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vFN |
virtual Fishing Network |
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Anglers Collectibles INFORMATION Bishop
Rodmakers E-Mail
Darrell |
How to properly package a bamboo rod for shipping Well, after receiving about a half a dozen rods that were damaged in shipping, I decided to create this page as I'm tired of typing in a half page of instructions in my emails of how to properly package a rod to be shipped. This is the way I ship my rods that I sell and I wish people sending me rods would use the same care and thought that I do. I've received several rods with damaged varnish or broken line guides because of careless shipping. The post office is reluctant to pay insurance claims when damages are caused by careless shippers. If the rod does not have a bag or tube - First, get a couple of sheets of newspaper and arrange the two sheets of paper so that both ends of the rod are shorter than the combined length of the paper. Starting with the thinniest sections, begin wrapping the sections forming a tube and placing the sections and rolling them in such a way that none of the sections are touching each other. Next fold over the ends of the paper and tape up the paper, leave a little extra at the ends to help cushion the delicate rod tips. Make sure you tape the two pieces of newspaper together well so one sheet doesn't get stuck in the tube. If the rod sections and tube are less than about 39 inches overall, you should be able to get a free shipping box/triangular tube from the post office. If the rod is longer, get two of them and splice together. Ideally, you would find some kind of tube either of PVC or cardboard to put the wrapped rod inside before putting into the box. If you can find a tube great. Insert the rod in the tube and make sure the wrapped rod will fit just barely snug, not too tight, so as it will not rattle around. Either cap the ends or tape the ends will be fine. From here the rest is easy. use either styrofoam peanuts or bubble wrap if you've got it otherwise use the newspaper and roll upa couple of pieces into a crumpled tube, maybe put a couple twists into it and then wrap it around each end of the tube and use tape to hold the paper in place on the tube. CAUTION - DO NOT put any tape on a cardboard tube that is the original rod tube!!! If it is a metal tube, use a removable type tape, ideally masking tape, second choice is duct tape, next is electrical tape. Avoid packing tape or priority mail tape, that stuff is wicked to remove. If the rod has a bag and tube - First, get a couple of sheets of newspaper and arrange the two sheets of paper so that both ends of the rod are shorter than the combined length of the paper. Leaving the rod in the cloth bag, simply roll the rod in the paper forming a paper tube and tape the end shut. Make sure you tape the two pieces of newspaper together well so one sheet doesn't get stuck in the tube. Make sure the rod doesn't move when you shake the tube up and down, if it does, add a little crumpled paper to the tube and replace the cap and try again. If the rod sections and tube are less than about 39 inches, you should be able to get a free shipping box/triangular tube from the post office. If the rod is longer, get two of them and splice together. Insert the rod in the tube and make sure the wrapped rod will fit just barely snug, not too tight, so as it will not rattle around. Either cap the ends or tape the ends will be fine. From here the rest is easy. use either styrofoam peanuts or bubble wrap if you've got it otherwise use the newspaper and roll upa couple of pieces into a crumpled tube, maybe put a couple twists into it and then wrap it around each end of the tube and use tape to hold the paper in place on the tube. CAUTION DO NOT put any tape on a cardboard tube that is the original rod tube!!! If it is a metal tube, use a removable type tape, ideally masking tape, second choice is duct tape, next is electrical tape. Avoid packing tape or priority mail tape, that stuff is wicked to remove. The perfect shipping tube is PVC. It will not dent, it's inexpensive and readily available. I usually buy 1.5" tube and caps that will work on 90% of today's bamboo rods. They can also be reused as the rods storage and carry tube if you make it look nice. I then pack the PVC tube in the triangular tubes from the Post Office... they're free by the way... ask the PO to order them for you. If you do any volume of shipping they'll give you free personalized shipping labels and all kinds of goodies. If the rod doesn't have a tube you could also use a 1.5-2.5" PVC tube as the container instead of a tube and a box. If you go this way, then make sure the rod is wrapped and packed snugly and that there is padding on both ends so that the tube can withstand being dropped 10 ft without damage on either end... Yes, I've heard some real horror stories and I've received a rod with reel seats in 30 pieces. The carriers are very rough on our packages so expect the worst. Another alternative to using a box to ship the rod tube is to use 2.5" PVC tubing. If you go this route, make sure you wrap the rod tube with paper or bubble wrap so that the tube doesn't rattle around in the larger diameter tube. DO NOT, I REPEAT... DO NOT SHIP THE ROD TUBE UNPACKAGED - EVERY rod that I have received that was simply shipped in it's rod tube and not in a box or outer tube was damaged... from mild to terrible. Broken snake guides, broken reel seats, damaged varnish... it is very upsetting to a person expecting a fine split cane bamboo rod to open it up and find damaged goods. If you take a few extra minutes to properly package the rod, it will make the buyers so much happier. The other reason is that most of the rod tubes are very old and are easily damaged, dented or if it's original, putting tape, stickers, labels, stamps and other sticky things are usually impossible to remove cleanly and that is a loss of value to the rod and the tube. Some of those tubes are worth $40 and more! If you ruin the value of the tube by putting tape and labels etc on it, if the buyer complains... they have a right to complain and should be compensated by the shipper... I would complain and I do! When you are shipping a rod, keep in mind that it is usually 50-100 years old and it is a relatively fragile item. Many of these rods are not just old but are historic and are valuable to not just the buyer but to the history of fly fishing and angling in America and the world. We all have a duty to do our best to try to preserve these rods in their original condition as best as we can and we depend on the sellers/shippers to do a proper packing and shipping job. Thank you very much for taking the time to read these instructions. If you also buy and sell rods, feel free to include a link to this page when communicating with another seller or feel free to link it to your web site.
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