Deciding how to pack your art for transportation can be crucial to ensuring the safety of your artwork. Here is a deep dive into crates and why you should consider utilizing them.
CRATES VS BOXES
When packing your own art, using classic shipping boxes can be a very attractive choice. In certain circumstances, especially when a fine art shuttle is involved, boxes or soft packing can be a good option. They are affordable, light, and easy to move. But they do not provide proper safety and structure for most high value items, especially when using a traditional shipping company. If you are planning to ship a piece, we recommend building a custom crate for the work.
TYPES OF CRATES
There are several crate options available on the market. Here is a breakdown of the most common ones you will find.
Travel Frames
Travel Frames, commonly referred to as T Frames, are like a skeleton of a crate; they are not fully enclosed. They provide a simple structure for temporary moving. T Frames are nice when moving large pieces a short distance. You can drill handles into the side without damaging the piece. They are more affordable depending on the size. However, T Frames have a simple structure so, they do not make a good long term solution.
One Way Crates
One way crates are the most simple and economical form of enclosed crates. They are usually made with plywood sides/lids. One way crates will have foam protection for your artwork on the inside, and handles for easy movement. While they are typically meant for a single-trip, one-way crates can sometimes get multiple uses and are good for storing.
Standard Crates
Standard Crates, or Two-Way Crates, are a great option for art and objects that are especially fragile that require a crate for repeated use, travel, long term storage, and/or safety. Standard crates have an especially sturdy construction. They are composed of thicker, framed plywood sides that are reinforced with battens, and have integrated handles as well as skids. Inside, you will find foam supports to perfectly fit your piece and a foam gasket under the lid.
Museum/International Crates
Museum crates are the highest quality and durability you can get in a crate. They will last a very long time and are meant to protect high value works during frequent trips. These can often be found at a traveling show. Museum crates typically have all of the features found in a standard crates, but will often be bolted and plated closed, have an outer sealant for water protection, and glued and screwed joints. Their durable method for building withstands repeated use while keeping the crate looking pristine over time.
FEATURES
There are certain features that you can add to your crate to make it more custom to your needs. Foam used for support inside the crate will help with support as well as shock absorption. Ethafoam is often used for its archival purposes. It will float the artwork away from any surfaces that could damage the work or its glazing. Pieces will also be wrapped in Poly inside the crate to ensure it remains completely free of moisture or particles.
You can specify the type of handle you would like, whether it’s integrated or an added metal part. Oz clips can be added to support your piece inside the crate.
Each crate has a stencil design on the outside showing shippers that it’s fragile, to keep it dry, and which side to keep up. A label will also be added to ensure that if anything goes wrong, information about what’s inside the crate is clear and that it gets to where it needs to go.
ARTSERVE’S CRATES
Each of our crates are custom built to optimize the safety of your items based on their needs. We will work directly with you to make your piece as safe as possible. We will “dry fit” your piece into the crate before shipping to ensure the fit is perfect. Our crates are made in-house by our very experienced fabricators. Their expertise in the art field, as well as being artists themselves, ensures that your artwork is packed the best that it can be. If you are interested in a fine art crate, contact us and we’ll give you an estimate to match your needs!