Shipping crates - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Bissle55 · 08-08-2008, 07:53 PM

I got a guy moving to Jamaica who needs several large shipping crates constructed on location for several large pieces of furniture. I am a home builder and am trying to expand to other areas of carpentry. Ive read what i could find on google (which wasn't much), and have found that there are federal specifications for these shipping crates. But the only site i could find these specs on was charging for the info.

I was wondering if anyone has every constructed crates for international shipping and had any help for me. Thanks....

mdshunk · 08-08-2008, 08:13 PM

Many wooden crate specs here: http://www.woodencrates.org/standards.php many free, some not.

edit: This one seems to be the best: http://www.woodencrates.org/standard...g-HDBK-252.pdf

Bissle55 · 08-08-2008, 08:30 PM

yeah, thats the site i was reffering to that sold the specs... Im looking for specs on:

- Standard Specification for Wood-Cleated Panelboard Shipping Boxes
Standard Specification for Wood Boxes
Standard Specification for Wood-Cleated Shipping Boxes and Skidded, Load-Bearing Bases
Crates, Wood, Open and Covered

also, will these crates not be shipped if (god fobid) they were constructed differently than the standards, which im not sure is worth spending over $200 just to find out what the specs are. Because I cannot have my customers belongings not be shipped because of a mistake on my employees or my part.

Thanks i appreciate any help you can offer

bert0168 · 08-08-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

I am a home builder and am trying to expand to other areas of carpentry.

Quote:

But the only site i could find these specs on was charging for the info.

Sounds like a business expense to me

Bissle55 · 08-08-2008, 09:47 PM

yeah, business expense... sure, but i dont know if this is going to be a one time thing or not. $200 just for specs of something i might not use again is pretty harsh. I can pay 1 worker for 3 days on that. why am i going to pay $200 for info i might never use again.

Im just looking for help on what the specs might be. If you dont have anything valid, than i dont know what the gratification you will be getting from posting.
I do appreciate the interest in my topic, though. thanks

MALCO.New.York · 08-08-2008, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bissle55

yeah, business expense... sure, but i dont know if this is going to be a one time thing or not. $200 just for specs of something i might not use again is pretty harsh. I can pay 1 worker for 3 days on that. why am i going to pay $200 for info i might never use again.

Now it all makes sense! Your consternation, that is.

Without sounding rude or too coarse, you are a cheapo (for lack of an acceptable term).

Bet you do not keep employees very long at the rate you pay them.

Pay the damn Money. Bill the client. Do the deal. Make the Money. Learn the "new field". Carry on.

You will NEVER get too far being chicken or cheap. Being smart? Yes. But, cheap? No!

http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_...?pricode=wk631

cleveman · 08-08-2008, 10:09 PM

just pack all of his stuff into a container. It shouldn't cost more than $4000 to send the container from door to door. Check with some transport companies.

ChainsawCharlie · 08-09-2008, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bissle55

... $200 just for specs of something i might not use again is pretty harsh. I can pay 1 worker for 3 days on that

That's less than a Burger King employee makes here. Seriously.

Bissle55 · 08-09-2008, 07:41 AM

maybe i exaggerated what i pay my guys a little. But you get the point. Sure im being cheap, but I dont see people lining up at my door to have me build them crates.

All I wanted to know if any one could HELP me not criticize

thanks,

MALCO.New.York · 08-09-2008, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bissle55

maybe i exaggerated what i pay my guys a little. But you get the point. Sure im being cheap, but I dont see people lining up at my door to have me build them crates.

All I wanted to know if any one could HELP me not criticize

thanks,

My critique, if heeded, is helpful. Lifelong helpful!

**genecarp** · 08-09-2008, 08:46 AM

design and build the crate yourself, it is not complicated, if you are a carreer carpenter, a crate should be a no brainer.

bert0168 · 08-09-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Pay the damn Money. Bill the client. Do the deal. Make the Money. Learn the "new field". Carry on.

SES Constructio · 08-09-2008, 11:00 AM

You should listen to these guys who know what they are talking about and trying to help you. 200 bucks isn't alot to know how to do something and make sure your customers belongings make it to their destination. Sounds to me you bid the job really cheap to get the work thinking anyone can build a crate and then realized there are specs to these crates and now don't want to take the 200 bucks to do it right. It will cost you alot more in the long run if you build them wrong and they don't ship. I pay more than that in state license classes every year. Use this as a learning experience and break even fon the job(if you can't break even with a 200 expense there is another problem) and learn from this. Buy the specs and sell them on ebay when done to recover some costs. These guys and myself aren't putting you down we're telling you(some probably from experience) that it is better to spend what it takes to do it right. Hopefully you at least consider the good advice people are trying to give you.

Bissle55 · 08-09-2008, 11:24 AM

Thank you SES Construction. You really did put it in perspective. I haven't even bid the job yet, so that shouldn't be an issue. Although I am relatively new to the business, ive been in the trades for several years. I didnt want to start a argument over these things, I was just trying to save a few bucks. I dont know about you guys but I dont have money to just throw around frivilously.

I probably will end up buying the specs, but it still doesnt hurt getting actual info from someone thats willing to help. Can you see where im coming from?

I see all your points, and they are taken. But, If anyone has actually constructed international shipping crates i would still like to talk them.

Mike Finley · 08-09-2008, 11:40 AM

I've built hundreds of these things. I paid $100 for some specs about 10 years ago. I'll tell you how to do them for oh... maybe... how about... $200.00.

See how that investment in my business pays off down the road? It cost me $100 10 years ago, I furthered my knowledge and now that knowledge is worth $200 today.

Why don't you call a company that is going to end up shipping these things and ask them for the specs. I'm about 100% positive since they deal with this stuff on a daily basis they are going to give you everything you need to know.

If not make out the check to R - O- C- K-Y...

Bissle55 · 08-09-2008, 12:49 PM

lol, thats funny, because after i placed my last post it dawned on me to ask what company he was shipping with, and i started to compose a list of questions to ask them.

I understand that you had to pay for the info, and therefor Im not expecting you to divulge this info.

i understand my that my whole life ive been called thick headed, and Im just going to buy the specs.

Being as you have built hundreds of these crates, i am assuming you have found the algorithm to make it profitable. Would this be a good addition to my services?

I have a lot of customers that want their house perfect before they move in, but i never paid any mind to the "Moving-in" portion of their lives. If I could provide a service building shipping crates would it be worth it for me to offer this service more often? Being as I work with the materials every day, and i posses
all the tools, Is this something I can have a laborer work on while my tradesman are occupying the job?

mdshunk · 08-09-2008, 01:56 PM

Who in the world moves their household goods with shipping crates anyhow? In these times, it seem like only machinery and machinery parts get wooden crated. There are a few guys building crates in my area, but I'm near a big army depot. They're building crates for the depot. Consequently, they are also sawmill operators, so this might be the key to making crate building profitable... also be the guy that mills the lumber.

Mike Finley · 08-09-2008, 04:19 PM

I was just pulling your leg.

But the theory is correct. You should never be afraid to invest in yourself or your business. The $8.00 you spent on lunch yesterday you are never going to see again. But the $200 spent on becoming more knowledgeable you will have for a lifetime.

I hope somebody here can give you the info you need, but if not just give the shipper a call, I think you'll have your answers pretty quickly.