Boxes for shipping bows

[Cavscout9753]

Odd question, but where is a good place to get boxes for shipping a bow? A long bow specifically.

[Pat B]

3" or 4" thin walled PVC pipe, which ever it fits better...and some bubble wrap.

[Jon Stewart]

I just packaged two bows up like Pat B just suggested last night. One bow went in 4" thin walled PVC pipe and the other went into a carpet roll tube.

I have sent bows to Iraq and Afghanistan to the troops using house siding boxes and blue or pink insulation board.  I cut the design of the bow out on the insulation board, lay the bow in the cut out and slip the board into the box.  One Marine sent me an e-mail and laughed about my packaging claiming and IED couldn't have damaged that bow.

[David Mitchell]

I have made frequent use of the very heavy cardboard tubes that are left after a roll of carpet is used up by the carpet store.  They are glad to give them away.  I pack cut-to-fit round pieces of thick ethafoam in the ends. never had a problem shipping that way.

[JamesV]

I have read posts on here that say the round tubes can and will roll off the conveyors and get caught up and broken. Also my USPS office seems to charge me double for tubes or it seems that way. Remedy........if I use a tube, and I do often, I will build a box and secure the tube inside.

James

[slowbowjoe]

My preference is the carpet tubes. Couple different diameters, free, easy, and strong. Can't say it jacks up the shipping cost - seems average to me.

[David Mitchell]

Cost is based on weight and length/width (or circumference).

[Bladepeek]

I have often used the tubes (both PVC and cardboard carpet rolls) because they are easy to find. When I'm not feeling quite so lazy, I like the idea described above by Jon Stewart. Takes a little more time, but I do believe they are easier for the post office to handle and somewhat lighter - therefore cheaper. And, although I've used rolled up bubble pack to surround the bow and make the package less likely to crush, his idea of making a "french fitted" box of hard foam really sounds like the ultimate shipping package.

[Paul_R]

Weight is not the primary consideration for shipping bows. For priority mail with tracking your combined dimension (length+girth) has to be 80" or less. If you go over your rate will more than double. The difference between a 3" and 4" tube will make or break you with longer bows.

[Keith Zimmerman]

Check with ur local car dealerships.  I work at one.  Always piles of boxes thrown away from parts for cars.  Check the dumpsters.

[Jon Stewart]

Just an FYI, I just got back from the post office after mailing the two bows I mentioned above.
 
One bow was a  Bear Cub and it was either 60 or 62" long and the other was a Pearson at 58". I cut the tubes about two inches longer than the bows to keep the size and weight down.  Don't want to get hit with an oversize package fee.

The price for mailing the bows USPS was $35.72 for both and that included $100.00 insurance on each bow.

[Mint]

If you need a bunch of the boxes you can get them from Uline but they will come in 15 or 25 a bundle depending on the size you want.

[Chuck Jones]

I use the U-line 4"x45-90" expandable tall box for longer bows. It can be extended up to 69" long and still make the standard Priority rate. The double wall makes the box stronger, and the square shape doesn't roll. A 3" tube will fit inside if you want extra protection, but I've never had a bow broken in that box in hundreds of shipments.

[MnFn]

I have made my own from a cardboard box that I got from a furniture store - zero cost.  I also roll up a few strips of cardboard to make "pillars " and place them on either side of the bow- about four.  It supports the center if the box better than just stuffing paper or whatever in them.