Need to Ship a Large Painting??? Let's Build a Shipping Crate!!!

Hey there!!!
I started building my own shipping crates a few years ago for my large paintings to keep them safe. Why? Oh boy... So, this is a tragic story involving an original painting and my naivety when it came to shipping large scale paintings. Long story short, the painting was packed in cardboard with lots of packing material but was completely damaged in transit. And when I say damaged, I mean it looks like it had been in a battle with a Samurai. Something (I don't know what) had gone straight through the box, packing material, and unfortunately the painting. It had been impaled. Luckily, I had insured the package and the customer got a full refund. Needless to say, I was wary of shipping original artwork after that.
One month later, I was commissioned to paint a large-scale portrait for someone on the west coast. I live on the east coast and was reasonably concerned about shipping this painting. I was not about to repeat what happened the month before. So, I decided to start building my own wooden shipping crates for my large pieces. In this video I teach you how you can build a sturdy shipping crate for artwork and hopefully you can avoid having a shipping tragedy like the one that happened to me.
Materials:
1/4 inch plywood
1x3 wood planks
3/4 inch pipe insulation
1 1/4 inch exterior screws
Angle clamp
Drill
Important notes:
When cutting plywood, increase the length and width 3 inches to your painting i.e., for a 30x40 inch painting, cut the plywood to 33x43 inches to account for the interior dimensions.
1x3 wooden planks have a 3/4-inch thickness so for a 33x43 inch crate you would want to have two planks cut to 43 inches and two planks cut to 31.5 inches.

[@MadeByBethelSwift]

This is so helpful - and entertaining!😅

[@keithdiemer5024]

Thanks babe that was sweet

[@jesseking2784]

Thank you so much ❤awesome video !! Truly helpful

[@grekori748]

Lydia.. You're the Best. This is so informative, to-the-point instruction, and wonderfully explained. Very helpful. Thank you so much

[@cme4u]

Thank you for the tips on building the crate... Philadelphia to San Francisco here it comes 😊

[@c0rpsicle]

Thank you For this tutorial. straight to the point and easy to follow. 😊

[@lydiabroderick867]

Thank you!!❤❤❤

[@ameliaclark2947]

I used to ship framed art, with glass, over the us with very little breaking. I used 3inch pallet corner protectors, upside down across the frame. I used stretch wrap to secure them. Really scary to ship art anywhere. Thank you for this

[@CatWezel66]

😂Drama queen😄Thank for your great videos ❤

[@90asdfghjkl]

love your use of color, reminds me of a dream I had

[@122fresh]

Thanks, Lydia!

[@OurCureJourney]

Thank you so much for this video 🥳😊

[@simaabedini5908]

I am so proud of myself , I did my first semi abstract style like yours . Thank you so much for being here I was truly inspired by you.please continue. Love everything about your vids.

[@lydiabroderick867]

That's amazing!!! ❤❤❤ I'm so happy!!!☺

[@annemiekex2678]

Very handy!

[@heathertez7352]

Thank you for this

[@eureart]

Thank you for this video - great help!

[@michael7324]

Great job

[@susanmarcoux7005]

Great 👍 Thank you

[@Dorisita9]

That is so fascinating. I learn so many things watching your videos.💥💕

[@lydiabroderick867]

Thank you!!!❤❤❤

[@azalea1404]

May I ask how much you spent all together on the material for the crate + the shipping cost? Did the customer pay for that or is it a service you provide?

[@anniemathieu7148]

I having the same questions of you ?!

[@mhxxd4]

Make sure to use 1/2" or 3/4" plywood. It should be able to withstand someone stepping on the middle. I've heard that UPS insurance doesn't cover artwork

[@luckehandyman]

Lydia: Great video thank you. Ray😘

[@PinoyMusicRevolution]

Thanks!

[@fredericaongenaert9531]

Good Job!!! ♡♡♡

[@lydiabroderick867]

Thank you!😊💞

[@ShuchiMuleyArt]

Thank you so much for sharing this! It was very useful!

[@catherinevangass4927]

Great tutorial 😁

[@lydiabroderick867]

Thank you!!😊

[@supratimghosh3726]

Very good

[@darlenebaker908]

Very helpful tutorial😊😊

[@lydiabroderick867]

Thank you so much!😊

[@tracytruhlarik6525]

Hello from Canada Lydia excellent video But holy crap the shipping cost must be crazy.

[@lydiabroderick867]

Hi Tracy!!! Thank you! Yes the shipping for this size with insurance is almost $500.😳 That's why I only do large scale if I'm commissioned to these days!😁

[@tracytruhlarik6525]

@@lydiabroderick867 Yes but your paintings are worth the cost but mine not so much lol I did sell one for 9 hundred dollars, that was beyond exciting.

[@janinafisher101]

@@lydiabroderick867 OMG!!! That's more than any of my paintings even cost! LOL. But I'll get there.

[@kyelesley7498]

Excellent! B.D. And I just watched the video. I like that you have the facts & figures accessible if needed. Makes me want to build a crate! (Sort of).

[@lydiabroderick867]

Thank you!!! ❤❤❤

[@virginiazimmermann8746]

Great video. I'm also about to ship a large painting 54" x40". Who do you use to ship your paintings and how do you estimate their weight?

[@sherryleggett1612]

What would be the best way to ship something this large and heavy?

[@bernadinebritto]

You are brave and funny 🙌

[@lydiabroderick867]

Thank you!!!😁

[@stephaniepotterart]

Why have I never thought about building my own shipping crate? I have varying size art that cardboard just can’t secure. Excellent idea & demo! Thanks! Question: will the shipping company add the labels after you pay or is there another step you do?

[@lydiabroderick867]

Hi! The shipping company does it.😊

[@jennawolf9873]

❤❤❤

[@umbraphoenix08]

Love the video and is so informative. Will definitely be using this method. Just a quick question, will UPS ship it, or will I have to use someone else? Also, I know probably the cost has changed but can you give me an idea of the cost to ship?

[@lydiabroderick867]

Hello! Yes UPS will ship it. However, I use pirateship.com to print my own labels. It saves a ton of money. It can be ridiculously expensive to ship an oversized painting. The last one I shipped (30x30) cost me $41.00 using the Pirate Shipping. I saved $109.00. It's totally free to create an account and you can print your shipping labels on a regular printer. I know this is a long winded response, but it has saved me and my customers a lot of $$$.

[@umbraphoenix08]

@@lydiabroderick867 Thank you so much💖

[@withlove-kee]

@@lydiabroderick867 Hi Lydia - This was such a great video and I'm glad I found your comments about Pirate Ship! Thank you so much. I had an additional question: When shipping with Pirate Ship, do they come pick up the item, or would I still have to transport it to a local UPS/USPS?

[@chandarussell]

Question. Did you do a video of this painting of a lion and the colosseum? I also saw one of an elephant in the background. They’re amazing.

[@lydiabroderick867]

Thank you! I don't have videos on those. I painted them before I started making videos.

[@gregrosario2650]

You're just a Jackie Of All Trades. Great job. I'm digging the red hair...there's a character from the Star Wars Expanded Universe named Mara Jade....you're a spitting image of her now. Oh yeah...cute toes. Peace and love...Greg

[@lydiabroderick867]

Thank you so much Greg!😁

[@MindGymMeditations]

How do they open it? 😂

[@gratefulcreations]

This is brilliant!! Hoping the customers has a drill to get those screws out eh..or they could be screwed!! Lol 😂 just curious Lydia??? Do you have an idea how much these crates cost to make and does this cost go to the customer?? You never ever cease to amaze me!! 💕💕💕

[@lydiabroderick867]

Hello Michelle! Thank you! Yes the cost goes to the customer because if I had it packed by the shipping company, it would be included in the shipping cost. One 4x8 foot sheet of plywood costs around $34. For a painting this size, I need two sheets. However, after it's cut, I have enough left over to build a smaller crate so I will cut that cost for the customer. It ends up being around $50 in materials to build a crate this size. 😊

[@themysteriousdomainmoviepalace]

How do they open it?

[@lydiabroderick867]

The same way you would open most wooden shipping crates... With a drill. I always tell the customer that I build shipping crates for large scale paintings and that they will require a drill to open it, but after shipping a large scale painting in cardboard and it being destroyed (like a samurai sword went through it) it's a necessary safeguard in my book.😊

[@keithr.4645]

What a fantastic tutorial, thank you Lydia! Who do you use for a shipping service? And do they make you place it on a pallet or can you send it just in the shipping crate?

[@lydiabroderick867]

Thank you! I use UPS. I just send it in the shipping crate.😊

[@keithr.4645]

@@lydiabroderick867 Thank you! Have you ever shipped something too big for UPS?

[@Rachelizabeth383]

Heyy do you then put in a box?

[@WessMade]

Who do you use or what do you use to ship? I’m having trouble shipping due to size.

[@lydiabroderick867]

Check out pirateship.com you get discounted shipping. It's easy to set up an account. You can print your own shipping labels for UPS, FedEx, or USPS. It's what I use and it has saved me a ton of money. I shipped a 30x30x6 recently... It would have cost me $150 to ship if I just dropped it off at my local pack & Ship (and that's after packing it myself). It cost me $41 by using pirateship.com

[@WessMade]

Thank you so much, I’ll give it a shot.

[@stewart4711]

thank you need crate for bicycle

[@willowwilson5358]

Too much math !!!!!! Hahahahaha

[@willowwilson5358]

Really smart way to do this 😊

[@lydiabroderick867]

It is a lot to take in at first. When I first started making crates it was kind of a mess. 😄