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.

		Ceramics Arts Daily
potters.org a great source of info	just art pottery

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