How to Build a Shipping Crate for Art: 5 Things You Should Avoid

How to Build a Shipping Crate for Art: 5 Things You Should Avoid

Legend says that a shipping crate can protect the artwork from a curse. Whether it is true or not is open to debate. However, at Fine Art Shippers, we are more than sure that a custom-built wooden container is durable and effective protection against damage, vibration, and pressure, the three most dangerous parameters that have a great potential to impact the safety of the transported pieces. If you want to know how to build a shipping crate for art, you need to avoid the following cheap mistakes that can cost you dearly.

How to Build a Shipping Crate for Art: 5 Things You Should Avoid

1. “Rough” calculations

Crates are not like boxes that you fill with bubble wrap, paper, or any other padding material to fill the void inside. The fact is that there should be nothing to fill because a container is always tailored made. Be very careful with initial calculations and don’t forget to change the dimensions when you add or remove layers.

2. Materials of inadequate quality

Crates are made predominantly from wood and sometimes plastic. Since you only learn how to build a shipping crate for art, you are more likely to use wood. The serviceability of the end product will depend on what type of wood you use. Its characteristics are usually tantamount to the price of the material.

3. Wrong type of crate

Take notice that there are different types of crates: open and closed, wire-bound and stitched ones. You need to choose the one that fits your needs. Otherwise, you might waste your resources on the wrong thing.

4. Wrong equipment

Crating is not for aspiring carpenters, at least when it comes to valuable artworks. If you don’t have the necessary professional equipment, you may have problems accomplishing some primary and secondary tasks. Of course, you can use some alternative tools, but it might influence the overall quality of the crate in the end.

5. Bad pieces of advice

In case you want to ask for someone’s help, make sure the person is competent. A piece of advice given for the sake of a piece of advice is not the approach that brings good results.

Each of these factors can have an equally negative effect on your crating experience. Remember that it takes time to learn how to build a shipping crate for art, so don’t be in a hurry and tread carefully.