My girlfriends and I (non of whom are carpenters) built shelves, which are about 4-5" apart, out of plywood. We put two nylon straps with fasteners on each shelf to secure the artwork. The units have five shelves total. They work okay, sliding in and out of our truck easily when empty, but are very, very heavy and difficult to move once loaded, and not all that stable. Remember, non of us have any skill in the area of construction. I know there's got to be a better solution to transporting art work. Before loading my pieces into these shelves I secure each corner with cardboard corners and shrink-wrap the whole deal which holds everything nice and snug and protects not only the artwok itself, but the frame and glass as well. This procedure is just THAT a procedure. And after a show the unsold pieces have to be rewrapped. It's a pain. I'm looking for something easier and quicker. And a lighter more effective way to transport my pieces safely. I was thinking of using bakery racks. Has anyone used them, or heard of anyone who has, or know of anything better?
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Wish I had the perfect answer for you. But here's what works for me.
1. I first Clear my Mini Van so it is empty and the floor is flat as possible.
2. I then wrap a piece of bubble wrap around the paintings covering both sides and over lapping the corners and edges. It is loose it is not glued or taped.
3. I then put larger items, that do not break down flat, into the van, like my sales cart. If an item is needed early in the set up I place them by a door, so they can be pulled out without disturbing the rest of the load.
4. I then cover the bottom of the van with the wrapped paintings until it covers the floor end to end and side to side with as few and small gaps as possible. I the repeat this creating layer two, then layer three or four. Always making sure the final layer is flat.
5. I then cover wrapped paintings with my portfolio which breaks down flat into five pieces of quarter inch plywood. This adds a solid layer to protect the bubble wrap from items I place on top of the plywood.
5. This is where I'm sure my methods will spook you. But, I then load my display screens, I stack them one on top of the other on top of the plywood.
6. I then load my prints, which are in under the bed storage tubs, on top of the screens.
7. Believe it or not I then load my tent in it's vinyl container on top of this.
8. Finally, I wedge odds and ends between the sides of the screens and tubes and the sides of the van.
The advantages of doing it this way for me are:
1. The vehicle is packed so that the things I need to set up first are on top or accessible from the door, such as tent, screens, cart, etc. The art, which is needed last, is on the bottom.
2. Even though it it doesn't seem logical to put the paintings on the bottom, the bubble wrap acts a shock absorber. The key is spreading the weigh on top evenly. Yes, if I drove on some very rough roads there would be breakage, but a rough road would cause breakage in most packing systems.
3. This is an efficient use of space. I've considered racks and shelves but my art varies in size from show to show, with racks and shelves there are empty spaces because the art for this show isn't the same size as the art for the last show.
All though I have broken a lot of glass over the years it has never been caused by is packing system.
I wish you good luck with your art,
Bob Davis
Patricia Ragone > Robert (Bob) John DavisOctober 10, 2010 at 6:45pm
Your method is interesting. Obviously, you've been doing this a lot longer than I have. You're right about the shelves. There is a lot of empty space because the art work is never the same for every show. Thanks for your tips. I'm going to print out your note, show it to my husband and discuss it to see if it can be modified to fit our vehicle. You know, my husband said at the last show, "Ya know what we need is a van." Maybe he's right. Thanks again.
I just bought a van last year. A Chrysler Town and Country. The seats fold into the floor. Other mini vans you have to lug some heavy seats out of. Dodge makes the same van.
Also, if you try the bubble wrap use the large bubbles not the small bubble used for mailings books and small items.
Replies
Wish I had the perfect answer for you. But here's what works for me.
1. I first Clear my Mini Van so it is empty and the floor is flat as possible.
2. I then wrap a piece of bubble wrap around the paintings covering both sides and over lapping the corners and edges. It is loose it is not glued or taped.
3. I then put larger items, that do not break down flat, into the van, like my sales cart. If an item is needed early in the set up I place them by a door, so they can be pulled out without disturbing the rest of the load.
4. I then cover the bottom of the van with the wrapped paintings until it covers the floor end to end and side to side with as few and small gaps as possible. I the repeat this creating layer two, then layer three or four. Always making sure the final layer is flat.
5. I then cover wrapped paintings with my portfolio which breaks down flat into five pieces of quarter inch plywood. This adds a solid layer to protect the bubble wrap from items I place on top of the plywood.
5. This is where I'm sure my methods will spook you. But, I then load my display screens, I stack them one on top of the other on top of the plywood.
6. I then load my prints, which are in under the bed storage tubs, on top of the screens.
7. Believe it or not I then load my tent in it's vinyl container on top of this.
8. Finally, I wedge odds and ends between the sides of the screens and tubes and the sides of the van.
The advantages of doing it this way for me are:
1. The vehicle is packed so that the things I need to set up first are on top or accessible from the door, such as tent, screens, cart, etc. The art, which is needed last, is on the bottom.
2. Even though it it doesn't seem logical to put the paintings on the bottom, the bubble wrap acts a shock absorber. The key is spreading the weigh on top evenly. Yes, if I drove on some very rough roads there would be breakage, but a rough road would cause breakage in most packing systems.
3. This is an efficient use of space. I've considered racks and shelves but my art varies in size from show to show, with racks and shelves there are empty spaces because the art for this show isn't the same size as the art for the last show.
All though I have broken a lot of glass over the years it has never been caused by is packing system.
I wish you good luck with your art,
Bob Davis
Also, if you try the bubble wrap use the large bubbles not the small bubble used for mailings books and small items.