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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
packing an amp for shipping
packing an amp for shipping
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Harpaholic
764 posts
Aug 24, 2015
4:17 PM
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Root, I have shipped close to 100 amps, without so much as a broken tube. #1 ship priority or USPS ground.
Go to Home Depot or Lowes and pick up some
2'x 4' sheets of styofoam insulation. The cost $3-4 bucks a sheet. Two sheets is plenty. It has foil on one side. R-Tech is the brand HD carries.
I usually get 3/4" thick, but 1" is OK.
The good thing about it is you cut it to size with a razor knife, layer two, three or more pieces all the way around the amp.
Pack the amp laying flat on its back. I usually put three layers on the bottom of the box where the amp will lay.
Remove tubes, bubble wrap and put them in the amp.
Bubble wrap cord too so it doesn't hit speaker.
Insure for full value.
The reason I prefer the USPS is its easier to deal with an insurance claim.
Usually the cost to ship Priority is about $10-$15 more than Fed Ex, but worth it. My 2nd choice would be Fed Ex.
Last Edited by Harpaholic on Aug 24, 2015 4:25 PM
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root
52 posts
Aug 24, 2015
4:24 PM
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Thank, Harpaholic. Makes sense to me.-Greg
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Harpaholic
765 posts
Aug 24, 2015
4:26 PM
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Root, I added a little more info, your welcome!
I sold my 1A a couple years ago and still regret it.
Last Edited by Harpaholic on Aug 24, 2015 4:28 PM
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Barley Nectar
897 posts
Aug 24, 2015
6:21 PM
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I save packing material, styrofoam and 2/3 ply cardboard that comes from job sites. I do about the same as Harpahoilc. Put buyer and my address on the amp with tape. Bubble wrap tubes and cord and secure in amp. Put amp in plastic bag. Cover amp in 1 layer of 1" foam. Build a custom, snug fitting box from the heavy cardboard. I've gotten good at this. Tape it up good and ship. Sometimes with heavy speakers and crappy baffle, I'll ship speakers separate. I state this intention in the auction info. No problems yet. Knock on wood! I use mostly USPS. Insurance is a must..BN
Last Edited by Barley Nectar on Aug 24, 2015 6:23 PM
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Greg Heumann
3087 posts
Aug 25, 2015
10:35 PM
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Here's what I email anyone I buy a Kalamazoo amp from. And it is how I pack everyone I've sold. In over 600 shipments, NOT ONE damaged in shipment.
But I have received several where people didn't not follow my instructions, and the amp was broken on arrival. Kalamazoo's have particle board baffle boards, making that especially vulnerable. Shipping the amp FACE DOWN is absolutely essential.
Here you go:
I've received and shipped over 300 Kalamazoos - that’s over 600 shipments! So I have some useful experience about how to pack them for shipping. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS ENSURING THE AMP CANNOT MOVE INSIDE THE BOX. The bigger the box, the harder this is to do. THE OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT THING: Please ship the amp FACE DOWN as the most vulnerable part is the speaker baffle board. This way the shock of an innocent drop is spread around the baffle board - otherwise it is focused on the 4 speaker mounting screws and will crack the baffle board at those spots. Ensure that the box is marked "this side up" on all 4 sides. Place at least one layer of medium/heavy bubble wrap around the amp itself, and stuff the cabinet cavity with airbags, crumpled paper or bubble wrap to prevent the power cord from flopping around and to protect the tubes in case they fall out in transit. The box doesn't have to be much bigger than the amp, (I use 18x16x8 or 18x16x10) - just be sure to pad it on all six sides so the amp is sort of "suspended" in the middle of the space - that way some external shock can crush the outside box a bit without hurting the amp. Pad any space left over so the amp can't move inside the box with something that cannot shift in transit- bubble wrap, cardboard, styrofoam sheet all work. Crumpled paper is OK but it needs to packed in tightly. There MUST be at least two layers of bubble wrap between the amp and the box on every side of the amp. Please, PLEASE I'm begging here... do NOT use styrofoam peanuts! Peanuts are effectively a liquid. They WILL shift, the amp will then slam around inside the box and destroy itself! When packed this way they have the best chance of survival - I've shipped the amps this way and not had one problem (knock wood) though I've received many poorly packed amps that completely beat themselves to death inside the box. Please ship UPS or FedEx. I pay less than $30 to ship these UPS anywhere in the country. USPS Parcel Post subjects the box to the most handling and has the highest rate of damage.
Finally - I recycle the packing material. Please do NOT use miles of packing tape on the bubble wrap or around the tubes - then I just have to hack everything up with knives and scissors and the material will be useless.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
Bluestate on iTunes
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root
53 posts
Aug 26, 2015
4:41 PM
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Thanks, guys. Great advice.Greg- I'd never tape bubble wrap with anything other than blue painter's tape. Spent too much time trying to get through tons of clear tape to get to what I've been shipped.-Greg
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