Common sense dictates that anything that is made up of glass, such as a stained glass panel, must be handled with care when being transported. However, you cannot have an eye on your glass shipment at all times to ensure that it is always being handled with care during transit. Thus, it is a good idea to pack the fragile panel properly with sufficient cushioning material to eliminate or minimize damages that can be caused by vibrations, bumps, and falls the package can be exposed to during shipping. Here are some helpful tips on how to properly pack and ship stained glass panels to avoid breakages and other damages.
Small stained glass panels can be safely shipped using the double boxing technique. To protect it from the elements, scratches, and imprints, place the panel in a plastic bag before wrapping it with several layers of bubble wrap. Make sure that all sides, front, and back are well protected. Secure the wrap with packing tape.
Make a custom box for the panel by cutting to size a large cardboard box. Place the bubble-wrapped stained glass panel inside the box where it should fit snugly. In case there are still empty spaces in the box, fill them up with more bubble wrap to prevent the panel from moving. Close and seal the inner box.
Place the inner box in the center of a larger shipping box with a layer of packing peanuts in the bottom. The outer box must be about 6 inches larger than the inner box to allow for sufficient packing materials on all sides. Fill the sides and top of the bigger box with more packing peanuts until the inside package has no space to move around.
Close the box and seal with packing tape. Address and label the package. It is best to ship the panel on its side rather than flat so placing a “THIS SIDE UP” label on the package is a good idea.
For shipping larger stained glass panels, a custom-made crate works best. The panel must be wrapped in bubble wrap and sandwiched between two Styrofoam boards before getting placed in a crate made from sturdy plywood. The wrapped panel must snugly fit in the crate to prevent movement. Tightly seal the crate and attach address and labels.
Take package or crate to the post office or shipping company. You can also opt to have the large crate picked up to ensure a safer haul.