Here is the globe packing info from the Gas Globe bible :
It's a loss to the hobby to have even a single globe broken and yet we hear about this
happening all too often.
First of all, plan to double box the globe. This is a must! The outer box should be
large, at least 20 cubic inches. We can't stress this enough. Most damaged globes
are shipped in smaller FLAT boxes. Don't use these-- use larger square/cube boxes.
Allow at least five to six inches around all sides, top and bottom of the globe for the first
box. Styrofoam peanuts are great because they do the job and are light in weight.
Once the globe is boxed, place the box in a second larger box.
Allow at least four to six inches or more between the smaller box and the larger box. If
your first box is 10 cubic inches then the second box should be at least 24 to 26 cubic
inches. Again, use Styrofoam peanuts or other packing material. Newspaper works
well when other packing material is not available, but it gets heavy. Make sure to line
the bottom of each box with at least four inches of soft padding. Place a few loose
sheets of cardboard across the top of the inner box for extra protection.
When packing a glass body globe with glass inserts, remove the inserts! Otherwise,
you run the risk of damaging the inserts due to vibrations in transport, which can cause
them to break...Place thing bubble pack, or , if not available, several sheets of
newspaper (six to ten) between separately in another area of the box. That wayh,
during shipping it won't bump and break the inserts. By the way, never stack more
than six to eight inserts on top of each other when shipping and even when simply
storing. The weight alone could break or crack the bottom insert.
When packing plastic body globes with glass inserts, either ship them assembled or
take them apart before packing. We’ve done it both ways with no problem. But when
shipping a fully assembled globe, make sure that the three screws on the plastic body
are screwed tight. Stuff the inside of the globe with crumpled newspaper only, not
packing peanuts. Metal frame globes with glass inserts should be taken apart. Again,
loose inserts and a metal body make a bad combination. If the inserts are very tight or
hard to remove, pack them well but make sure the inserts are snug. Place the metal
frame globe inserts in a small box placed inside of a bigger box, with the metal body on
top. This adds protection on he upper portion of the box in case it is hit from above or
something heavy rests on it. Metal bodies are nearly indestructible.
On rare or expensive globes it is best to use overnight delivery services such as
Federal Express. It's not worth taking chances on breakage and although it's more
costly you're rather not see your globe arrive in "kit" form. Avoid shipping a glove
during the extremely cold weather. Globes are more brittle then and break more
easily, even plastic globes.
We've heard pros and cons on marking your box as "Fragile" or "Glass". Ours go out
unmarked and we rarely have a problem. Don't forget to insure your globe and hope
that it arrives in home piece!