WARNING - USE UPS FOR SHIPPING RATHER THAN FEDEX

We checked with an Audio Dealer who ships a lot, and he advised us not to use FedEx, because they do use a lot of poorly trained contract drivers (many who do not speak English and who do not care how they handle shipments - they're much less costly).  UPS does not do that.   

He also advised us to wrap the Mfrs packaging (usually 2 boxes) in bubble wrap, enclosed in additional outer box (3rd box), marked "Fragile, Do Not Stack, Do Not Drop," and insure the item for greater than $5000.  He said UPS uses "special handling" for these packages, because of the increased value and cost if damaged in shipment.  

He advised that other than using a freight carrier (SBA, or DAX) that would be the safest way to ship high value goods.  

But... in the meantime... give us the link to where / how to get "nylon strapping / tensioning system."

Well, prices have gone up since I equipped Galiber’s infrastructure with these tools, but if a few buddies buy and sell a few times/year, you might want to do a group buy.

I picked my tools up at a local shipping supply, so other than the general good quality of Uline’s products (in the links below), I can’t vouch for these from direct experience. They appear to be the same general construction however.

They don’t make it easy for you to figure out, and you might be well served to check out a local shipping supply company to walk you through this.

BTW, I learned about the manual handling requirement from a fellow who was involved in the design of FedEx’s Memphis depot. I’d be very surprised if UPS’s facilities don’t follow the same procedures from this perspective.

You need two tools.

The first one is used to tension the strap, hold it in place and cut the loose end after crimping the two ends together:

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-540/Poly-Strapping-Tools/Uline-Industrial-Poly-Strapping-Tensioner
and
http://www.uline.com/BL_3502/Polyester-Strapping-Tensioners?keywords=nylon%20strapping

The second is the crimping tool (poly strapping sealer) that you used to "join" the nylon strap with steel cleats:
http://www.uline.com/BL_3456/Poly-Strapping-Sealers?keywords=nylon%20strapping

The consumables consist of a spool of nylon/polyester tape along with the metal cleats to join/crimp the ends together:

Their strapping page is a bit confusing
http://www.uline.com/BL_2801/Uline-Polyester-Strapping?keywords=nylon%20strapping

The S-1243 (1/2" wide x .028" thick seems to be the stuff) I just measured my strapping material (nylon? polyester?) and it’s plenty strong at .017" thick. I’m a bit surprised at the high pricing for the material, as Uline’s tools are quite reasonable in comparison.

These are the cleats (the open variety - match the width of your tape - i.e. 1/2"):
http://www.uline.com/BL_2852/Metal-Poly-Seals

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier Design

FedEx and UPS are merging.  The new company will be named Fed-Up.

There really is little recourse with UPS or FedEx for damaged high end electronics. Neither will pay full damages for anything less than a forklift blade through the faceplate of your reference amp. The only way to ship expensive gear is to encase it in foam inside a cardboard box placed inside a wood box.
Crush proof and shock proof. Don't use bubble wrap or styro for anything heavy...it will be dropped often, and stryo and bubble wrap only give you ONE drop before losing their cushion.
Take pics of what you ship(and how it was packed)and keep evidence of what you paid to acquire it in case they lose it(very rare). They will only pay what it cost you...not what you insured it for.

Now its time to start a 3rd thread!!