Easiest way to ship a bare bones frame.

[cyclingday]

Yeah, the easiest way, is to slap a shipping label right over the nicest decal on the frame, and have it on the way, no questions asked.
If your feeling generous, you might stuff a replacement decal in the seat tube for good will.
The object of the game, is to get it to its intended recipient in the best, safest manner possible.
So get a box that it’ll fit in perfectly, wrap the individual tubes of the frame in foam pipe insulation.
Brace the fork ends with cardboard blocks,
then sandwich the whole frame in cardboard sheet, and the wrap that with plastic sheet cling wrap.
Add cardboard doublers to the inside of the box, and fill the voids with wadding of packing paper, so that no part of the frame touches any part of the shipping container.
Reinforce all the flaps of the box with strapping tape, and make sure that the out side of the box doesn’t have any other labels on it other that the intended recipients.
Then, charge the recipient accordingly for you time, effort and actual costs.
If he or she, they or them, doesn’t want to pay for that, then inform them, that next to the transfer of funds, packing and shipping, is the most critical part of the transaction, after that, find another buyer.

 

[Rivnut]

In this case, I'm the buyer and trying to help a guy ship the frame to me. I have enough parts from previous projects to put together a complete bike except for a frame. I have a set of S7 wheels repainted and newly respoked and everything else. I found a guy with a 1959 Tornado that is a frame only. Would work well with the Tornado style chain guard and painted wheels that I have.

Now for an additional question. Those bike were trimmed in Ivory. Are the decals that Bicyclebones sells for the Tornado also in Ivory? Thanks,
Ed

 

[Hoagie57]

I remember years ago somebody here received a bike frame that was plastic wrapped. Some cardboard taped to the head tube and I believe the drop out was supported somehow, and that was it.

I remember getting a Schwinn Sting-Ray frame like that. Luckly nothing got damaged but would not recommend it.

 

[Michigan Picker]

Who or what is the easiest way to ship a bare bones, stripped frame. Can a frame be shipped just by putting a shipping label on it and not packaging it? I've shipped car bumpers like that.
Thanks,
Ed

NO!

 

[Michigan Picker]

The USPS takes handlebars w/o any wrapping, just a label. I have shipped a couple that way. Would think a frame could go the same way via UPS, that is, if the paint isnt worth protecting.

I would never want to try that....wrap it in pipe foam at the very least....

 

[Gully]

I worked at a AMC dealer in the 80s and they would ship fender panels with no packaging. Just a label stuck to it. We never had damage.

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

An exact-sized box through one of the big shippers is likely your best bet. I often make my own boxes. I save large cardboard sheets from furniture purchases, etc. Making a box isn't hard if you take a minute to understand how it goes together. I measure the item out (in this case a frame) and ensure that the box measures just slightly larger (1/2" or so) than the item's dimensions to accommodate bubble wrap or foam sheeting. The key is to not give any room for shifting so that the item seats snugly in the box with a layer of protection between it and the cardboard. I then do my best to fill any void with air pillows saved from online purchases sent to the house. Obviously making a box isn't the easiest way, but if the paint is worth protecting, it's a safe approach.

Agree, and I might add, to cut a block of wood to snugly fit between the frame drop outs and the front fork ends. If somebody sits on the box the rear triangle will easily get crushed.

John

 

[Miq]

Agree, and I might add, to cut a block of wood to snugly fit between the frame drop outs and the front fork ends. If somebody sits on the box the rear triangle will easily get crushed.

John

I’ve gotten a couple of frames shipped to me from @mrg that were packed perfectly. Block of wood screwed to the rear fork ends, pool noodle cushioning, good cardboard, etc. It was all recycled materials but worked excellently at protecting the frames. Doesn’t have to cost a lot more to do it right. You just need to think about it.

 

[Rivnut]

The frame arrived late Friday. it was shipped in a TV box. Really stout cardboard.

 

[GTs58]

In this case, I'm the buyer and trying to help a guy ship the frame to me. I have enough parts from previous projects to put together a complete bike except for a frame. I have a set of S7 wheels repainted and newly respoked and everything else. I found a guy with a 1959 Tornado that is a frame only. Would work well with the Tornado style chain guard and painted wheels that I have.

Now for an additional question. Those bike were trimmed in Ivory. Are the decals that Bicyclebones sells for the Tornado also in Ivory? Thanks,
Ed

The last year for decals on the guards was 1958. The 59 models all had screen chain guard markings. And they were white. The Schwinn decals were also white not ivory. Bicycle bones just has white decals.