I have made my own crate. I used 1/4 plywood with 
3" wide struts on the outside. Ideally you need a 
sawtable to cut the wood, or it will take 
forever. The struts are glued on (you can use 
Titebond for this!) and a large number of long 
screws are used to make up the crate. You will 
need to measure your instrument carefully, 
allowing for the angle at which it goes into the 
box (mine goes in with its padded cover on) and 
also space to prevent your hands from getting 
squashed! I put the disassembled stand in first, 
so it ends up underneath the instrument. You will 
also need some packing material to stop the 
instrument from moving around when the box is 
carried. I use expanded plastic sheet. As I only 
use my box for major relocations, I also take 
advantage of the space to pack the bentside 
triangle with lightweight things. When the box is 
made, you should write on it clearly, so that 
movers know which is up for unpacking and which 
is up for putting in a van with the instrument 
resting on its spine. (Do not put the keyboard 
flap in place between spine and cheek, as it can do damage).

Making such a crate is not a difficult exercise, 
but it does take time. In my case it was 
justified by the fact that I was moving across the Altantic.

I do not have access to the Facebook page, so 
please write me offlist for photos that illustrate what I have written.

David

At 16:13 10-09-17, David J. Perry wrote:

>I may need to get my double back to its maker 
>for some service, which I've never done before.
>
>I assume that even a good padded cover, such as 
>we've been discussing here, is not adequate and 
>I would need to get a crate made, with the 
>covered instrument inside.  Is that 
>right?  Large harpsichords are too big for 
>FedEx or UPS, so I would have to work with a 
>motor freight carrier (yes?).  I have no idea 
>how much it costs for a crate or motor 
>freight.  Also, how do you get a crate made?  A local cabinetmaker?
>
>It may turn out to be just as good to get a 
>cover, rent a van, and drive it up myself (about 
>300 miles round trip, twice).  This would save 
>the cost of a crate and motor freight and avoid 
>subjecting my instrument to the tender mercies 
>of a carrier.  On the other hand, I would have 
>the crate for future use if I went that route; I 
>have room to store it in my garage.
>
>I'd appreciate advice from those who have been through this!
>
>David
>
>::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
>Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
>tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
>versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
>[log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
>::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
[log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::