A snare drum is an essential part of orchestras, marching bands and concert bands. It can be played on its own or as a central part of a drum set. It is differentiated from other types of drums by the rattles (or snares) of the gut, metal wire, or synthetics stretched across one or both its heads. When the top head is struck, the snares vibrate against the bottom head, producing a distinct cracking sound.
A typical snare drum measures 14 inches (36 cm) in diameter and about 6 inches (15 cm) deep, making them easily shipped in a 16″x16″x16″ corrugated cardboard box. However, it must be packed with padded materials to avoid any damage to its shell and heads. Here are some helpful tips on how to properly pack and ship a snare drum to ensure that it arrives in good condition and free from any damage.
Cut to size a piece of cardboard and place under the wires to prevent the snare from rattling during shipping. Then, place the snare drum inside a plastic bag and seal. The plastic bag will protect the drum from water damage or any liquid that may spill from other packages during transit.
Wrap the entire snare drum, including the shell and the heads with at least two layers of bubble wrap. Make sure that all parts are well padded and protected. Use heavy-duty packing tape to secure the bubble wrap in place. This is an important procedure that any shipper should not miss.
Place the wrapped snare drum inside a box with a layer of packing peanuts on the bottom. Then, fill the sides and top of the drum with more packing peanuts. A 16″x16″x16″ shipping box is perfect for the snare drum’s width, with ample space in between the item and the side of the box for packing materials, meeting most carriers’ packing requirements of at least 2″ of packing material completely around the item.
If you find the box too tall, you can go around that issue by adding more packing peanuts to fill up the spaces. Alternatively, you can cut off a couple of inches from the top of the box to make it smaller. Either way, the box should be well-packed with packing peanuts or any packing materials so that the drum does not move around. Aside from packing peanuts, you can use other packing materials that have good cushioning properties such as air-filled bags, foam pads, or bubble wrap.
Close the box and seal with packaging tape. Make sure to secure all openings and seams with tape. Address, label and take the box to your preferred carrier for shipping.