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​How to ship in a tube

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Directions: 

• Find two tubes: one larger and one slightly smaller and shorter so they fit inside each other. 

• These tubes both need to be taller than the shortest side of the artwork by at least 8"

• Lay a sheet of glassine or several sheets of acid free tissue paper on top of the face of the artwork.  The glassine or tissue paper should be larger than the artwork by about 3" on each side. 

• Take the smaller tube and roll the artwork with the glassine sheet together around the smaller tube, with the artwork centered.  The art should be fully covered by the glassine or tissue. 

• Take a piece of paper and make a belt around this to hold the artwork onto the inner tube.  It should be secure and snug. 

• Carefully slide the inner tube into the outer tube, taking care that the artwork is not slipping from the center of the inner tube. 

• Pad any extra space between the inner and outer tube ends.  Usually a small piece of foam will do.  It should not be touching the art. 

• Seal the tube and label. 

• Take care not to store artwork in the tube - it should only be used as a temporary mode of shipping.  If artwork is stored longer term in the tube it can permanently curl.  Removing the curl can require conservation, which is expensive. 

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Materials: 

• Glassine, two sheets 6" larger than the artwork or a roll

• A wider tube 6" taller than artwork or more - can be cardboard or plastic

• A slightly thinner and perhaps a little shorter tube 6" taller than artwork or more - can be cardboard or plastic

• Shipping tape

• A regular to long (US Letter to legal size ish) sheet of paper

• A tall sheet or a roll of thin packing foam - ideally 3/16"  (note that bubble wrap is not recommended as the uneven pressure can sometimes create marks)

• Tissue or a little extra packing foam to pad the ends with

• Caps for the tubes (or you can use paper and tape in a pinch)

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