY BRACED HORNS, UNSUPPORTED TUBING, ETC.
AVAILABLE THROUGH US SOON:
BOX AND PACKING MATERIAL SHIPPING KITS
INCLUDES BOX, BUBBLE WRAP, PACKING PEANUTS, TAPE, AND SHIPPING LABELS!
PACKING
FIRST - WRAP IT UP!
SHIP WITHOUT A CASE
Cases are for carrying your instrument, not for shipping them.
If you must ship with a case, the instrument needs to be packed so it cannot move within the case.
WRAP YOUR INSTRUMENT IN BUBBLE WRAP - 3-4 LAYERS
BLUE TAPE TO HOLD BUBBLE WRAP TOGETHER
Please DO NOT use clear tape on bubble wrap as it disappears and makes unwrapping the instrument more complicated.
We can not reuse the bubble wrap if it’s covered in clear tape as it must be cut off to unpack the horn.
Please and Thank You.
Add a cork spacer as a brace
Wine cork, sliced
Keeps trigger from getting bumped
LAYER 1, NO TAPE UNTIL THE END
EXTRA THICK AT BELL FLARE
WRAPPED AND TAPED (and a bit odd…)
CONE FOR BELL STABILITY (buy them here)
WRAPPED IN TOWEL SO IT WON’T SCRATCH
second - FILL IT UP
ADD A LAYER OF PACKING PEANUTS IN BOTTOM OF THE BOX
( BE SURE TO COUNT EACH PEANUT AS IT GOES IN )
SET THE BUBBLE WRAPPED HORN IN THE BED OF PEANUTS.
THIS IS A DOUBLE DECKER TROMBONE LAYERING TECHNIQUE WE LIKE TO USE FOR NESTED STABILITY. (man that sounds fancy)
FILL ANY GAPS AROUND THE HORN WITH MORE PEANUTS
“BUBBLEWRAP BLANKET” ON TOP FOR BONUS POINTS
JUST A TINY BIT OF PRESSURE WHEN CLOSING BOX IS APPROPRIATE.
THE GOAL IS TO KEEP IT ALL TOGETHER AS ONE SOLID BLOCK.
(DON’T GO NUTS, JUST KEEP IT SOLID)
INCLUDE A NOTE IN THE BOX WITH YOUR INFORMATION - AND IF IT’S GOING TO THE SHOP, A RECAP OF THE WORK DISCUSSED.
At this point, give the box a big shake - if you feel movement inside the box you need to add more packing material.
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There should be no space for the horn to move - space allows for inertia to build up and for instrument to damage itself.
(close the flaps before you go shaking it tho…)
THIRD - TAPE IT UP
CLOSE THE BOX WITH CLEAR TAPE
KEEP THE TAPE TIDY
USE THE CHEAP STUFF.
BUT USE PLENTY OF IT.
PRINT A LABEL AND DROP IT OFF.
USE A DISCOUNT LABEL WEBSITE
IF YOU ARE SENDING YOUR INSTRUMENT TO US, PLEASE SEND IT TO:
SWEENEYBRASS
1520 BROOKSIDE DRIVE, UNIT 1
RALEIGH, NC 2760
ONCE YOUR INSTRUMENT IS IN OUR SHOP WE WILL REACH OUT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR READING THIS FAR AND TRUSTING US WITH THE REPAIR AND CARE OF YOUR INSTRUMENT.
Please check boxes for cats prior to shipping - cats can not be returned and will become SweeneyBrass shop cats ;-)