Photo Mailing Tube suggestions: Someone has requested a print from my flickr account, and I've agreed to mail it. When I look at mailing tubes on Amazon, frequent reviews not that...

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

Someone has requested a print from my flickr account, and I've agreed to mail it. When I look at mailing tubes on Amazon, frequent reviews not that they're not really as sturdy as you might want, so I worry the print will not arrive in excellent condition. Can anyone recommend a solution that they are confident will withstand the rigors of the US Postal Service, or UPS for that matter?

Quixdraw Loc: x

Check at a Big Box home improvement store that sells carpet - carpet center tubes are stout. Cut with hacksaw, tape on metal pipe caps of proper size - I have used plastic ones and have had them shatter.

bluezzzzz Loc: Stamping Ground, KY

Here is an article/blog that pretty well covers all aspects of mailing prints. This guy has been around and knows his stuff.

https://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2020/06/how-to-pack-photo-prints-for-mailing-or-shipping.html

Marshall

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

cbtsam wrote:

Someone has requested a print from my flickr account, and I've agreed to mail it. When I look at mailing tubes on Amazon, frequent reviews not that they're not really as sturdy as you might want, so I worry the print will not arrive in excellent condition. Can anyone recommend a solution that they are confident will withstand the rigors of the US Postal Service, or UPS for that matter?

I usually have them printed by a lab and drop shipped to the client. This way, if the print gets mangled in shipping, they will fix the problem with barely any intervention from me.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

The USPS has a "Priority Mail"/"Priority Express" tube. It is actually a triangle. I've used them. They work. A pack of 10 is free and delivered to you.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

quixdraw wrote:

Check at a Big Box home improvement store that sells carpet - carpet center tubes are stout. Cut with hacksaw, tape on metal pipe caps of proper size - I have used plastic ones and have had them shatter.

Stop by the dealer where you bought your last new car.

Manufacturers ship window posters in tubes that are incredibly stout and will perfectly fit about a 36X24 print.

Another good source is a high end billiards store, cues are shipped in uber strong tubes.

These tubes are routinely pitched after a single use.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

bsprague wrote:

The USPS has a "Priority Mail"/"Priority Express" tube. It is actually a triangle. I've used them. They work. A pack of 10 is free and delivered to you.

I wasn’t aware of that.

Good advice.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

cbtsam wrote:

Someone has requested a print from my flickr account, and I've agreed to mail it. When I look at mailing tubes on Amazon, frequent reviews not that they're not really as sturdy as you might want, so I worry the print will not arrive in excellent condition. Can anyone recommend a solution that they are confident will withstand the rigors of the US Postal Service, or UPS for that matter?

Uline.com

wildweasel

I use the Priority Mail triangle mail tubes, they are free at the post office.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

bsprague wrote:

The USPS has a "Priority Mail"/"Priority Express" tube. It is actually a triangle. I've used them. They work. A pack of 10 is free and delivered to you.

I use these all the time for work presentations. Never had an issue.

Andy

drjuice

You can also come by triangular ones that will hold things that are 36" in their shorter dimension. They are free at your local FedEx and then you don't have to figure out what to do with the remaining 9. They used to have 4 footers too but all I needed to get to the pre-covid meeting was a 6'x36 inch rolled poster.
drjuice

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

Gene51 wrote:

I usually have them printed by a lab and drop shipped to the client. This way, if the print gets mangled in shipping, they will fix the problem with barely any intervention from me.

Great Idea and a smart one as well.

Denny357mag Loc: Sparta,Mi

Maybe just what I Bee n looking for

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I buy mine for this supplier:

https://spool.com/products/paper-tubes/

SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

Go to Home Depot/Lowes/Menards/ect and get a length of 6-8 inch plastic pipe. Cut the length you need. Cut a cardboard circle and tape to each end. Put your address and postage - and it's on it's way - practically indestructible and inexpensive.