Ok I promised a tuturial on how to package a heavy item so here it is. I recently had a pair of Shocker Sig Motors ( 80lbs Each) shipped to me. I explained to the shipper my technique and once again it worked flawlessly.

Motors before shipment

First thing you need to do is locate a box that is around 2-3 inches larger than the item you are packaging all the way around.

Then you stuff the bottom of that box with a layer of foam pool floats

(yes the kind like this)

after stuffing the bottom full of noodles sit the item you are shipping in the box and fill the sides with pieces of foam.

After that you need to put a layer of foam on top inside that box. You want this box to fit extremely tight so the foam compresses and keeps the item from moving.

Next you need to find a box that is around 4-5 inches larger than the other box all the way around. You must line the bottom of this with foam also. Then set that box inside like you sat your original item in the 1st box.

again line the top of this box with more foam and once again u want it to be a very tight fit.

if you have odd shapes you need to fill in these, like if your shipping a sub and the basket is much larger diameter than the motor you can fill the large voids with LARGE bubble wrap. The smaller bubbles dont do much in the way of protecting heavy items.

Another useful matieral for shipping items with a lot of 90 degree angles is insulating foam you can find at lowes. This comes by the sheet and is around 8 dollars for a 2x8' peice of foam

i usually go by the rule 1" of foam for every 15 lbs but this is by no means perfect. remember your package should withstand a 4' drop.

here is the kinetik 2400 getting the foam treatment

2" on each side on the inner box

then for the outer box i used about 2 inchs of packing peanuts all the way around with cardboard spacers in there to keep the box from moving around

Another note on shipping large subwoofers

Fi seems to have that type of shipping down pat, but i still dont trust it 100%. They use a crate made out of 2x4s and 1/4" wood along with foam. I have never been a fan of these crates, but as long as you properly use foam and other materials to brace it should be fine.

Your best bet when shipping is to double box and always use OEM packaging along with extra for added security.

I find good packaging to be a much better investment than insurance.

Here is another method of shipping motors that follows the same technique, but doesnt use foam pool toys

inner box filled with 2 layers of pink insulation foam from lowes ( same as the blue )

inner box inside of outer box with 2 layers on all sides

top layers

outer box

Well sence were at it i figured i would post some pictures

the supplys

motor taped off

shes not going anywere :wink:

box one complete

Never use packing penuts with the box that holds the motor tho, the can get in the gap and be a complete pain in the ass to clean out.

and we are done

and i dont want to hear pool noodles are to expensive :mrgreen:

biglots ftmfw

i think fi only does the wood crate with the btl. my 18" bl's were just box with 4 90degree foam pieces holding the surround and a peice of foam housing the motor all in a coardboard box not wood

i wish more people properly packaged stuff when they shipped it. I've had a lot of good luck with UPS and fedex cause i've got some piss-poor packaging jobs where it was almost a miracle the sub made it to me.

i bought a 12" ava that came in a cardboard box with a paper towel (two squares, not a roll) between the motor and the box, and a piece of 1/8" hardboard between the cone and box.

When i bought my 12" Q (used) it came in the original packaging but the guy had obviously ripped the foam apart to get to the sub when he got it, so how did he reattach the foam??? take a look for yourself, this is exactly what it looked like after i pulled the sub out to inspect the surround.

that's right, bamboo skewers

And the tutorial on packing midgets is where?

And the tutorial on packing midgets is where?

I'll get some 2" steel plates from work and post one up.

I need to get more packing peanuts.