For you guys who ship or have shipped, one piece recurves, where are you getting the shipping boxes ?
I have made my own, last recurve I sent out in a tube.
For me I make a wood box with 1x3 and 1/4 plywood. Bulletproof
Large PVC tube cut to fit. Several layers of cardboard for padding with a patch of scrap leather at tips to prevent punch through. Wrap bow in an old towel, bow sock, sheet, etc and fill the gaps with bubble wrap until it can't rattle.
Tough, it can cost you a fortune to ship.
I get large pieces of cardboard from local car dealerships who throw out the windshield cardboard, etc. They say "take it away" and are glad to be rid of it. Appliance places also...refrigerator cardboard etc.
I make my own box, fitting it to the recurve.
Cut as needed. It weighs a lot less and costs less to ship.
Haven't had an issue yet...knock on wood!
I make a wooden like DesertDude. I does add a little cost because of the extra weight but it does take all of the stress of shipping a bow. Average packaged weight of box and 60" recurve is about 9 pounds which translates to around 3.00 more shipping over flimsy cardboard boxes.
When ever I get a bow i save the box iny garage. I have reused mamy. Yes, most car dealers should have lots of cardboard behind the shop that is free. Cutting down a big box works well and does making a triangle shaped box yourself out of a,big piece of cardboard. Easiest thing is just over lap and tape 2 arrow boxes or smaller boxes together.
I've shipped 5-6 of them without issue. I use two compound bow boxes, one telescoped inside the other. Sometimes I cut down the width of each to reduce shipping. I foam the bottom and top (inside) and of course wrap the bow so it won't move. I fill the open spaces with foam peanuts. I've also used telescoped rifle boxes but not often because I like to hang on to those boxes.
It probably takes me an hour or more to box up a 1-piece. I'm very careful. I've never had one damaged.
I've also received some new 1-piece bows from a couple of builders. I'm always amazed at how weakly (IMO) they are boxed. Thin cardboard and lots of voids inside. But, I'm happy to report, I've never received one the least bit damaged.
I'm pretty sure I overkill the boxing of 1-piece.
I doubt if I will ever receive or send another 1-piece. I don't own one now and don't plan on it unless its a BT Snakebit.
I worked at a car dealership for many years. Lots of boxes from bug shields etc.
I make my own box out of furniture boxes. They like you to take it off their hands.
One extra thing that seems to work is to make little "pillars" to set at various points on either side of the bow.
Make strips of cardboard whatever dimension you need to support the interior of the carton. Then roll them up and tape in place.
I also like the cardboard triangle...local bicycle shops have lots of extra boxes from incoming bikes.......
On this site, if you click on (How to Resources) there are instructions for making a recurve shipping box. It is easy to follow and works well!
cardboard triangle here too....
I go to the Sears Store. Plenty of refrigerator and stove boxes. Make my own and cut extra 2" strips to beef up around the bow, then plenty newspaper to fill the voids. Takes some time!!, but I know it will get there in one piece! Pete