So how did I pack these up?  Given this is the second time I had to make these, I want to be extra sure there’s no problems.  If you’ve read the other 3 installments, you know there’s a lot of work that go into these, and this set didn’t even include having to make a case (the first version came with one, so I didn’t have to remake one).

Well, I didn’t take a lot of pictures on the packing because..it’s boring.   But quickly, I bought a Sterlite plastic shoe box and some quilting batting.

The batting got cut up into strips and each piece was individually rolled into a strip.  Inside the box there was a layer of batting at the bottom, then the pieces all snug in the box, and more batting on top and tucked around the sides.   The box then went into a USPS Priority Mail shoe box sized box, and that, my friends, is what’s going out.

Packed to go

If they break on this journey, it certainly won’t be from a lack of effort on my part.    I’ve also insured this shipment.

For those of you thinking I’m quite mad, perhaps you’re right.  I’ve effectively meted out $200.00 worth of customer service for a customer that purchased an item for less than $50.00.   In this economic climate, the only things that sets apart a dedicated artisan from the mass produced junk you can buy at the gas station is the quality of the work and the level of customer service.    In this case, for whatever reason the quality level fell and the pieces broke in transit, so I’ve gone above and beyond to make that right.

It’s how I’d hope another artisan would treat me if the situation were reversed, and that’s how I treat my customers.

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Had your fill of stores?  Done with generic, soulless goods that have no character?  Consider shopping for handmade pieces this season from the AGLF Etsy shop.   Proceeds go directly to the AGLF and benefit a group of artists embroiled in a law suit this season rather than focusing on their craft.

However, I had to ship it down to Florida to the person organizing the sale of various pieces of glass artwork to help him reach is goal.  So how do you safely ship a glass chess set?

Pieces in their case

I believe I found the solution by changing my mind.    The chest that the pieces are in has a glass top to it, but I certainly didn’t want this broken in transit.   The solution?  I decided to throw in the board I made to take pictures of the pieces on.  It turns out it fits nicely on top of the chest and covers the glass while still being elevated over it.  I like the box I used and will likely do it again.  You’ll notice there’s extra space in there, so it’s a good universal size.  But, it likely means I’ll either need to invest in some plywood or make sure that the boards are included in the purchase price I charge for these.

First I made sure that the pieces were all snug in their foam:

I had to put the business card *somewhere*

Then I covered the space in between the pieces and the glass top with another piece of dense foam, cut to fit, so nothing will shift:

Sorry about the blur

Finally, I layered a piece of plate foam, the chess board, and another piece of foam so I could wrap it in paper like a Christmas present.   This allowed me to secure the board and protect the box somewhat without attaching the packing tape directly to the wood  The plate foam between the board and the frame on the box helps keep it from shifting sideways:

Snug as a bug

This all went into a box with packing peanuts above, to the sides and on top.   Hopefully it’ll make it in the same number of pieces it left in!