Question on Shipping a Machine

[MTChong]

Does anyone have any experience on shipping a stringing machine? I have an Alpha Revo 4000 and I wanted to bring it to school for my second year. Obviously, it weighs a bunch so shipping will be pretty costly, but I'm hoping to make up the cost while at school. Any ideas? Has anyone done it?

[zidane339]

It would depend on how far you live away.

I would try to just bring it by car if you are within driving distance so you dont have to have the hassle of packing it up.

I brought my Gamma St (50+lbs) this year when I moved in by car.

If you have to ship it, I would imagine it would cost $30 or more since the Revo weighs 70 lbs and you must live far awya if you have to fly to school

[MTChong]

Driving is definitely not an option; it's roughly 3000 miles.

I am in the midst of taking apart the machine and the turntable has screws that are really hard to get out -- they seem wound up really tight. Anyone have any tips?

[Mansewerz]

Don't take apart the turntable. I would just pack it the same way it came when you first got it.

[MTChong]

Originally Posted by Mansewerz

Don't take apart the turntable. I would just pack it the same way it came when you first got it.

Any reason you say not to take the turntable off?

[Mansewerz]

Probably voids a warranty unless you've already checked w/Mark.

And it's probably a royal PITA to do considering Alpha did it for you, so it must mean that they were saving you a boatload of trouble. I'm pretty sure most tabletop cranks come with the turntable already installed. You just slide on the clamps. Plus if you lose screws, well, it's more trouble for you IMO.

[zidane339]

Not sure about the revo, but the gamma st's turntable slide right off. Helps with packing since you dont need to put a brake on it.

[MTChong]

Originally Posted by Mansewerz

Probably voids a warranty unless you've already checked w/Mark.

And it's probably a royal PITA to do considering Alpha did it for you, so it must mean that they were saving you a boatload of trouble. I'm pretty sure most tabletop cranks come with the turntable already installed. You just slide on the clamps. Plus if you lose screws, well, it's more trouble for you IMO.

I haven't checked with Mark, but my warranty is nearing its end anyway.

Also, the reason I don't want to keep that part on for shipping is because its such an odd shape. Just for clarification, it's the part that the swivel clamps attach to that I'm trying to remove. I was able to easily take everything else apart -- the mounts, the clamps, the tensioning head, and the long piece that the tensioning head goes on.

[ultima972]

Just drive it over.

[Richie Rich]

get lots of bubble wrap, those foam peanuts, lots of tape and a strong box and you should be good to go. also, get some fragile stickers for the outside of the box.

[Steve Huff]

I have shipped an Ektelon H and a Winn Pro both from Virginia to Washington state via FedEx Ground. It cost around $75-80 each. It's been 2-3 years though. Both of these are larger and heavier than your Revo.

[MTChong]

Yeah, I just took it apart; some of the stuff is actually going into my checked baggage because they weren't at the weight limit. I was also able to get the turntable off and that makes it a lot easier to pack.

Steve Huff, thanks for the heads up!

Richie Rich, I'll be sure to make it nice and padded inside; that stringing machine is way too pricy not to take good care of! Would fragile stickers really make a difference; a lot of it seems to be solid steel anyhow. (and I don't konw if the handlers would care much that it says fragile) It seems that aside from the tensioning head, everything is pretty bulletproof -- and virtually one piece items such as the actual turntable

[Richie Rich]

it's almost if the handlers see "fragile" they kick it around even more but it can't hurt?