Hi,
I know there are the odd articles regards sending Saxophones, but none show you what I feel is the safest way to post one to avoid any damage in transit. Please remember poor packaging is the foremost cause of damage to instruments in their cases whilst in transit.
Especially when they are old because the cases can be worn, the majority are ill fitting and allow too much movement inside.
We have been selling musical instruments for a while and sold a lot of Saxes, We always pack them in this manner and have never had one instrument damaged in transit- even by the worst known couriers.
So here is our personal step by step guide with photos.
We hope it is useful to you
Before packing a Saxophone always make sure you plug the neck socket, if you have the original plug this is fine but many do not and results in broken octave mechanisms and costly repairs
So here is my personal step by step guide with photos, I hope it is useful to you all.
Ok, some notes. I buy custom made boxes, they are made from recycled cardboard and impregnated for additional strength. They are also twin walled as nothing else except that of Triple walled shall suffice for peace of mind.
The tape I use is Low noise, the reason being is it is tough as old boots, stretches well and as such you can pull it taught around the parcel, this only adds extra strength.
I place the a sheet of small cell bubble wrap within the actual case, sometimes doubling it up, I then sit the sax on top of this. As you can see in this photo, I have used some polystyrene block, but usually use cork wedges, these are placed in between the case or bell and keys Gently to stop them flapping around in transit:
As you can see, I have also used some very thin poly in front of the bell, bow* and neck plug area, I then cover the sax with the bubble wrap as so:
* there is not always room at the bow for this, but just behind the guard helps.
Once the cased is closed- making sure-as others have indeed suggested that it is not too full so as to bend anything, but just enough to stop any movement inside the case.
I make my box up making sure I do not just tape along the closure line, but three bands of tape in every direction, I then fill the bottom of the case with rough shredded cardboard as this offers maximum protection, is bio-degradable and does not shift like peanuts of bubble wrap.
I then roll the case up in around 6-8 ft of bubble wrap and place the packed sax within the box.
Then I fill it tightly down the sides and fill to top:
After closing the box, as per above, I wrap three bands around the case in every direction, this really does help because parcels can become squashed and burst out at the sides, by placing these three bands around it actually stops this from occuring. Neat parcel and most of my customers would say- courier proof!
Well, I do hope this helps anyone posting a sax anywhere around the globe.
Best wishes
Mel
I know there are the odd articles regards sending Saxophones, but none show you what I feel is the safest way to post one to avoid any damage in transit. Please remember poor packaging is the foremost cause of damage to instruments in their cases whilst in transit.
Especially when they are old because the cases can be worn, the majority are ill fitting and allow too much movement inside.
We have been selling musical instruments for a while and sold a lot of Saxes, We always pack them in this manner and have never had one instrument damaged in transit- even by the worst known couriers.
So here is our personal step by step guide with photos.
We hope it is useful to you
Before packing a Saxophone always make sure you plug the neck socket, if you have the original plug this is fine but many do not and results in broken octave mechanisms and costly repairs
So here is my personal step by step guide with photos, I hope it is useful to you all.
Ok, some notes. I buy custom made boxes, they are made from recycled cardboard and impregnated for additional strength. They are also twin walled as nothing else except that of Triple walled shall suffice for peace of mind.
The tape I use is Low noise, the reason being is it is tough as old boots, stretches well and as such you can pull it taught around the parcel, this only adds extra strength.
I place the a sheet of small cell bubble wrap within the actual case, sometimes doubling it up, I then sit the sax on top of this. As you can see in this photo, I have used some polystyrene block, but usually use cork wedges, these are placed in between the case or bell and keys Gently to stop them flapping around in transit:
As you can see, I have also used some very thin poly in front of the bell, bow* and neck plug area, I then cover the sax with the bubble wrap as so:
* there is not always room at the bow for this, but just behind the guard helps.
Once the cased is closed- making sure-as others have indeed suggested that it is not too full so as to bend anything, but just enough to stop any movement inside the case.
I make my box up making sure I do not just tape along the closure line, but three bands of tape in every direction, I then fill the bottom of the case with rough shredded cardboard as this offers maximum protection, is bio-degradable and does not shift like peanuts of bubble wrap.
I then roll the case up in around 6-8 ft of bubble wrap and place the packed sax within the box.
Then I fill it tightly down the sides and fill to top:
After closing the box, as per above, I wrap three bands around the case in every direction, this really does help because parcels can become squashed and burst out at the sides, by placing these three bands around it actually stops this from occuring. Neat parcel and most of my customers would say- courier proof!
Well, I do hope this helps anyone posting a sax anywhere around the globe.
Best wishes
Mel
