Cannon tools and the US Postal service.

[Doc Brown.]

I had a really good old friend ask me to send him some of my old cannon tools I just happened to have lying around. He lives in Vegas. I thought I did such a good job packing the 56" long 3/4" dowel rod tools. I bought hard wood dowel today to see how hard it would be to snap it in half and it turns out to be a very hard thing to do by hand.  I just wanted to share this with you all so you can have a look at how disgruntled postal workers are taking it out on people. Picture 3 shows how it arrived. In two packages gum banded together. When I shipped it it was just one package. To make if fit in there hole they must have decided to just bend it in half or maybe they was trying to get it to fit in his mail box. Either way its pretty sad. Also nothing looks the same as when it left. The package appears to be completely modified from its original state.

[Zulu]

I ship ramrods inside PVC pipe.  I've never had a problem.
Zulu

[buzz36]

I once had an antique booth and did alot of shipping of items rule of thumb was
handle with care stickers ment little as  shippers  are thow in truck pile high and go
if it valueable it is insured
this year had them break a long gun stock at the wrist double wrappped box and then gotton a antique clock with thin glass just find in a think walled box go figure

[little seacoast]

Can't say as I'm too surprised. Last year UPS managed to break a solid wood block made for a  full sized 24lb Coehorn mortar base. Now that's talent.

[skratch]

A member on a curio & relic forum board posted of receiving a C&R rifle that had been run over, the fork lift tire marks evident on the box. I doubt it was an accident. 

[flagman1776]

This is so not right.

[GGaskill]

I could have been intentional as there is certainly an abnormal number of socialist fools working for the USPS, but it also could have been just a don't care attitude since they think they have jobs for life no matter what they do.

When shipping anything that looks like it might be a firearm, I always use a different container that could contain something else.  Usually more square than flat.

[Doc Brown.]

I ship ramrods inside PVC pipe.  I've never had a problem.
Zulu

 Thats a good idea and thats what my friend recommended I use when I ship him a new set.  I went to Lowe's today and bought some 4" and some 3".  The price wasn't to bad on it either.  Unless someone makes the Bruce Banner at the USPS mad I don't see how you could break them in a PVC pipe.  The guy who had the cohorn base break, now thats really messed up.
 

[Frank46]

I have had occasion to sell a couple scopes. Always used 3" pvc pipe inside the triangular mailing box from usps.
So far all have arrives safely. Lots of bubble wrap inside the pipe around the scope. Dealer i bought a holster from is still trying to find out where it ended up. Frank

[Cannoneer]

I have received two naval guns that both had carriages with broken axle arms, and a field gun that had a bent brass axle that was banged so hard that the screws that fastened it to the cheeks were ripped out of the wood. There's not a whole heck of a lot that you can do; personally I've found that just sitting back while playing Sinatra singing "That's Life" tends to cool me out some.

[Doc Brown.]

I have received two naval guns that both had carriages with broken axle arms, and a field gun that had a bent brass axle that was banged so hard that the screws that fastened it to the cheeks were ripped out of the wood. There's not a whole heck of a lot that you can do; personally I've found that just sitting back while playing Sinatra singing "That's Life" tends to cool me out some.
 
There is one thing you can do. Send it back for repair at the shipper expense. Thats what I would do.

This is why I have to Curse my brother out so bad when he Makes axles with the grain running the wrong way all the time. LOL Yours look right but when its wrong they will snap under finger pressure.  The PVC tube is really cheap I found and it has given me the piece of mind I never thought I would have shipping long sticks.  No way your busting the PVC.

[GGaskill]

One must pack for shipping keeping in mind that the shipping company employees do not have the same interest in your shipment that you do.  It is always better to pack so the shocks will be carried directly into the strongest part of the object.  In the case of the naval carriage cannon, there should be runners under the carriage that directly contact the cheeks so the load is not carried by the axles and wheels.  The wheels should be up in the air enough to guarantee they will not contact anything during shipping as many items are sent through conveyor systems where they fall from one belt to another, or are simply thrown around by the handlers.  One should never ship a barrel mounted on a carriage; they should be shipped separately even though that is more expensive. 

Money spent on building strong packaging that limits movement of heavy items is well spent.  Typical handling will cause heavy items to penetrate corrugated boxes and they are frequently lost that way.  Heavy items should also have their own shipping label directly attached so if the above happens, the item can still be sent to its destination.

[flagman1776]

I recieved a GB barrel shipped by a GBO sponser...  The nailed together crate that was built around it of 5/8 plywood had been broken at one end with the barrel exposed but not fully through the end.  The steel tube was not damaged beyond the black paint. 
The cradle that was built into the crate (the right way IMHO)...  but the cradle was built of plywood & it was not up to the end thrust & failed...  allowing the barrel to shift which broke the crate end.  I would suggest the cradles be built heavier especially where it'll take the end thrust if dropped on either end & the ends of the crate be doubled.  I'd also suggest decking screws...  I've got a lifetime supply of nails that I'll never use in this age of screw guns.
I also think that barrels with nice finishes should be protected.   The cradles should have something added.  I've had shop rags used & seened to fit the purpose.   Additionally, I wrap a fancy barrel in bubble wrap as much as possible.  I've bought rolls of the stuff at WM & Staples, so it is available.
I've never discussed this with shipper beyond saying that the crate was not intact.

[onegreatshot]

I too have been the victim of USPS on the shipping of a Traditions Cannon with carriage. When I received the large box it looked as if it had been used in soccer match. The spooked 11 inch wheels had been loosened from the hubs and had to be repaired. Thanks to fellow GBO's I was given great advise on how to repair this problem. (thanks to Buzz36). The shipper did not insure the package. UI wouldn't know how to collect insurance if it was. Now I double box Items to ship a great distance.  And who ever wrote it " they don't care" is correct.  Dennis

[Mike H.]

This worked well for me and got to its destination in one piece.  Everything was chocked in place and I even had tie downs inside the box.  Was a lot of effort, but I meant it to be a reusable accessory to the gun, like the old Winchester crates.

The gun weighed about 40#, so I'm sure it would have busted up the crate had they dropped it.

[Combat Vet]

Not one person has mentioned anything about filing a claim agains the USPS?
 
kevin

[onegreatshot]

I couldn't because the suhipper forgot to [purchase insurance in an effort to ship it fast.

[GGaskill]

The shipper has to purchase the insurance and the shipper makes the claim.

[armorer77]

I had a BC mortar dissappear in a UPS shipment , they delivered the bed . Now I use strapping tape and insurance . Ed

[Doc Brown.]

I had a BC mortar dissappear in a UPS shipment , they delivered the bed . Now I use strapping tape and insurance . Ed

 
Thats the kind of thing that makes ones head spin.

[Double D]

This give you a better idea about UPS policy's. 

http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/city-employees-face-discipline-for-taking-goods-from-landfill/article_070cbf47-6a30-583d-9e43-1b468e894811.html

[Doc Brown.]

This give you a better idea about UPS policy's. 

http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/city-employees-face-discipline-for-taking-goods-from-landfill/article_070cbf47-6a30-583d-9e43-1b468e894811.html

This was an interesting read.  How could you pass up on that dumpster dive! I would have probably been in there with them and unaware I was even committing a crime. One mans garbage another's treasure.

[5kwkdw3]

I ordered an all steel golf ball cannon and steel carriage.  Overall length was about a yard with wheel diameter's around 16".  The barrel was 22" long with a few bands and knob on the cascable.  The carriage and barrel were bolted to the interior framework of the crate so it wasn't moving at all.  The wheels were bubble wrapped and tie wrapped to just about every anchor point that could be found.  There was a separate bag of axle bushings and clips that was stapled to the case bottom.  The framed wood crate was nailed shut and completely wrapped in duct tape with a shipping label on top.  The box was well marked for which end should be up and other cautionary warnings for the company and the driver but really weren't necessary due to the overkill in crate construction.

One odd thing about the barrel construction was the barrel was turned to have a half inch deep pocket in the breech end of the cannon.  Into that pocket went a cast iron knob which was welded on the back face of the cannon barrel itself.  That way the welded cannon could be turned to flush out the weld and make it almost invisible.  It was to me and I had to be told of its construction to even find the weld line.

Anyway when I got the package the driver turned the box end over end walking it to the edge of the truck.  Every Time he flipped the case I heard pieces rattle.  The crate was in perfect shape with no dents or other marks leading to me that there was any damage at all.  Upon further inspection the cast knob had busted off completely (that was the sound I was hearing) and several of the wheel tie wraps had been broken freeing the wheels to movement.  What had happened is that the entire crate had been dropped from a height of five feet and the shear weight of the knob was enough to shear the cast iron and bust sever tie wraps.

I ended up cutting about 3/4" off the breech end of the cannon to remove anything cast iron from the barrel.  It was then drilled and tapped for 3/4 X 16 NF threads (same size as a small trailer ball I acquired).  I dremeled a cut through the threads and to the underneath side of the trailer ball flange.  This was my air/liquid relief channel.  I then mixed up some Brownells Acraglas two part epoxy and coated the threads and poured a sizable amount into the threaded hole.  I cranked the pudding out of the trailer ball and all of the excess Acraglas went out my vent channel.  So now the trailer ball was permanently attached to the barrel and there was no pockets of air left anywhere as it was all steel or Acraglas.  I cleaned and buffed the external Acraglas and painted the tube flat black.  It came out looking perfect.  FedEx did finally pony up for $250.00 in damages which did cover the repairs, but it still was a PITB.  Smithy.