Shipping a motor. Best way?

[Omega Leather Works]

Hey guys, I'm going to be shipping an electric motor soon. It weighs 28lbs and is a normal size for an industrial motor. I don't have the measurements, but it's about 10" in diameter (roughly, could be a little bigger) and... Um, about 12-14" long-ish.

What's the best way to ship it in terms of carrier, and any advice on how to properly pack it is welcome.

It's going from my CA address to his CA address.

Thanks!

Anyway, the thing is heavy and expensive.

 

[LEGION 12]

I would put it in a double walled box put packing on the bottom wrap the motor in packing then fill the box with more packing so it won't move at all than seal it up with your tape of choice . I use heavy clear tape than I go around the whole carton with strapping tape a few times I ship cartons up to 100 hundred pounds like this and never have any problems . If it can't move it won't be able to work its way out of the carton shouldn't be any movement when you shake the box. How are you shipping Post Office or U.P.S. ? Didn't see the part where you ask who to ship with personally I think you would be better off using United Parcel .

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Thanks man! Yeah, I asked about who to ship with, but I may have worded it poorly.

Where can I get a double walled box, and the packing stuff (peanuts... or?)?

Why do you recommend UPS over USPS? I always go USPS but will try UPS if there's a good reason to do so.

 

[LEGION 12]

U.P.S. In my personal experience handles their shipments with more care than the Post Office and I ship up to 80 packages a day and if there is a problem claims are better handled by U.P.S. Keep in mind I have my own account Rep. So if I do have a problem they take care of it right away . You should be able to get a box like that at a storage place around where you live or maybe a grocery store just ask if you can have one . If all else fails get a single wall and some extra cardboard cut the pieces to fit and make your own double . The packing you can use whatever you have newspaper works fine old rags whatever you have on hand.

 

[N Gremory]

Hey guys, I'm going to be shipping an electric motor soon. It weighs 28lbs and is a normal size for an industrial motor. I don't have the measurements, but it's about 10" in diameter (roughly, could be a little bigger) and... Um, about 12-14" long-ish.

What's the best way to ship it in terms of carrier, and any advice on how to properly pack it is welcome.

It's going from my CA address to his CA address.

Thanks!

Anyway, the thing is heavy and expensive.

I personally prefer UPS for anything larger than a small flat rate box size through USPS.
There's only been two incidents (I used to ship a lot) where they damaged an item. The first one wasn't really their fault. I let Staples pack the 50-pound Adcom amplifier, and all they did was take a box that was way too large and filled it with packing peanuts and the item. Needless to say, heavy items flatten packing peanuts.. Especially in a large container!
The second time was where an electronic got knocked around and the box was damaged. Both were insured and both were covered.

In my experience, UPS is much cheaper than USPS (Standard services, of course), so long as the box is not a small flat-rate. Insurance isn't too bad, either.

It's not really going too far, but I would recommend getting a sturdy box that's 2-3 inches smaller than the unpacked motor. Wrap tightly with several layers of medium-or-large-bubbled bubble-wrap. As far as filling in remaining spaces, you can use more bubble wrap, regardless of size, or paper. (You can use shredded or crumpled printing paper, newspaper, brown paper, etc.)
When taping the box, be sure to properly seal any gaps in case of a liquid spill. Also, be sure to put 3 to 4 layers of tape over the main openings. Go over the center of the gap with one; slightly covering the center while off to the other side; and the reverse of the previous one. Do this on the top and the bottom. Also, wrap around the box (somewhat perpendicular to the taping I just mentioned), going around once or twice. You can do that once or more, depending on how much extra strength you want it to be held together with.

I've had some awful experiences with FedEx, so that's been ruled out for the past two years, for me.