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#1
09-07-2007, 11:50 AM
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The Safe "No Peanut" Amp Pack Thread - With Pics!
After dealing in the past with UPS and FedEx refusing to pay claims on amplifiers they damaged in shipping I finally decided to forego the useless insurance they offer (but will NEVER pay a claim on) and instead put the money into packing materials that will insure that the amp will make it intact to its destination.
Because I recently had a beautiful Blackface Princeton (bought from a great fellow TGP'er) with a JBL D120F - PACKED BY the UPS Store with peanuts arrive with the JBL damaged - and yes, they refused to cover the expense of getting it reconed by Ted Weber - I decided that never again would I ever ship an amp in those #@*% foam peanuts. OK, it is NOT cheap, and it takes a lot of time, but if the amp arrives without damage it is well worth it. You gotta' take a trip to Home Depot and buy the right stuff... Most importantly, you have to have a good box - HEAVY cardboard, preferably an amp box from an amp Manufacturer. Don't use U-Haul Moving Boxes or the packing boxes sold at Home Depot, etc - they are meant to be used once and thrown away. I did recently cut down and reform a really great HEAVY DUTY box from Costco heavy double coregated walls that previously was used to ship a high end LCD Hi-Def TV. Here is the amp and box ready to start...  Next, take out the tubes and tube shields and wrap them in bubble wrap with bubbles between them so they are not touching...  Pack the bubble wrapped tubes in a small box(s) that will fit in the bottom corners of the amp - I like to use pedal boxes...  Once the tube box(es) are placed in the corners of the cab, fill the remaining cab cavity with wadded up paper to keep the boxes in the corners and the power cable, reverb bag, etc., AWAY from the speaker...  Wrap the amp with heavy poly plastic - I got the stuff used by painters. Maybe not necessary if the amp has a cover, but it is a nice "extra" touch...  Get your materials ready - I use the 2" and 3" building insulation - get the kind that has a protective sheeting on each side (you can see the writing and cutting guides) - between the 2 different sizes you can usually make it fit. Make sure you have SHARP blades and change them often. I also use a black Sharpie and a level for a straight edge for marking where to cut (measure twice, cut once)...  Cut a 3" thick slab for the "floor" of the box...  Place your amp in the box...  Fill in the sides...   To the top - leave a cutout for the handle if the amp has a top handle...  One more piece for the "ceiling" of the box...  One last tip - I saw this 3M Hi-Strength Spray adhesive while I was at Home Depot and thought it might come in handy - I especially need it when "modifying" a box to fit an amp. Also, I use it to finalize and strengthen the "folded flaps" of the top and bottom of the box - the weakest part of the box. I have found that the Spray Adhesive works better than using packing tape to go around and seal the edges of the box because the tape can buckle up, peel off, pull away, etc., with the heat , moisture, etc. of shipping...  And here is the "Amp in a Box", safely ready to ship...  I hope this is helpful to some and my attempt to send some Mojo toward Safe Amp Shipping! Please share your "Amp Packing" Tips :AOK Peace, James
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8daypsalmist Organic Acoustic Street Psalms http://www.reverbnation.com/8daypsalmist 
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#4
09-07-2007, 11:57 AM
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Wow thanks for the info James. I am getting ready to sell a couple
of bigger items and was wondering "how the heck am I going to ship them". This has helped out greatly. Good 'ole Home Depot!! peace klem
__________________
http://www.myspace.com/klemguitar http://musiczen.blogspot.com/ http://www.myspace.com/musiczen
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#6
09-07-2007, 11:58 AM
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You shouldn't leave the word FRAGILE on it .. that is considered a challenge for the handlers
 Nice packing! BTW instead of the heavy plastic. Cling wrap works great for the initial pack.
__________________
Pai Chung My gear (Updated 6-11-07) My YouTube Stuff | FaceBook "Pai Kim Chung" Playing John Page P-1 #2 and Charis SJ into my Chandler C38 and loving it!
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#8
09-07-2007, 12:07 PM
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This thread should be a sticky. Very good advice.
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#9
09-07-2007, 12:07 PM
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yeap, I packed a 4x10 fender bassman combo cab this way, shipped coast to coast no problems. It's really not even that expensive. Cheaper than the UPS store. Although I still wouldn't hold 100% confidence that those crazy delivery companies would still find a way to break something.
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#10
09-07-2007, 12:13 PM
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Quote:
COME ON BABY, LET'S SING IT......... "Puttcho Junk in Dat Box......" Awwww Yeaaaahhhh.... Emee
__________________
Post by Hulacat, commenting on my "Heathen" '83 2204... "This thing has so much mojo I think I just got herpes!" http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...ps51eccf77.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...3/DSC08746.jpg
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#11
09-07-2007, 12:26 PM
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Quote:
Anyway, such a shame that you live in Phoenix because I'd buy an amp from you on general principle but I live in Flag and would just drive down there to pick it up. AWESOME tips. I agree, this would make a great sticky. Thanks for suggestions. I'll definitely follow your suggestions when I ship my next amp!!!!
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Treble boosted and empowered by fuzz: turning it over one day at a time...
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#14
09-07-2007, 12:40 PM
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IME-
Make sure you use a new box to ship, and that it's rated for the full weight of the package (info is in a circular label on the bottom of the amp). Shipping companies will refuse claims for under-rated and/or used boxes.(and before posting "yeah, but I did it, and.." stories, check your shippers fine print) Write Fragile on every side of the box (stickers-better). Again, shippers will refuse if you fail to do so. Haven't done the insulation thing, but we ship amps wrapped in 5-10 layers of lg, heavy duty bubble wrap. At that thickness, it will actually give an inch or two if (when) dropped. This avoids shifted/torn out transformers. Good, heavy duty packing tape (3M's your friend).
__________________
"..Keith remembers when music was not everywhere- the inescapable drone we use to drown out life. Rather, it was a special thing shared with others." -sixty2strat
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#15
09-07-2007, 12:44 PM
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Looks more like it just keeps the boxes containing the tubes from banging around inside the speaker cavity.
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