Glass items are the trickiest objects to transport. They need extra packaging to create multiple protective layers and prevent cracking, so it is essential to know how to pack glass items for shipping.
Glass items also need to be transported vertically to reduce the risks of chips and cracks. This means that it is often impossible to simply put them in the trunk of your car, especially if they are large. These particularities make glass art pieces a real headache for both owners and shipping companies. To make transportation less stressful and risky, we are sharing some pro packing tips you can master at home.
What Glass Items Need Extra Care
Knowing how to pack glass items for shipping is important if you plan to transport glass-framed art. Paintings, art prints, photographs, and other framed art pieces need to be handled with extra delicacy. Damage to the glass can entail the destruction of the art piece itself, as it can tear or get wet if the weather is too humid.
Glass vases, mirrors, antique décor items, and glass homeware are even more problematic because of their irregular shapes. The older the piece is, the more fragile it can be, so you just can’t skip the thorough packaging step and need to take all safety precautions.
Packing Materials
Packing materials depend on the glass piece’s shape, size, age, and fragility. The most common materials include mirror tape, bubble wrap, foam sheets, and wooden crates (for particularly delicate and expensive objects). Framed art pieces also need cardboard corners to protect the most vulnerable parts of the frame. Make sure you always use these for expensive antique frames.
Cushioning and sandwiching are the two best practices for packing glass items. The main principle is to create as many packing layers as possible to minimize any physical shocks during transportation. Ideally, the glass piece should not move inside its box and should be wrapped in several layers of soft, durable, water-resistant materials.
Fine Art Shippers Knows How to Pack Glass Items for Shipping
Don’t worry if it sounds too complicated. Fine Art Shippers provides specialized packing services for those who cannot or do not want to worry about packing. Our experts can choose the materials best suited for your glass object and pack it with extra care so it can reach its destination unharmed. We also have experience in handling antique glass items of great value and can offer assistance with insurance and customs documents for international shipping to/from the US.