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Over the years, I have occasionally read posts where a resin artist mention their pieces arrived at their customers damaged from their packaging. So for those not already aware, and to help avoid that, here are a few tips:
Packaging for Shipping:
Please ensure your creation is fully cured prior to wrapping in any packing products. Different items may require different cure times. This does not mean dry to the touch, rather cured all the way through.
Ensure item is free of debris, and clean prior to packing, and some people suggest wearing gloves as well to ensure you don't transfer oils from your hands on to the piece during wrapping. Check that the surface you are wrapping on is clean and somewhat cushioned.
In protecting the piece, people often make the mistake of wrapping their resin creation in bubble wrap or other plastic wrap. During shipping, it is possible for temperatures to fluctuate in the various areas the package is sent. If it sits in a warmer temperature, and the resin art gets warm up against plastic wrapping or bubble wrap, it often leaves bubble wrap marks or marks from the wrap used. To avoid this, it is recommended you use glassine paper, butcher paper, parchment paper or kraft paper. Glassine paper is a smooth glossy paper that is air, water and grease resistant. Its translucent unless dyes are added to colour or make it opaque.
Once your resin surface is protected by above wrap, you can then wrap bubble wrap, polyfoam, foam underlay, fabric or other soft wrapping around the protected wrap to provide needed additional cushion for shipping.
Some people have special boxes made up for their regularly shipped items, but you can custom cut cardboard to make specific sizes to fit your pieces as well. Add some type of filler in the box to, ensure your pieces are well cushioned and supported inside the box, so they can not slide around.
For transporting large art to and from shows or markets, wrap resin art with same paper options mentioned above (glassine paper, butcher, kraft or parchment paper) over the resin art surface, then make an overwrap with foam underlay used for laminate floors. (It is a thin foam).
Tip: This foam underlay overwrap can actually be made up into a pouch or envelope, out of the underlay, by taping up (or sewing) the sides. Then write the name of the piece on the outside of this custom made (for that piece) envelope. Keep it set aside for when the piece sells, and the customer will have something to take the art home in also. The foam underlay wrap is inexpensive and available at home improvement stores, and can be cut and tapes to fit any large piece.
There are many shipping company options. Here are a few, I can add more as I gather them from my notes:
Tip: When entering shipping dimensions in to some shipping programs, artists have experienced the price can oddly change by entering the dimensions in a different order. So double check if the options might make a difference (including with shipping companies).
Tip: Many claims will be denied if you use a bubble mailer. Spend the extra $2 or so, and use a box.
Canada Post is often the least expensive method in Canada depending on what you are shipping. Set up a small business account with them to get reduced rates for shipping.
However here's a few other options to look into as well.
Eshipper:
Flagshipcompany: Www.flagshipcompany.com
For boxes & all types of shipping supplies here are a few options:
Many framing companies will package and ship your art for you. Contact them for a quote. Michaels Craft Store also does this in their framing department.
Moving companies and many Uhaul stores sell boxes made for LED tv's which are ideal for shipping large art.
All types of shipping supplies can be ordered online via Uline Canada
https://www.uline.ca ........... Another option is you can go to Michaels & other art supply stores, and ask if they are willing to give you the boxes the frames or canvases come in. They have plastic and Styrofoam and corners that the frames come packed in.
......... Or make your own own corners out of cardboard or foam core boards. You can score the foam core and make it clean/professional looking. It actually works well. There are likely tutorials online for creating protective corners for your artwork.
