Many of you have been faced with the challenge of shipping your ceramic work via a commercial carrier.  Certainly the most challenging aspect of this process is the packing of the work to eliminate breakage...

Here are a few simple dos and don’ts and some web site links that should guarantee that your work arrives intact.

Don'ts

• No wine boxes or appliance boxes - the cardboard is too thin and the least impact will shatter the work.
• No crates - too big and too expensive and impossible to store.
• No tubs, bins or unpadded crates - Shipping companies do not handle the work with the care that you do when you handle the work.
• Do not allow the work to move freely in the packing
• Do not skimp on packaging

Do's

• Do use Heavy Duty Doublewall Corrugated Stock Boxes & Cartons or
• Do use two boxes with at least a 2 inch space between  all dimensions
• For extra protection line the box with foam.
• Do use Bubble wrap with ½ in Bubbles There are a number of other acceptable packing materials, bubble wrap still works very well and is 100% recyclable.
• Do completely wrap your piece in bubble wrap so that if you drop it will bounce!
• Do use clear packing tape to secure the bubble wrap (this tape is easy to remove from the bubble wrap.
• If packing multiple pieces insure that each piece is packed individually and independently of the other pieces.
• Do be lavish on packaging

You should be able to pass a gorilla test (famous Samsonite luggage commercial when a gorilla puts the product's durability to the test).  That is to throw the box across the room with no fear of breakage.

Links with more packing 411.

potters.org a great source of info

If you'd like to add more links or info please contact us.