Chiff and Fipple Forums

To Those who have knowledge/experience:

I have a 35+ year old Moeck Tenor, as well as a "young" Mollenhauer soprano, both of Grenadilla wood, which I will be shipping from Florida to Massachusetts in the near future...(re-voicing/repair work...). I am assuming the shipping company, (FedEx, UPS, or USPS0, will transport the package via aircraft...an approx. 1,400 mile trip/approx. 2-3 hours in the air)

The Mollenhauer soprano has a solidly built hard case, such that I am minimally concerned for its safety, HOWEVER, the Moeck tenor's case, (however minimal it ever WAS, is LONG since gone... I plan on shipping these two instruments together, (in the same package), but am not sure of how to adequately insulate/cushion the the tenor recorder from harsh handling/potential crushing damage, short of purchasing a dedicated, hard-shell case for my tenor. Should I also be concerned with air temperatures in the cargo hold of the aircraft, or on the ground in "sunny Massachusetts" in the winter...?...

Requesting suggestions/advice regarding this shipping querry...I avidly look forward to your response(s)...

Thank you all in advance for your assistance.

Sincerely,
Tim K.

I'd suggest to wrap the tenor in a towel or so, then in plenty of bubble wrap (or paper, or more towels), put it in the hardest cardboard box you can find, together with the soprano in its case, and then stuff all the empty space in the box with crushed newspaper, more bubble wrap, old rags, styrofoam (corn) chips - whatever you have. Assume that the airport employees will play football with it and pack accordingly. Also assume that you won't get your packaging material back, so don't send your favorite towels

As for the airplane, I believe I've read that nowadays nearly all commercial planes have pressurized and temperature-controlled freight space, but even if not, the recorders should be fine IF they are completely dry prior to packing. I'd suggest not to play them for several days before packing them up, and keeping them in the least humid room in your house.

Maybe one of those plastic ratchet type boxes that some whistles come in, then pack with soft crushable material around them, as above.

I've recently received two different flutes in a USPS Priority Mail long, triangular box, with plenty of bubble wrap. Both arrived unscathed.

michaelpthompson wrote:I've recently received two different flutes in a USPS Priority Mail long, triangular box, with plenty of bubble wrap. Both arrived unscathed.

Me I'd avoid the triangular shipping box. I've gotten too many that are damaged. Or broken in half. I agree with bubble wrap swimming in foam peanuts and old crumpled newspaper.