Hello everyone,
I have to mail two completed 7ft saltwater trout rods.
What is the fastest, most convenient way to do this?
For example, could "going Postal" handle the entire thing?
If I need to buy Home Depot PVC, what width, schedule, etc should I look for?
Thank you very much.
John M.

I use USPS all the time and never had a problem. I'm less than a mile from the PO so it's quite convenient for me. I ship rods in 3" schedule 20 sewer/drain pipe. The schedule 40 is much heavier, and I don't think it protects any better. I use PVC end caps taped in place.
Norm

I've shipped in schedule 20 and rods have been broke upon arrival. Schedule 40 has never failed me. As a note: I ALWAYS defer to Norman when seeking advice. He has never been off the mark .

I’ve lived in locales where breakage and package damage was rare to nonexistent. I’ve lived in places where anything short of a steel belted tire was likely to be delivered in shattered pieces.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2021 01:58AM by Kendall Cikanek.

Copy the comments on the use of schedule 20 3 inch drain pipe for shipping rods.

Unless the pipe gets stuck in a conveyor, the schedule 20 will be just fine.

If a schedule 40 gets stuck in a conveyor it will snap just like a match stick as well.

To avoid having any thing hanging over the ends, I use cardboard for the end caps and use filament tape to take the cardboard in place. This style end cap results in a smooth pipe with nothing hanging off the ends. It also costs 5 cents compared to $3 for the pvc caps.

I normally use Fed Ex because of its convenience to me.

If you happen to be in the 5 state Midwest states that are serviced by Speedy Delivery for both the source and destination, Speedy is about 1/2 the price of any other carrier. But, both the source and destination have to be in the area that is serviced by
Speedy.

Best wishes.

p.s.
Over all of the years, I have only had a few things broken by the shippers.
I broken by USPS.
I broken by Fed Ex
1 broken by UPS.

So I have to rate the shippers equal with respect to overall good handling of the rods being shipped.

Do you fit the cardboard down into the pipe itself?

John,
No:

I just use the tube for a pattern and cut out the circle that fits to the outside edges of the end of the tube. Then, while holding it in place, put on multiple sections of fiberglass filament tape to secure each end of the tube.

Take care