Shipping/Freight Crates and Recommendations

[John Poole]

I will be shipping some large tools and my wood shop and plan to make my own crates and skids.

Found this video which was very instructional.

What are members of this forums suggestions for crate building? Any links? Oreinted Strand Board ("OSB") or plywood? 1/2"? 5/8"? 1 x 2s?

Screws? Deck screws? Certain coatings? Particular heads: Phillips vs. square drive?

[John Poole]

Pallet vs. a Skid. Concisely explained: http://www.custombuiltpallets.com/pallets-vs-skids.php

Edit - added: http://www.timbermen.net/products/pallet-design.html There is software called Virginia Tech's Pallet Design System (PDS) which the pallet trade group licenses. Virginia Tech has a Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design: http://www.unitload.vt.edu/ which has as a mission:

+ to improve pallet and unit load design and performance

+ to conduct packaging systems evaluations

+ to conduct marketing studies analyses


The laboratory maintains an extensive research database that includes the performance of driven fasteners, and observations of damage frequency and severity levels occurring in pallets. Our pallet data are vital to researchers developing reliability-based models of pallets, containers, and other related structures.

An emeritus professor, Dr. Marshall S. White (Virginia Tech 1975-2007), created software for design of pallets and cargo containers: http://www.whiteandcompany.net/best-load.html

EDIT 2 - Here's a very specific resource by the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association that has specifications for pallet construction and fasteners: http://www.marklevillelumber.com/doc...oodPallets.pdf This is probably the best resource I was looking for and addresses the questions I asked in the initial posting.

[Scott T Smith]

John, will you be shipping commercially or via a dedicated moving carrier? If commercial, it would be best if your pallets and skids were designed for rough handling and forklift access from sides and ends if they are longer than 8'.

[Dan Hulbert]

On my last move, the moving company brought in a crate builder. They framed the crates from 1 x 4s and lined them with cardboard. All stapled together. Everything survived the move and storage for 30 days. Shipping is by weight, so minimize where you can.

Have you looked around for piles of pallets outside commercial establishments? These are usually free for the asking.

[Darcy Warner]

I crate and ship about 10 machines a month.
Most are custom sized skids, some light 2x4 frame work around them and skinned with 7/16 osb.
Everyting is nailed except the osb skin.

I have shipped all over the country, with no problems so far.