Packaging bows for shipping

[EHK]

I'm selling a couple of bows through another site as I don't have enough posts here to meet the minimum requirements and am looking for some advice on packaging materials.  I read the thread in the shipping forum, and agree that PVC is probably bomb-proof, but the Grizzly that I'm going to get about $200 for would require a 6 or 8 inch PVC tube and would end up costing me a lot in shipping.  That bow was shipped to me in a cardboard box with not much in the way of padding or support and arrived here in fine shape.  So, I'm wondering, does anyone know of a readily available source for long boxes or larger diameter cardboard tubes that would fit a recurve?  Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[cyred4d]

Carpet store for tubes. Florescent lights come in long cardboard boxes if you can find them.

[maineac]

Carpeting might come on tubes big enough.  Get a refrigerator box and cut it to the size so you can fold it into the proper sized box. Just some thoughts.  I have not shipped many bows so I am not the best source.  I am sure you will hear from those on the site with a lot more experience.

[Bowwild]

I've only recently shipped some bows. However, I've shipped or received about 6 1-piece recurves and one longbow ranging in length from 60" to 66".  I've mailed all the recurves in rectangular boxes. To date I've been able to mail in bow boxes I received from a bowyer with a bow I ordered or firearms boxes.  In two instances I've had to make a long rifle box longer by attaching a section of another to it. I've never been able to find a cardboard tube wide enough for a recurve. I did just mail a longbow in a very heavy cardboard tube -- it cost me (USPS) $27 including $400 insurance to mail it.

I called UPS to see about having a box made.  They can make you a box and told me it would cost $25. It would cost another $20-25 to ship the recurve with insurance from USPS.

If you have a large gun shop in your area you might give them a call. They might have a couple of boxes you could have to build your bow box.

It is important to pad the ends well and bubble wrap and newspaper pad the sides so the bow doesn't move during shipment.

I only mail with USPS and after about 15-16 transactions (mostly takedowns) I've yet to experience any damage.

[xtrema312]

I like to pad the bow with a sock to start.  Then a lot of bubble wrap or better yet more fabric or thick news paper tubes taped together.  I want to make sure nothing sharp poking through the box will scratch the bow and the fabric or news paper works great for that with less bulk than the bubble wrap.  After that I want to protect the tips in case they crunch the box length wise. It is best to put enough packing on the tips to keep it from poking out of the box, but if it does the tip is not damaged.  I figure a bow is meant to bend so I don’t think some box flex is a huge deal.

In the end you are still at the mercy of the shipper.  I have seen the PVC tubes damage.  The way I look at it is if it looks bomb proof someone may blow it up just to see if it is.  If it is light and long with “FRAGILE” in red sharpie all over it maybe they will be a little carful.

[MJB]

Check this link out

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=5&t=024596&p=1

[xtrema312]

One other thing I do sometimes is put in extra layers of cardboard to double wall my box.  You can do this with scraps and put them in by opening both ends of the box so you can get them in place.  You can also take large cardboard sheets from refrigeration or the like boxes.  Make a simple cardboard tube box to fit the bow and put that in a larger box with some peanut packing between them.

The more I play with trad bows, buy, sell and trade the more I like TD bows.  64” and up bows are a pain to pack and more costly to ship.  I don’t plan to ever have another recurve over 58” and not a TD or a LB over 60” and not a TD.

[Rob DiStefano]

shipping bows in cardboard boxes requires copious amounts of insurance, prayer and luck.

best of luck.

[Hopewell Tom]

I shipped a one piece 62" recurve from the Northeast (Nova Scotia) to New Mexico. It cost me $43.00 with $400.00 insurance. I used a rectangular box of 1x3 spruce, wrapped the bow in a flannel sheet, put 2 pieces of thick cardboard on each side and wrapped the whole thing in duct tape. Pretty long trip and the new owner was impressed with the package. I sweated bullets the whole time!

[David Mitchell]

I can assure you from bad experience that UPS can totally tear up a heavy pvc tube.  Don't ship UPS whatever you do!

[JamesV]

Gun stores usually don't discard the boxes. Every new gun I have bought had the original box.

Check with Lowes, they have all size boxes in the back, just get them before they are compacted.

Also for longbows can use a piece of vinyl gutter downspout, just tape up the ends

James.................