Shipping gas tank- newly painted. How to pack it shipping?

[BigD_83]

Quick question for all of you who paint for others:

How do you pack up the tanks for shipping, once they are painted, such that the paint does not get damaged en route?

For those of you who have had a newly painted tank shipped back, any good/bad stories about packing jobs?

[chuck hahn]

Larry ( nvr2old ) taped thin foam sheeting to mine all over the top. Then he wrapped it in another layer. The box was big enouch for lots of bubble wrap, newspaper, and other packing..and it was packed in good and snug.

[BigD_83]

Thin foam...like styrofoam? Or something else altogether, like that thin, black sheet-like "foam"

[chuck hahn]

Like 1/4 inch white foam that youd find in other packaging applications...wrapped around VCRs, DVDs, other electronics...know what i mean?

[chuck hahn]

Looked like he laid the tank top down on it and taped it securely to the underside of the tank so it wouldnt move around.

[BigD_83]

Yup. Thanks, Chuck.

I have a good mental picture of what you are talking about. I'm picking up my tank from a local painter today, using the Subaru for transport, but had a passing thought as to what I'd have to do if I was shipping it.

I'm curious though, does anybody have any horror stories of gas tank shipping gone wrong?

[Charlie G]

I've shipped one and recieved one via US post office and all was fine. Bubble wrap over the out side of the tank is what I used.

cg

[BigD_83]

I guess one thing I'm wondering about, does one foam (or bubble wrap) better protect the clear compared to another? I would think that all would be good as long as the tank isn't slopping around inside the wrap.

[ThrottleBack]

You need to use the thin foam wrapped tightly in 2-4 layers. Anything else will up the paint and can easily cause damage.

[oldgrumpy]

I guess one thing I'm wondering about, does one foam (or bubble wrap) better protect the clear compared to another? I would think that all would be good as long as the tank isn't slopping around inside the wrap.

............ hi i recieved a superb gs1000s red/white gen tank from western australia ,, to morwell when it arrived it was in a large reqangle box,,, and packed in bubble foam small shapes ,,,and a sheet of bubble plastic over the tank ,,, ,,not a scratch on it well packed and delivered but the little foam funny bits did go on the floor ,but i vacumed it all up ,, well recommended packing them that way regards oldgrumpy

[jeff.saunders]

DO NOT USE BUBBLEWRAP OR PLASTIC on new paint. Until the paint fully hardens, there are chemicals on the plastic and foam that WILL attack the paint.

Going back a year or so, we received a newly painted bodywork set cocooned in bubble wrap - it looked like an octopus had attacked it. Little round marks all over the clear coat. It took a massive amount of buffing to remove the marks.

Normally we receive the bodywork wrapped in a special paper, but I guess they were out of it that time.

[ThrottleBack]

DO NOT USE BUBBLEWRAP OR PLASTIC on new paint. Until the paint fully hardens, there are chemicals on the plastic and foam that WILL attack the paint.

Going back a year or so, we received a newly painted bodywork set cocooned in bubble wrap - it looked like an octopus had attacked it. Little round marks all over the clear coat. It took a massive amount of buffing to remove the marks.

Normally we receive the bodywork wrapped in a special paper, but I guess they were out of it that time.

Unless the item is shipped within 12 hours of last gassing the foam sheeting will not damage it if wrapped around and taped. If it is being shipped too soon find a painter with a clue.

[nvr2old]

The product I used was very thin 1/8" thick and 12" wide soft foam sheets that comes in rolls. It's inexpensive and works great. You can find it at businesses that specialize in packing materials. Don't go to the UPS or Mail Box stores, they charge a fortune. I wrapped all the parts with several layers of the foam and it will not harm the finish. As mentioned..do NOT wrap the freshly painted parts in bubble wrap. Bubble wrap, peanuts and whatever else it takes is used to keep the parts from moving around. Also the box needs to be big enough to cushion the parts on all sides to protect them in case the box gets dropped. NOTHING caused me more anxiety in painting bikes then shipping new parts back..I made SURE they were packed carefully. Even the ones I shipped to Australia returned in perfect condition, so it pays to take the time and to spend the money for the right packing materials.

[jeff.saunders]

Unless the item is shipped within 12 hours of last gassing the foam sheeting will not damage it if wrapped around and taped. If it is being shipped too soon find a painter with a clue.

Not true... It takes many days for paint to fully harden. And they do have a clue - they paint hundreds of sets of reproduction Z1 bodywork for us.

[ThrottleBack]

Of course it takes days to fully harden, it takes longer then that especially when parts are moved from one environment to another. It's still the painters fault and not the foam. Either they shipped it too soon (any pro waits at least 24 hours but after 12 your OK depending on paint type / location / season) or they didn't do something right during the last stages of paint.

Foam sheeting will not react with gassed off paint. Even tacky paint may stick but would never have a chemical reaction.