Official Luthiers Forum!

I need to build a new box to ship unfinished guitars off to the likes of Joe White. I'm trying to come up with a source for some 5" thick foam that I can cut out the shape of my guitar body. 24"x24"x?" box probably.

I also need some 24"x24"x2" to put above and below the body.

Joe says I also need a 3" thick piece to cut out and lay in the necks.

I have a single guitar box - but this time would like to build something to hold 2 guitars.

1) Where might I find packing foam like this? I almost had a heart attack last time I purchased some at a fabric store - as they are selling furniture cushion quality stuff. The stupid box cost almost more than the guitar!

2) For those of you shipping guitars to Joe or Tony F. - how are YOU shipping them? Show your boxes please (or at least describe them)

Help appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

Could you not use the insulation boards from the hardware store? Usually about 13$ for a 4'x8'x1" board?

It has been my understanding that soft foam, such as pillow or cushion foam, could transfer silicone to the unfinished instrument making it more difficult to finish.

I will be having to ship a guitar for the first time, classical with neck attached, and I would love to see some photos of how you pack your guitars. Anyone have photos out there?
Wendy

uline.com
They have all things for packing.

Not sure if you have a case mfr near you, but I happen to be lucky enough to have one .. they make HD road style cases, and the last one I had made (for the doubleneck) I asked about getting some extra foam, if he had cutoffs .. he showed me a pile the size of a garden shed and said take as much as you want - they throw that much out every few days ...

As for shiping a guitar with a neck attached .. use a case, and get a used guitar shipping box from your local music store. Taylor uses excellent boxes, so go to see and ask a Taylor dealer, they usually end up throwing them out for recycle anyway.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

You can also look at Instapak Foam In Place bags. You have to warm them up to about 120°F, then squeeze them to pop the barrier between the 2 components inside. Within a few seconds, the foam starts to expand & fill the bag. They're not cheap but guitars aren't either.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

One more thing about foam. It's expensive to ship because it eats up a lot of truck space. UPS & FedEx get into what they call dimensional weight. This basically means that even if the box only weighs 10 lbs, they charge you the 70 pound rate because they're loosing truck space.

Are there any matting manufacturers in your area, like gymnasium matting? This is one of the products that is still made in the US since it's expensive to ship overseas - for the same reason why UPS & FedEx charge extra to ship it.

Kevin Looker

_________________
I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.