How to ship a prop correctly

**pyro** · 10-09-2012, 10:48 AM

I have covered this topic before... It's time for a fresh thread on the subject.

A prop must NOT be simply "packed" or "padded" in its packaging, since the blades will be forced to absorb impact, and will typically cut the packing material in transit.

The method shown below is similar to how Mercury Racing ships their solid-hub props. The two-ply corrugated box is at least 16" square. The entire prop is held and supported by its hub.

The prop is bolted to a sturdy piece of plywood with large, thick washers and a half-inch bolt. The bolt hole should be located about 1" off-center for 3-blade props, with the blades positioned for even spacing from the edges as shown. Four-blade props should have the hole positioned in the center of the board. It's a good idea to run a belt sander around the bottom edges and corners of the board to keep it from piercing the bottom edges of the box.

The board is held against the bottom of the box with layers of heavy corrugated cardboard with the grain running vertically. These cardboard pieces are just as important as the plywood board, since they hold the plywood in position. The base board must be held down in this fashion. Extruded sheet foam could also be used as hold-down shims if the box is large enough.

The box shown is taller than a Mercury Racing box. (This is a cut-down Conga drum box)

The top flaps were left double-wide for top strength. I used 3M spray adhesive and heavy packing tape to seal it up. I was able to stand up (150 lbs) on top of this box without damage.

Perhaps we could keep this pinned at the top to help those who sell a prop here.
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