Shipping Mini\'s

[twjolson]

I want to ship a group of mini\'s, both painted and unpainted. I was thinking though, if I put them in a box, and wrapped them in plastic I could surround the mini\'s with that expanding foam insulation spray. Has anyone tried this, will it work? Nothing will move, therefore nothing will break, it sounds logical, but has anyone tried it?

 

[cdukino]

I think the expansion of the foam might do damage... besides if they get capsulated in the foam even just a bit I think removing them will be hard, definatly without causing damage.

 

[orctrader]

Noooooooooooooooooo!!!

As Cindy says.

With unpainted I just wrap in bubblewrap before putting them into a a padded/jiffy bag.

With painted I use tissue paper, then bubble wrap, then into a small rigid cardboard box and fill the spaces with tissue paper then into a padded/jiffy bag.

Though so far I have not had to send any odd-shaped minis.

 

[Ian Newbold]

Very similar advice to OT\'s. Works ok for most odd shapes too. You can protect long slender lances a little by cutting drinking straws to length and popping them over the top of the lance.

If it\'s big boxes you\'re sending those large funny shaped polystyrene beads (flowpac?) can be more economic than tissue for the padding outside the bubblewrap and offer a bit more protection against external rough handling.

 

[Mick]

I tried this once with a resin figure it will work but not worth the effort it hardens around whatever it touches from the hardening expanding foam i used..resin miniature was in very large foam bubble wrap like you get in a car parts..so i wouldnt advice it..youre better off getting peanuts bubblewrap or what someone used to send me recently basting i think its called..sort of like cotton but more dense..what they use for stuffing dolls..just a thought
mick

 

[Ogrebane]

I work away alot and I take my minis with me. Painted and unpainted. I do similair to OT. Its the est way I know Ive tried them all. The expanding foam will be a paint to get rid of.

 

[Dragon Forge Design]

The expanding foam sold in stores is best used for what it was made for, insulateing things. To ship painted minis I wrap them in paper towel or tissue and then wrap them in bubble wrap. I useually cut the bubble wrap in strips and roll the mini in it so you end up with a roll with a mini inside it. I then place these in a box and fill with foam peanuts. Seal the box and ship. Remember if you pack to tight, your own packageing tends to breat the mini, not the actual shipping.

As for loose minis, I zip lock baggy them and wrap them in bubble wrap and loose fill the box with foam peanuts or crumpled news paper.

 

[Itchy]

Expanding foam is extremely sticky stuff. i wouldn\'t recommend using it. For round robin minis, we\'ve always used tissue->bubble wrap->packing peanuts.