Shipping a one piece recurve

[curlis]

How do you guys ship your one piece recurves? Been thinking about having one redone.
Thanks

[Gator1]

Tube from the carpet stores works well. Depending on the limb profile.

[JRY309]

It depends on the recurve profile as it can be hard to get a tube large enough for some recurves.Carpet tubes are good to ship in but they are about 4" in diameter.For one-piece recurves I just box mine up,pack it well and insure it.I have not had any problem or one get damaged.I usally have to make my own box from a couple of arrow boxes.Keep your package under 84" if you can,thats length plus girth or you will get hit with an oversize surcharge.

[curlis]

Thanks, some good ideas so far.

[Gator1]

Check the how to forum I believe a very good description of making a recurve box.

[Wheels2]

I get arrow boxes, open the ends and glue them together so that they overlap enough to make the length.

[Jim Wright]

Cardboard boxes work fine until they don't! Carpet tubes are much stronger and are the way most have come to and gone from me, never a problem. PVC pipe is pretty much bomb proof and a bit less expensive and a bit lighter and still very strong is plastic sewer vent piping. As with PVC, a cap can be glued on one end and taped on the other. Cushion the bow with some bubble wrap and it's hard to have a problem.

[Bladepeek]

I haven't had much luck getting a recurve into either PVC or cardboard carpet tubes. I've had to make my own by cutting down a larger box or building one from scratch. Size is really critical to holding shipping cost down. You can get into the $30 - $40 range very quickly if too big. There is a good tutorial in the "How to" forum.

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000125

[YORNOC]

Tubes are strong and probably best, but super expensive to get and ship.
I have made my own boxes for years as said above. Most bowyers ship in a rectangular box also, few ship in a tube due to cost.
Bladepeek is right on the money. Cost will sky rocket quickly once you hit a certain size/weight.

As usual, your wallet will dictate which you choose.

[buckracks7]

PVC pipes are like a challenge to see if they can break them. I have had several with busted or missing end caps, and the bow tips sticking out. Don't think they are fool proof.

[Burnsie]

As mentioned above, I try to keep the finished dimensions of the box as small as possible to minimize shipping cost but still provide the needed protection.  I usual find a box long enough and then modify it for what I need. Boxes for long flourescent lights work good, or something similar.  I usually end up reinforcing the ends by stapling in some pieces of particle board. I put the bow in a good heavy flannel or fleece bow sock,  then wedge pieces of scrap styrofoam all around the bow so it will not slide around in the box and then glue the chucks of styrofoam in place. Once the top is fit,  I use reinforced banding tape very liberally to make sure everything is secure and tight.  Usually takes me a good 45 mins to an hour,  I end up with a light sturdy box that usually costs around $15.00 insured to ship - depending on location.

[hart2hart]

On recurves,I will use a rectangular cardboard box but open it up and refold/reglue to a triangle shape putting the curved tips in the sharp end.Seems to be stronger that way and doesn't roll around like a carpet tube.Oh,yes,still say a prayer these days.
Mike

[overbo]

I build a frame from 1 1/2'' x 1/2'' furring strip lumber and place 1/8''x width of frame x 4'' plywood tabs at all four ends and 2 at the center on each side of the frame, using small ribbed nails. W/ the bow in the frame, I then cover everything w/ cardboard.

[stagetek]

Whatever package style you decide to use, make sure you wrap the bow several times with bubble wrap, especially the tips.

[imbowhunt10]

I also pack in boxes like mentioned above. One tip I would give that I stumbled onto is weather stripping for the tips. First I wrap the limb tips with cling wrap, and then cut a piece of weather stripping about 10" long and put it evenly over the tips. Wrap a couple of pieces of duct tape around it, and you have an excellent tip protector. The weather stripping is thick enough to do a nice job.

[Archie]

I build a box out of the lightest but strongest wood I can find at a home improvement store.  Screw it together.  It's overkill, but I have been complimented by the postal workers, and have never had any problems with damage.

[Tim Finley]

Like we've said on here before never use any tube your chances of damage go up . Tubes dont stack and they roll off the conveyors get hung up in the machinery and break . Carpet tubes are bad as are pvc pipe. Make a cardboard box use lots of tape and buble wrap .....Tim

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I'm with Archie on this one. I think building a wood crate is the best.

Second best would be using cardboard boxes and wood strips taped on the outside for reinforcement.

Round tubes are just asking for trouble.

[Burnsie]

Originally posted by imbowhunt10:
I also pack in boxes like mentioned above. One tip I would give that I stumbled onto is weather stripping for the tips. First I wrap the limb tips with cling wrap, and then cut a piece of weather stripping about 10" long and put it evenly over the tips. Wrap a couple of pieces of duct tape around it, and you have an excellent tip protector. The weather stripping is thick enough to do a nice job.

You can also use the foam rubber tubing used for water line insulating,  or the stuff used to insulate hvac line sets.  Put it over the tips,  fold it over to double it up and tape it good.  Really provides good protection for the tips.

[Wheels2]

I neglected to mention in my earlier post that I use a double layer of cardboard arrow boxes.  I also wrap in bubble wrap and use foam from the local fabric store to build blocks in the boxes to support the outline of the bow.