As was discussed in the last blog, Featherweights are notorious for being damaged in shipping. If you purchase a Featherweight online there is a sample letter in that blog that you could send to the buyer. The letter has simple suggestions that the seller could follow to help reduce the chances of damage in shipping.
This blog shows how we pack the Featherweights that we sell.
The Featherweight hand wheel is turned so that the needle is at its lowest point and the bobbin winder is pressed against the belt.
The spool pin and attached plate are removed and the holding screw put back in position. The spool pin and plate are protected with cardboard and/or bubble wrap.
The Featherweight is wrapped with stretch wrap to keep everything in place.
The machine is wrapped with bubble wrap.
Attachments and manuals are carefully packed. Bubble wrap inside the attachments box stops the contents from rattling.
Foot control is wrapped
The machine is placed into the case using cardboard on the sides to stop the machine from moving in the case. The attachments, foot control etc. are packed into the carrying case making sure that nothing inside the case can move, Crumpled packing paper or crumpled newspaper packed tight stops movement. Movement of the things inside the case is what will cause damage to the items inside the case and to the case.
The case is wrapped with bubble wrap.
The shipping box is not much bigger than the wrapped carrying case with room for white styrofoam top and bottom. Since there are several layers of bubble wrap on the sides of the case it is not necessary to have the styrofoam on the sides.
The wrapped case is placed into the box with case latches facing upward.
Foam on top making sure that the case cannot move in the box.
Packed and sealed ready to send.
What is important for safe delivery is lack of movement of the items inside the carrying case and lack of movement of the case in the box.