Fine Art Packing Supplies List
Moving isn`t easy, so you`ll have to have a lot of luck to avoid the frustrations and stress that it causes. Also, you`ll need enough money and time, which can be very problematic, primarily if you work long hours. Besides, many people have kids, and conducting the whole move in the best possible manner isn`t that easy. Furthermore, there is a possibility that some damage to your belongings can`t be reversed, and even injuries can happen. Now, if you plan on moving fine art or you need it shipped somewhere, things can get even more complicating. It is why, if you want to pack fine art by yourself, you need the correct information. To lower the risk of damage to your belongings and make sure that everything goes in the right order, we made a list of fine art packing supplies you should check out below.
Safety
Why are proper fine art packing supplies important? Fine art is sensitive and fragile. So, knowing how to pack fragile items is crucial for keeping your art pieces intact. Using the right kind of fine art packing supplies is the main thing you should consider when it comes to the safety of your belongings. However, the choice is very diverse. It means that in most cases, you won`t know what`s good and what kind of packing supplies you should avoid. To ensure maximum safety, we made a selection of supplies you should use and the ones you should avoid.
The Dos
So, let`s start with the fine art packing supplies you should use:
Acid-Free Paper
Acid-free paper is pH neutral. It is one of the main supplies which you should obtain when packing all of your artwork, especially paintings. Why? It is crucial to protect your art from any exterior influence, and acid-free paper is your best bet. Also, it`s perfect for wrapping. It is proven that it won`t cause any possible chemical reactions with the art piece you plan on packing. Also, one of the most popular versions of paper is glassine. Besides being pH neutral, it’s light, cheap, and provides more than efficient protection against any kind of damage.
Foam Core
Foam core or Foam board is a very lightweight material that can be cut easily. It`s often used for safe shipping, packaging, and storage of very valuable artwork. Another benefit of foam core is that it is available in various thicknesses. Furthermore, when speaking of availability, you will be happy to know that you can easily find it at any art supply and craft store.
Packing Tape
When talking about packing, packing tape is a universal item you should have at any time. It is cheap, efficient, and has a very diverse use. Still, although you can get very cheap packing tape, we recommend investing in high-quality ones. Ask the salesperson whether or not is the packing tape waterproof since you would be surprised how much water damage happens when moving fine art.
Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is one of the most popular wrapping materials and also has a very diverse use. It’s on every must-have packing and moving supplies list. You have probably encountered it numerous times, making it very famous and used widely. It`s lightweight and cheap while providing efficient protection from numerous factors.
Protectors
When talking about fine art, the flattest surfaces have very fragile corners that need maximum protection. So, you`ll need corner protectors, which will reduce any risk of scoring or warping, which can ruin your piece of art. Luckily, they can be found in almost any moving or art supply store. If you can`t go to the store for some reason or are in a rush, you can even make them by yourself; There are instructions on the subject online.
Crates
Now, the best possible packing supply you can get when it comes to fine art packing is custom crates which are, in most cases, made out of wood and are used to ship heavy, large, delicate, and oddly shaped art pieces. The best thing about custom crates is that they can be specifically made to fit the dimensions of the piece you plan on shipping.
Packing Framed Paintings
If you aren`t sure what would be the best way to pack framed paintings, we got you covered. We already mentioned custom crates, and for this occasion, it would be best for you to find a box or build a crate that fits your exact piece. However, it is necessary to make sure that there are at least three inches of available space on every side of the painting. Now, as we mentioned earlier, wrap your painting in acid-free paper.
Don`t forget to wrap the entire piece in bubble wrap while ensuring that the corners have adequate coverage. Then, we recommend placing a layer of foam or any other packaging material to create a specific layer of foam that your art will sit on safely. Finally, don`t forget to stuff any open areas with packing material. Next, we`ll talk about packing unframed painting, which can be very hard, especially if you have no prior experience with the subject.
Packing Unframed Paintings
To ensure maximum security while packing unframed paintings, follow the next steps:
First and foremost, get white cotton gloves that should be used to avoid touching the art with your fingers. Now, wrap that art piece, again, in the acid-free paper (you can see here why we accentuated acid-free paper that much) and then in plastic, to protect it from any possible moisture.
If you didn`t obtain corner protectors, we recommend them by yourself by folding the acid-free paper into triangles. Then, mount that wrapped art piece in foam core. Use a few layers of cardboard, and don`t forget to tape it.
We hope you enjoyed this article and found some useful information that can help you differentiate all the packing supplies that you need. For any help with moving your fine art, contact some of the best art moving NYC companies. By hiring professional NYC art movers, you’ll ensure safe moving and minimize the risk of damaging your art pieces during the moving process. Here, at Rabbit Moving and Storage, you’ll get all the expert help you need for packing and moving fine art, followed by free moving quotes.