A stone sculpture requires a heavy crate

We built a sturdy wooden crate for this 400-pound Colorado Marble cougar sculpture from John Kessler. Total shipping weight of 500 pounds meant it shipped to Florida with a freight carrier.

John Kessler cougar sculpture

Shipping furniture and delicate glass items

A Pak Mail customer recently traveled to the Colorado Springs-Denver area to shop at our local household furnishings consignment shops. She came away with two tables, some paintings, and the glass chandelier pictured here. After packing the items and securing them to a custom pallet, the shipment left our store. It was delivered safely.

What is the best way to pack a solid glass chandelier? Suspended in a sturdy box or crate filled with packing peanuts, and strapped to a pallet for freight shipping. This method keeps all pressure off the delicate arms of the chandelier.

Delicate Green Glass Chandelier

Two pallets on Tuesday

Discover Goodwill online auction furniture to the left; US Air Force Academy footlocker to the right. Very diverse freight shipments today. Front lobby is empty and ready for more. What will come thru the front door next?

Pak Mail builds custom corrugated boxes & wood crates

Mailbox customer looks at the large corrugated box being prepared for a grandfather clock and says, “Now that’s a big box!”

Another private mailbox renter comments on a very large (80″ tall) wood crate, “I don’t think that’s big enough!”

Our regular customers enjoy seeing our shipping challenges and express disappointment when the front lobby is empty. Luckily, that’s a rare occurrence. This week was a mix of Goodwill auction, estate (the clock), basketball tournament, USAFA, online returns, small business, and gift shipping. Some items ship as small packages with UPS, FedEx, DHL, and USPS; some require a pallet and ship with LTL freight carriers.

We never know what will come through the front door next! It keeps our regulars entertained.

large custom wood crate

large custom corrugated box

UPS, FedEx, DHL and freight carriers are operating February 19

Pak Mail offers services with FedEx, UPS, DHL, USPS postal, and large freight carriers.

President’s Day packing and shipping options:

• Pak Mail is open President’s Day, February 19. UPS, FedEx, DHL and freight carriers are following normal hours for delivery and pickup.
• The Post Office (USPS) is closed. There is no mail pickup or delivery at Pak Mail on President’s Day.

See you in the store!

Pak Mail makes it easy to pack & ship large items

This elliptical exercise machine shipped after the July 4th holiday. Steps for packing a large item like this include:

• Attach the machine to a sturdy pallet with braces under the legs to keep it from shifting in transit.
• Stabilize the moving arms with stretch wrap.
• Build a very large custom-made double-wall corrugated cover and attach it to the pallet with wood staples.
• Install metal strapping over the box to secure it to the pallet.

Pak Mail ships big stuff!

Elliptical exercise equipment prep for shipping

Elliptical exercise equipment ready for freight shipping

Building a picture crate

Last week’s shipping challenges included artwork that required a wooden crate. We often build them for bronze artwork; sometimes for medical equipment. This crate was for a large, framed historic piece of art from a local gallery.

Picture Crate – Building the Frame

Picture Crate – Cutting the Sides

Picture Crate – Assembling the Pieces

Camping season is upon us

What do these projects have in common? Camping. One is a van conversion kit from Wayfarer Vans; the other is family camping gear for a small move. Enjoy your summer!

Van conversion kit from Wayfarer Vans

Measuring camping gear for proper packing

Camping Gear Packed on Pallet and Ready for Strapping

Furniture shipping

This is the only photo of this project; it was packed and out the back door – one, two three. The table and six chairs were purchased at Consign and Design, a fantastic shop on Garden of the Gods Rd, down the road from Pak Mail. The chairs were packed in pairs and shipped on a pallet with the table. All pieces were protected with felt blankets and styro-lined custom boxes.

Table and chairs from Consign and Design.

Busy season for packing and shipping

Being inundated with packing and shipping projects – believe it or not – is a fun challenge. Last week the guys picked up gallery items and household goods, quoted walk-in freight shipments,  packed everything securely, and shipped with our contracted carriers. This was in addition to small package shipping – artwork from the Commonwheel Artists Co-op in Manitou Springs, birthday gifts, and overnight documents. All deadlines were met!

Part 1 Pictures

Decorative Chair from The Great Republic Gallery

Decorative Chair in Custom Box on Pallet