EB Forum

This is probably a newb question....

I'd like to ship a print in a PVC tube, and was wondering how to close / seal the ends? Anyone that has shipped in pvc want to give me a tutorial?

Thanks!
Ryan

I've done this on occasion for buyers who were high maintenance or ones I had a "vibe" about. It seems to be overkill, but then there are those anecdotal UPS/USPS sagas that keep anal collectors up at night.
I'd just use two PVC end caps and tape them thoroughly with normal packing tape. I'm sure you already know to use plenty if craft paper to keep it from shifting/touching the PVC, but be sure to use sand paper or other material to soften the edges of the cut pipe before inserting the print.
Attach address label, ship, repeat.

Ames use to only ship in PVC, not sure if they still do. They use to just use a brown packing tape to cover the ends.... been awhile since I ordered from them

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info.

Visual Technicians always sent the prints out in PVC. cardboard & tape on the ends. you might find 4" caps at Staples that'll fit.
I read somewhere that the inside of the pipe might be dirty, so pull a towel up through the tube before you put prints inside it.

A 4" Yazoo cap will fit on the end of a 4" PVC tube. If you don't have those lying around, get PVC caps on the same aisle at Home Depot/Lowes that you get the PVC tube.

And always wash and dry the tube. I wash 'em out in the bathtub, 'cuz they nasty. Also, be sure to sand the ends that you cut to remove the burrs. Much PVC advice I have to give.

I shipped a really expensive print a few years ago and sent if off in a YM cardboard tube/PVC pipe/box combo. It was probably a wee bit OTT - but it did the job and the recipient was very happy.
Here's some pics i took of the packing process as it was the most heavy duty packing job i had done up until then (and still is even now).

This is the print inside the YM tube wrapped in bubble wrap


Wrapped YM tube inside PVC pipe:


PVC pipe with ends tapped on with lots of packing tape.


Ended up shipping it with FedEx inside a small cardboard box as I thought customs might have been curious if they saw the pipe on its own and would proceed to open it up and wreck the contents.

I use the 4" caps similar to yazoo tubes. Local place sells spares so I keep them around for these occasions. Usually ship PVC when the print is over 500 or if requested by the buyer - helps with some overseas shipping too as USPS first class doesn't offer insurance so best way to secure it and prevent possible damage.

It's a tight squeeze with the caps but you can carefully jimmy them in. Packaging tape to secure them in, then duct to be be extra careful.

Lowe's has fitting caps for the PVC

Both 3" and 4"

I just buy the end caps from the hardware store where I buy the tube. And yes, always wipe down the inside with a towel. For anything that costs over $1K, it's silly not to use PVC.

popcultprints wrote:I use the 4" caps similar to yazoo tubes. Local place sells spares so I keep them around for these occasions. Usually ship PVC when the print is over 500 or if requested by the buyer - helps with some overseas shipping too as USPS first class doesn't offer insurance so best way to secure it and prevent possible damage.

It's a tight squeeze with the caps but you can carefully jimmy them in. Packaging tape to secure them in, then duct to be be extra careful.

I like how you wrote Fragile on the PVC haha. I feel like usps goes out of their way to destroy anything that says "fragile" on it. You should have written "good luck!" in parenthesis beside it

Make sure you file down the rough edges and clean out the inside of the PVC. I use thick, cell foam insulation to pack the inside of the pvc on either end of the poster. This will hold the poaster in place and also help seal the end. It's cheap and works perfectly. It's way better than bubble wrap because you cam compress it to lock the poster in the tube and keep it from shifting. It's the material used to seal gaps around window unit air conditioners.

You can cut cardboard to fit over the openings and then tape the ends closed. Fitting caps will increase the shipping weight and cost. I don't use them. Don't be stingy with the tape. Tape a cross pattern, and then tape more cross patterns to fill in the spaces so the end is solid. After I'm done sealing the ends, I always apply tape around the circumference as a final step. Use a sharpie to address the tube and then apply clear packing tape over the writing to protect it.

I've never had an issue with anything I've shipped in PVC.

Those fitting caps weigh next to nothing and at that overall weight, do believe postage changes in pound increments

also believe that caps show a better packing presentation to the receiver


Wipe the tube
Absolutely
just like the rear end

I may be wrong but I think there was some discussion a while ask about duct tape being banned by the USPS. Something to do with it gumming up their machines. I believe someone here had their parcel refused at a post office and others were saying it might get stripped off and replaced.

It was a while back though.

A good heavy duty packing tape is better than Duct tape anyways.