HOW TO PACK A VIOLIN FOR SHIPMENT.
If you are wondering how to safely ship your violin by mail, or with another service such as UPS, you will find step-by-step directions below on how to prepare your violin for shipping. Select Violins safely ships violins all over the world using the following packing method. I recommend the fastest method of shipping available. When shipping in the USA, I use Express Mail for prompt, safe delivery.
Start with a 24 inch by 36 inch sheet of small bubble wrap and a large sheet of tissue paper. (The tissue paper above is 20 x 30 inches.) I usually use a double sheet of tissue for extra protection. Never wrap a violin just with bubble wrap, as the bubble wrap will damage some varnishes.
Use paper toweling to secure the bridge and tailpiece. You will need one piece folded to the 1/16th size and one piece folded to the 1/4 size.
Keep the strings at full tension so the soundpost does not get dislodged during shipping. Wrap the paper towel that is folded to a 1/16 size around the bridge, as shown above.
Place a 1/4 folded sheet of paper towel under the tailpiece, as shown above.
Gently stuff one or two sheets of paper towel under the strings behind the bridge, as shown above.
Gently stuff two sheets of paper towel under the strings in front of the bridge, as shown above.
Fold the tissue paper up and tuck it behind the violin, as shown above.
Use just two pieces of masking tape to secure the tissue. The use of heavy-duty tape or too much tape can cause damage to the violin when it is unpacked.
Use just one piece of masking tape to secure the tissue by the tuning pegs.
Use just one piece of masking tape to secure the tissue at the other end, as well.
Now repeat the same steps when taping the bubble wrap. Remember the use of heavy duty tape or too much tape can cause damage to the violin when it is unpacked.
The violin is now ready to be placed in a box of packing peanuts.
30x14x10 inches is the ideal box size. Larger boxes are OK, as well. Never use a box shorter than 30 inches or with a height less than 10 inches.
Fill the box half full of packing peanuts and place the violin in the box.
Fill the box to the top with packing peanuts. Shake it gently to settle the peanuts and add or remove them to bring it to level full. Do not overfill or under fill it. Close box and tape shut securely.
Write in red or put “Fragile” stickers on all sides of the box. Your violin is now ready for shipping. The total weight should be just under 4 pounds.
I highly recommend insuring your violin for full value.
The shipping method described above is much safer than shipping a violin in its case, in my opinion. Boxes are inevitably going to be tossed around during shipping. A large, very light box will probably be treated with more care, and if it is tossed, it will land more gently. Keep in mind that a violin shipped in a violin case will more than double the weight of the box. A tight-fitting box around a violin case will land with much more force when tossed. If you do ship a violin in its case, be sure to put it in a large enough box to allow sufficient room for packing material to buffer the impact of shipping.
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