From bruce@ashbysolutions.com Mon Nov 07 12:21:39 2005
Subject:Re: OT shipping UPS w/cheapo lite-flight cases

Hi Walter,

I have never had any problem with the foam that presses down on the keys breaking anything. If you double-box the case inside a cardboard box, with extra foam, that should withstand almost anything that might happen. Just make sure that you insure it for the actual value of the keyboard, because the shipper could also lose it (happens), or spill something all over it. (I had a Mackie mixer arrive soaked in the stuff that UPS uses to clean their trucks.)

Rather than use Styrofoam, I'd use the pink foam insulation that contractors use under vinyl siding. That's what JDesign used when they shipped my monitor cab, and what was used to ship my new Leslie cabinet.

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions™ http://consult.ashbysolutions.com
978.386.7389 voice/fax
bruce@ashbysolutions.com

At 03:47 PM 11/7/2005 +0000, you wrote:
>In the past few years I've seen and had a few of the cheap ATA lite-
>flight cases that are all over eBay and also sold either the
>inexpensive ones or an upgrade that has better corners and snaps: New
>York Cases, Island Cases, etc. These are fine for putting in the back
>of the car or van and driving to a gig, but never for actual flight
>shipment, and I don't see how they could possibly hold up to
>UPS/FedEx/USPS. When I've sold a keyboard that had one of these cases
>with it, I've always had UPS put a slightly larger extra box and at
>least some styrofoam sheets and corner stuffing so they'd hold up to
>ship if a buyer wanted the case - and of course I had no more use for
>it.
>
>Here's the question(s).. these cases usually come with a glued on
>piece of fairly substantial foam under the lid that goes right over
>the keys, i.e., it presses down on the keys as you close the case.
>Could this potentially cause any damage to the keybed and how the
>keys function, like when the keyboard is being slammed around on a
>long trip with one of our favorite disreputable carriers? When I've
>occasionally bought a keyboard on eBay or wherever and the seller has
>one of these cases that they innocently think will ship the keys by
>gorilla express by just sticking a label on it, I tell them I don't
>even want it, unless they will repack the whole board in another box
>or repack it inside the case inside another oversize box - but that
>pressure on the key rubber/felt whatver underneath worries me(?). Any
>opinions will be appreciated. TIA ~ Walter j
>
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