How do you crate a game
for shipping via Forward Air?
There are many ways. I personally get the cheapest
plywood I can, usually around 3/8" at $9 for a 4'x8' sheet.
Wrap the bezel, marquee and CP areas with
Cardboard, secure the cardboard to the game with plastic wrap. Tape an envelope
to the cardboard covering the CP with the keys in it. Then use a 4'x8' sheet of
3/4" Styrofoam insulation to wrap around the game. Secure it with more
plastic wrap.
- Now take the measurements for width and depth.
- Build a bottom out of ply and 2x4 or 2x3. the
same size as the measurements you just took for width and depth.
- Set the game on the bottom.
- Measure the height of the game from the floor
and add the floor height of the bottom to the total. (so you have enough room
to add a top).
- Cut the front and back sides and frame them
with 1x4. (the 1x4's give you a little extra width if you need it) Screw the
front and back to the outside of the base with the framed sides facing out.
- Attach a temp 2x4 from the top between the
front and back to hold them in place.
- Re-measure the sides from the outside of the
front to the outside of the back side.
- Cut the sides and screw them into the 1x4 frame
you made on the front and back sides. And remove the temp brace.
- Make a top, just like you did the bottom and
inset it between all 4 sides. Then screw the sides to the top.
- Mark the front with an F. (so you can tell the
other party which side is front)
- Lay it on its back and screw a pallet to the
bottom 2x4's.
- Deliver it to FA. :)
If you want to save a little money on shipping, you
can build your own pallet exactly the same size as the bottom. Using 3 pieces of
2x4 on end, and 3 pieces of 1x4 on the top and bottom of them, crossing the
2x4s.
That's how I do it, your mileage may vary.
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