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GeneralHow to ship safely some minerals

25th Jul 2015 14:38 UTCTony Kano

Hello every everybody,

How do prepare and package your minerals when you are going to ship them? And in the case they are very sensible?

Thank you

25th Jul 2015 16:33 UTCJay I. G. Roland

Use the same precautions as you would if sending fresh eggs and you can't really go wrong. It's a common sense thing really.

Regards,

Jay.

25th Jul 2015 16:40 UTCGary Moldovany

I use lots of bubble wrap. I wrap each specimen in paper towels and bubble wrap, which is then taped together. Fragile specimens should go in their own small cardboard box and then wrapped up in more bubble wrap. I usually ship in the US Mail's "Flat Rate" boxes, they are fairly sturdy and dependable. It's pretty rare that specimens are damaged. I also use packing peanuts around the individual packages inside the box and finish up with newspaper in all the spaces and on top and bottom.

25th Jul 2015 17:42 UTCUwe Ludwig

I had to ship a relatively large but thin specimen formed like a plate. I but it into a plastic bag. Then I took the case and filled the lower part of it with construction foam. Then I put the specimen in the plastic bag on this foam layer and filled the whole box also with construction foam. The plastic bag prodected the specimen to become polluted by the foam.

The parcel and the specimen arrived without any problem. The consignee could remove the foam and the palstic bag very easily.

Rgds.

Uwe Ludwig

25th Jul 2015 20:34 UTCNik Nikiforou

gary moldovany Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I use lots of bubble wrap. I wrap each specimen in

> paper towels and bubble wrap, which is then taped

> together

I also use Gary's method for wrapping, but I would recommend using rubber bands instead of tape to hold the wrapped specimen together. Removing tape at the receiving end can be a pain and also risks damaging the specimen because it often requires holding (and thereby squeezing) the piece too tightly while trying to unwrap it. The tape also sticks to the bubble wrap and makes it less re-usable.

I switched to using rubber bands about ten years ago and have gotten quite a few feedbacks from customers thanking me for not using tape.

26th Jul 2015 17:07 UTCTony Albini

I use a variation of Gary's method of shipping depending on the specimens and use USPS. Most packages arrive with no damage. One package I shipped cross country had 40% of the package smashed inward on all sides! My friend was amazed nothing was damaged.

Moral of this story is just like was said earlier, pack your specimens as if they were raw eggs.

Tony

26th Jul 2015 20:26 UTCDoug Daniels

Just don't tell the USPS that you packed it like they were raw eggs.... they'll think that's what you did, and are shipping something perishable. Could happen!

26th Jul 2015 22:47 UTCDana Slaughter 🌟 Expert

Aside from wrapping the specimens carefully, it is vital that one leaves no room in the shipping box! When one lightly shakes the package in hand there should be no sound or movement whatsoever coming from within the box. I like to use recycled plastic grocery bags for packing material---they are extremely lightweight and can be tamped down to provide a very effective cushion. Very fragile specimens should be double-boxed. Also, it is important that one not use too small a box--it is far better to use a larger box than one too small.

Also, don't skimp on the packing material and packing tape. A single strip of tape on bottom flap, etc. isn't good enough. I use at least two strips on the bottom and usually three on the top to cover the mailing address in the event of rain, etc. during delivery. Pack specimens as if you were the recipient--don't skimp on the quality of boxes and tape and pack, pack, pack to create a totally silent package.

27th Jul 2015 02:46 UTCDoug Daniels

Teleportation. Oh, right. We haven't developed that yet....sorry. The biggest bugaboo is the real fragile ones - thinking finely fibrous minerals. How to wrap without destroying them.

27th Jul 2015 06:17 UTCKeith Compton 🌟 Manager

Hi

I would suggest that you always pack specimens into a box within a box. Surround the inner box with crumpled newspaper to prevent movement. Surrounding the inner box with foam peanuts does not prevent the inner box moving around if not very tightly packed. Much easier to surround with crumpled newspaper or the like.

The specimens themselves should be wrapped in material like the plastic used by dry cleaners.

Very delicate specimens can be enclosed in a box and filled with washing powder.

For small specimens mounted in plastic boxes, don't rely on any form of tack to hold a specimen in place in the box. Place some wrapping material inside to offer protection if it becomes loose.

I would use rubber bands rather than sticky tape for any internal packing.

I find that bubble wrap is only suitable for non-fragile pieces and even then would only use to surround a box containing a specimen.

Always wrap sticky tape around the outside box and fully cover the label - both sender and receiver to protect against rain.

I always suggest including a note inside the outer box on both the inside top and inside bottom indicating that the specimens are fragile and that care should be taken to unwrap by customs officials.

Remember that a wrapped package must be able to survive the football or drop test. Packages may be accidentally dropped or even thrown in sorting rooms. If package is opened by customs officials, they are more likely to repack carefully if the original is packed carefully.

As stated in an earlier message - ensure that nothing moves if you shake it.

Cheers

Keith

28th Jul 2015 06:30 UTCTony Kano

Thank you for your ideas they were very helpfull

Two more questions about shipping:

- What company do you like?

- Do you pay an insurance for the shipments?

Thank you

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