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You think this Crate
will get off the ground?
#1 Question: "How long's it take
to make one of those rifles?"
I occasionally show you some of the
things that go along with the business that few people would think
about. Here's another. Who'd think you needed to take a day or
two just to crate and ship a rifle?
First link in the chain is what to
ship it in? I used to buy a new hard rifle case to ship in. However;
this calls special attention to the package. Where I'd have thought
carriers would be pleased with a handle on the package - they
weren't. Where I thought the egg crate foam would do a good job
... I didn't plan on extreme shock, tumbling, crushing, etc. Carriers
wanted a "Premium" to take the case (wasn't wrapped
in paper you see...) So, the search continued.
Here's the current state of the art
for Barnes packaging. A hand built crate with the rifle inlaid
in 2" dense foam. Band board of inch pine and sheathed in
3/4" dense foam and 1/4" plywood. And, no, those materials
don't just show up in my shop. I have to go buy boards, sheets
of plywood, sheets of foam, and then handle and cut them all.
Takes alot of space in a crowded shop. Can't just devote a wing
to the "crate shop" and have everything waiting there.
Takes
alot of time to cut out around all the contours. There's the scope
and it's knobs and the bolt handle and cocking stud, etc., etc.
A nice tight fit is required. A blizzard of dense foam chips are
produced which must be vacuumed from the shop.
Once fitted - accessory items might be inlaid
as well. Here - a couple of bricks of custom slugs ride along.
That's the Tundra Magnum 45 getting ready to
ship. Everything is photographed for Insurance records. Addressing,
final inspection, inventory check, and the top foam and lid get
screwed into place.
Now we can drive to the carrier and go through
the shipping procedure.
For the weight/value, this crate shipped
yesterday for $117US (postage and Ins.) There's probably another
$35 of materials in the crate and two days time was used up in
the total process.
It's all part of the total focus of
providing one customer with the ability to enjoy his leisure time
activity of long range PCP target shooting.