Packing a primary mirror for shipping?

[Jbunky86 (Jason)]

Hi everyone just wondering if anyone has any ideas or links for packing a 12" primary mirror for shipping? I have found a couple things here and there but I'm hoping someone out there has some real experience.

Thanks jas

[asimov (John)]

Going back to the old days - A self made wooden box with 4 wedges in the bottom. Mirror upside down sitting on the wedges. The right dimensions of the box, critical. Plenty of packing between the mirror & lid essential.

[Satchmo]

I ship mirrors wrapped in acid free tissue paper then lots of newspaper and bubble wrap then polystyrene skins then box.

Mirror surfaces are not vulnerable provided they are clean . It is not easy to scratch a glass surface unless you have anything silica like against it and a hard surface behind the silica. The main thing is to stop anything moving sideways across the surface. From experience I see more attempts to isolate the surface on wedges go wrong leading to scuffs at the edge of the mirror. Also the only way to get your mirror back free of dust is to wrap it in tissue paper as every bit of junk will work its way free into the box during post. You can use special acid free paper for long term storage but I think just to ship once any tissue would be ok.

Finally DO NOT MARK YOUR BOX 'FRAGILE' OR 'GLASS' OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. Pack it so it should stand up to any rough treatment.

Statistically things that are marked fragile get a rougher treatment than unmarked, and far more likely to get broken.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

I have sent a 6 - 8 and 10 inch mirrors over the years away to be re- alluminized using this method and have had no problems .
Just ensure the mirror is a nice fit inside , packed wth reflective surface down on the small wedges that hold the concaveity of the mirror on the very edges ( glue the wedges in position with no more nails) and lots of packaging on the top ( under side) of the mirror and screw the lid on . A screwed and glued 1/2 inch ply or MDF box is ideal.
Brian.

Originally Posted by asimov

Going back to the old days - A self made wooden box with 4 wedges in the bottom. Mirror upside down sitting on the wedges. The right dimensions of the box, critical. Plenty of packing between the mirror & lid essential.

[Jbunky86 (Jason)]

Some good advice by all
Thanks I have a good idea of what I will do now.

Thanks again
Jason