Pak Mail Santa Fe

The Best Packing, Shipping and Freighting Provider in Santa Fe

art shipping

Pak Mail Makes Its Own Custom Art Shipping Crates

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There’s an art to shipping art. It is not a job you should entrust to just anyone.

Art shipping is not just about packing and shipping small paintings. It’s shipping large masterpieces, glass front canvases, large installations, outdoor sculptures, antiques, etc. These items require, and deserve, special treatment whilst moving and packing.

In addition, these also require advanced equipment and have several other special handling requirements. One of such special requirements for shipping pieces of arts is customized shipping crates specifically fitting the art piece effectively.  This customized crate houses your art so there is a minimal chance of it being tempered during the entire process.

We at PakMail have this specialized service formulated to meet the requirements of art enthusiasts. We provide all the special handling requirements a piece of art generally deserves to be handled with.

Whatever the size or type of art piece you want to ship, you should not think twice before contacting PakMail. Our professionals hold just the right expertise to handle all kinds of small and large art items and handle them in the safest manner.

The best part is, you can request for a free quote beforehand just by filling in a quote form. This ensures we provide you with services you can trust, at costs you can afford. Having a quotation in advance also brings transparency into the entire process, as now you know there will not be any hidden costs applicable at the time of billing.

Shipping Artwork and Antiques in Custom Crates

This is what is included in the custom crates used for shipping the art pieces

  • Glass front and canvas art
  • Layer of glass mask to protect the print, photograph or artwork under glass
  • Layer of glassine to protect the canvas
  • Wrapped in bubble wrap
  • Covered on both sides with corrugated sheets
  • Packed in a standard box, custom box or crate
  • Empty space in container is filled using packing peanuts.
  • Heirlooms and fine china (double boxing)
  • Each piece is bubble wrapped before being placed in a box cushioned with packing peanuts
  • The box is then placed in a larger box to take the brunt of all handling, shock and vibration while in transit
  • This packaging technique is called double boxing
  • Shipments are fully covered by our declared value program

If you need help shipping your valuables, we are happy to be of service!

Bought some amazing artwork on Canyon Road? Ship it home with PakMail

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Pak Mail Shipping and Packaging Santa Fe New Mexico
Fragile – That must be Italian

You just found an amazing painting on Canyon Road, you know exactly where it’s going to go in your house and you pulled the trigger. Now what do you do?

Well, if you live out of state, you’ll likely need to ship that painting, especially if it’s a large piece. But even it’s a small piece, you probably don’t want to trust the airline with your luggage when there is a painting you’re in love with shoved inside of it. (One time flying back from Europe we saw our bags sitting on the tarmac for 15 minutes in a torrential downpour. Several things were soaked and subsequently ruined.)

The gallery manager probably already knows, but your next step is to call PakMail (505 989-7380). We’ll give you a free quote then pick it up, package it properly and arrange transport with a shipper. In some cases we even do our own delivery, even out of state.

You probably don’t need us to tell you, but it is worth spending the money to have someone like PakMail take care of everything for you https://weshipsantafe.com/art-bronze-packing-shipping/. We have been packing art for shipping for decades and will ensure your precious piece of art is properly protected. (That was a lot of P’s wasn’t it?)

We just don’t recommend you try to pack a painting yourself. You probably spent a lot of money for your favorite new artwork, so it’s worth spending a little bit to make sure it gets home in one piece.

Then it goes on it’s merry way to you, with full-value coverage, of course. Sadly, we don’t offer picture hanging services once the package arrives at your home.

The How’s of Shipping Art and Other Valuables

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Shipping a piece of art, especially paintings are not that hard of a job. Say, you are trying to import a painting to the UK that needs to be displayed at a gallery. If the painting is sold, you receive your share of the sales and the gallery takes their cut. However, if the painting is not sold, it is either shipped back to you or to another country.

In most cases, there are no custom charges but there is a small amount of VAT involved. For paintings that are antiques, original pieces of work and more than 100 years old, 5% VAT is charged on them. However, if the painting is an imitation, it is subjected to 20% VAT charge. With that being said, let’s focus on how the art should be shipped. Following is a step by step process that will help you in packing your painting:

Things You Will Need

  • Glassine paper
  • Poly wrap
  • Bubble wrap
  • Two-ply cardboard
  • Packing tape
  • Artist tape
  • Pair of scissors
  • Knife
  • Cardboard box
  • Packing peanuts (optional)

Packing Step-by-Step

  1. Spread glassine paper on a work surface and place the painting face down on it (the glassine paper protects the surface of the painting and prevents it from getting scratched)
  2. Fold the corners and tape them with artist tape (artist tape is acid-free and therefore, can be removed easily during unpacking. Still, make sure that the tape is attached to the frame and not the painting)
  3. Fashion small triangle pockets from the glassine paper and slips them on to the corners
  4. Using poly wrap, cover the painting twice and secure the sides and corners with packing tape
  5. Take the two-ply cardboard and place the painting on it
  6. Cut around the edges, leaving at least 2 inches of space
  7. Using another two-ply cardboard, fashion a customized box by pinching the sides or folding them
  8. Secure the corners and sides with packing tape
  9. Bubble wrap this cardboard box and secure it with packing tape
  10. Slide this wrapped package into the cardboard box (the cardboard box in question here must be bought in advance from a store. It should be slightly bigger in length and larger in breadth so that the wrapped package can slide in easily)
  11. Tape the box from top to bottom to prevent it from sliding out
  12. Label the cardboard box “Handle with Care”

Note: If you feel that there’s space in the card box that might not keep the painting steady, then pack them with packing peanuts.

Packing artwork is very easy… that is if you have the right tools. The glassine paper used here in the first step of the packing process is the most important packaging material. Without it, the surface of the painting would be destroyed.

The final step is to get insurance for your package in case it gets damaged in transit.

The package is now good to go.

Shipping Bronze Sculptures – Here’s how it’s done

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Shipping bronze sculptures that are of extreme value can be very difficult. The first thing that you need to take care of is insurance. You have got the choice between basic limited liability and full value protection.

The former is known as the standard form of insurance. The insurance of the item is calculated according to per pound of the sculpture’s weight and does not cover its full value. The latter option comes at a price. The sculpture is appraised and its exact value is written in the contract. This insurance type has a high premium because in case it gets damaged or lost, the owner either gets the money for repairs or replacement or is compensated in cash

How to Pack a Bronze Sculpture for Shipping

Now that we have covered the most important step, let’s move on and discuss how to pack the bronze sculpture safely:

Depending on how heavy and big the sculpture is you can either pack it in a wooden crate or a cardboard box. While the former is a much better option, it is expensive too. Let’s have a look at how to pack it in a cardboard box:

Inner Packaging

  • Pick out a cardboard box that is a tight fit for the sculpture
  • Wrap the sculpture in bubble wrap and secure all open areas with heavy duty tape
  • Cover the bubble wrapped sculpture in a blanket
  • Place a wood plank at the bottom of the box (this will prevent the corners from bending and damaging the sharp ends of the sculpture)
  • Fill plastic bags with packing peanuts and place it at the bottom of the box (the plastic bags will keep the packing peanuts from creating a mess)
  • Place the plastic bags on every sharp edge to create a cushion
  • Slide the sculpture inside the box and make sure it’s a snug fit

Outer Packaging

To protect the sculpture from getting cracked, create an outer layer of packaging.

  • Find a slightly bigger box than the one you just packed
  • Slide in the packed box in the second box and fit packing peanut plastic bags on the sides
  • Throw in a few packets of calcium chloride (drying agent) to prevent the sculpture from getting damaged due to water
  • Secure the box with a heavy duty tape
  • Stick a paper on the box and indicate with arrows how it should be carried

Note: If you’re using a wooden crate for packaging, use stainless steel bolts instead of nails to close the crate. This will prevent the rust from seeping into the crate, in case water is splashed on it.

Since most heavy packages are shipped by sea, it is better to take a few precautions such as packets of drying agent and securing the box with another box. It might be a lot of work but it will give you the assurance that your sculpture will arrive safely and unharmed at your destination.

Shipping Art Successfully – Here’s how it’s done

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Shipping art such as paintings is equally difficult as shipping delicate antique items. Say, your paintings have been finally accepted to be showcased in an art gallery but the exhibition is in Paris. You now need to pack your paintings individually, so that they don’t rub against each other and get damaged.

As a struggling artist, it can be hard to bear the cost of packaging. The cost of shipping any kind of artwork depends on its weight, which means you cannot wrap the painting in layers of wraps and boxes or you will be paying extra.

Depending on how you want the art delivered, there are two types of packaging you can do: One for shipping art that is ‘ready to hang’ and the other where you remove the stretcher bars and roll the painting into a tube.

Shipping ‘Ready to Hang’ Art

Paintings that are ready to hang and have glass over them must be double wrapped to protect the glass from breaking. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Customize a cardboard sheet into a wrapped box according to the size of the painting
  • Place the painting on the sheet and use a cutter to make light cuts along the edges of the painting
  • Wrap the painting in plastic and secure the ends at the back
  • To protect the glass, use masking tape that is specially made for holding the painting’s glass together in case of an accidental breakage (if the glass breaks, the shards will stick to the tape and prevent the painting from getting scratched)
  • Place the painting on the sheet and mold the cardboard sheet into a box
  • Secure the corners with heavy duty tape
  • Wrap the painting with bubble wrap
  • Finally, slide this bubble-wrapped painting into the cardboard box

Shipping Rolled Art

Here are the supplies that you will need to pack your art:

  • Bubble wrap
  • Glassine
  • Box cutter and scissors
  • Artist tape
  • PVC or cardboard tube

Note: When choosing a tube for your art, make sure that it is at least 4 inches taller than your painting’s height. As for when the painting is rolled, the tube needs to be 6 inches wider than your artwork’s rolled width. This is because when the painting is rolled, the diameter of the paper is doubled.

Step #1

Lay down the glassine sheets on a surface and spread your painting on it. If the painting is on paper, then the art should be facing up, towards you and if the painting is on fabric, it should be face down on the glassine sheet. Create a thick layer by placing at least two to three sheets with the painting.

Step #2

Align the glassine sheets and start rolling the painting. Remember, the first roll should be the glassine sheet and not the painting. This will prevent the edges from rolling in themselves and tearing.

Step #3

Secure the middle of the roll with artist tape.

Step #4

Place the roll on the bubble wrap and leave a few inches from both ends. Gently roll the bubble paper and secure that too with artist tape.

Step #5

Fold the bubble wrap from the ends and create a cushion for the edges.

Step #6

Slide the roll into the tube and close the top. Wrap this entire tube with tape and label the package.

There you go! Your artwork successfully rolled and packed, and on its way to your exhibition. Bon voyage, art!