Packing a loom for travel as checked baggage?
July 8, 2015 12:28 AM Subscribe
I have a small loom that I would like to take from Los Angeles to Vienna as checked luggage. Assuming that the airline lets it on as oversized luggage, I am not quite sure how to wrap it to ensure its safety.
The loom is a relatively small one, known as a "Baby Mac" . By my measurements, the loom is about 35" high, 28" wide, and perhaps 14" deep when folded up to the maximum extent. That is skirting the edge of British Airway's oversize luggage limits (which are 75in x 29.5in x 25.5in, according to their website). I would tape any moving parts so that there is no movement within the folded up loom, but I am not sure how best protect the outside edges of the loom.
How do I make a custom box for an oversize piece like this? And where do I get materials?
The loom is a relatively small one, known as a "Baby Mac" . By my measurements, the loom is about 35" high, 28" wide, and perhaps 14" deep when folded up to the maximum extent. That is skirting the edge of British Airway's oversize luggage limits (which are 75in x 29.5in x 25.5in, according to their website). I would tape any moving parts so that there is no movement within the folded up loom, but I am not sure how best protect the outside edges of the loom.
How do I make a custom box for an oversize piece like this? And where do I get materials?
I would be very hesitant to check anything that could be broken. They are not gentle with anything that is checked. I've had a stroller broken because they throw everything and then throw stuff on top of it. With the cost of checking a bag, you might come out ahead shipping it the day before you leave. Say you are flying out on Tuesday, you ship it on Monday, fly Tuesday, and get it on Wednesday.
Another option is not checking it but asking the airline to treat it like a musical instrument and store it in the closet up front. This only works if it isn't a full flight, full of musicians.
posted by myselfasme at 4:41 AM on July 8, 2015
Another option is not checking it but asking the airline to treat it like a musical instrument and store it in the closet up front. This only works if it isn't a full flight, full of musicians.
posted by myselfasme at 4:41 AM on July 8, 2015
just looking at how a loom is made, they don't appear to have many (any?) diagonal braces. i strongly suspect that the most serious damage that could happen is if it was dropped on a corner, with the impact and weight causing the corner joints to "give".
so i would go with the general bubble-wrap approach *BUT* add some additional bracing to help support loads that tend to squash into a "diamond" shape. one simple way of doing that would be to cut some hardboard into two sheets that match the shape of the "sides" (the large, flat areas) and use those to sandwich the loom, with a lot of tape wrapped round to hold the loom tight inside that.
if you measure carefully and then go to a hardware store you can probably buy (many places have cut to measure services) two pieces of 35" x 28" hardboard (or thin ply) (check the dimensions - you want these to be pretty much exactly the same size as the loom - not larger). put one either side and then wrap around with tape, holding it all together, then put bubble wrap round that.
edit: or even just a single sheet, on the "larger" side.
posted by andrewcooke at 5:01 AM on July 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
so i would go with the general bubble-wrap approach *BUT* add some additional bracing to help support loads that tend to squash into a "diamond" shape. one simple way of doing that would be to cut some hardboard into two sheets that match the shape of the "sides" (the large, flat areas) and use those to sandwich the loom, with a lot of tape wrapped round to hold the loom tight inside that.
if you measure carefully and then go to a hardware store you can probably buy (many places have cut to measure services) two pieces of 35" x 28" hardboard (or thin ply) (check the dimensions - you want these to be pretty much exactly the same size as the loom - not larger). put one either side and then wrap around with tape, holding it all together, then put bubble wrap round that.
edit: or even just a single sheet, on the "larger" side.
posted by andrewcooke at 5:01 AM on July 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you want to check it in some kind of padded hard case (which will probably break the dimensional limits) call them and ask them if it could be treated as a checked musical instrument or sporting good:
We have special arrangements for sporting equipment like skis and surfboards and large musical instruments. In many cases these can be carried as part of your free baggage allowance.
It might also be worth finding out what shipping it as cargo would cost, as the BA site says is required for items beyond the oversize limit.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:13 AM on July 8, 2015
We have special arrangements for sporting equipment like skis and surfboards and large musical instruments. In many cases these can be carried as part of your free baggage allowance.
It might also be worth finding out what shipping it as cargo would cost, as the BA site says is required for items beyond the oversize limit.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:13 AM on July 8, 2015
I pack and ship a lot of artwork. Usual rule there is to double box. If you can get some rigid styrofoam - insulation works well or the packing corners used for electronics so that the loom is held firm within your box - padded with both bubble wrap and sides protected with sheets of foam so that even if the box is thrown around (likely!) it won't jar the contents. You can go to a UPS store to get packing materials. If you have them pack it you will end up with a lifetime supply of packing popcorn which is less than ideal. The foam insulation is available at places like Lowe's or Home Depot.
posted by leslies at 6:58 AM on July 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by leslies at 6:58 AM on July 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Why can't you take it apart? I took apart- and subsequently put back together- a somewhat larger loom than this. It really helped me to understnd how it all worked. If I remember correctly, the harnesses ended up being the bulkiest parts.
posted by mareli at 7:13 AM on July 8, 2015
posted by mareli at 7:13 AM on July 8, 2015
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Honestly, a loom has small parts but is not delicate. If you wrap it securely with bubble wrap, the above will be fine even if it turns out you are forced to check it when you arrive at the terminal.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:55 AM on July 8, 2015