Transporting A Taig To Japan???? Sugguestions?

[Odin]

Hi, it's been a while since I posted.

I'm now working in Japan, typing this from my Japanese apartment in Sapporo. I finally have the financial resources to buy a good mill, and I have lots of free time to use it after work on weekdays.

I've already decided to buy a Taig from cartertools.com, upgraded to 12''X axis travel, ER 16 spindle, and 1/4hp motor.

The problem is SHIPPING!

I know the dimensions of the 2 boxes the mill comes in, both are the same size at 21"x16"x10", and one weighs 43 pounds, while the other weighs 53 pounds.

The mill itself is around 65 pounds, but I know they pack it bolted to heavy boards, so UPS doesn't destroy it, which takes up the extra 32 pounds or so.

Since this year all major common mail carriers stopped land/sea shipping to Japan (ie: boat mail, cheap but took a month), I no longer have a reliable way to send the mill when I order it. Everything is by plane now, so it is ASTRONOMICALLY EXPENSIVE.

I have looked very hard, and I get shipping quotes for the total 96 pounds of packages, even sent seperately, in the many HUNDREDS of dollars, most over 600$, which is almost as much as the basic mill! I make enough now, but not much- the shipping AND mill is gonna cost me a month's salary!! As such,

Does ANYONE know of the cheapest way to ship machinery or heavy items from the USA to Japan? I used to be alright with this, as I have lived here before 2 years ago, but they still had sea mail then. I have never shipped something this heavy, and I will need to ship it back in a few years when I leave.

The Toyo mills you can buy here suck compared to what even a standard Taig can do. It's gotta be a Taig.

Any ideas?????

(p.s.- I would have it shipped to my US home first- it's cheaper that way, believe it or not, to arrange my own shipping)

[Stepper Monkey]

I don't know if it is still true, but I used to ship a lot of relatively heavy items (motorcycle engines, transmissions, and similar parts) to and from UK, US, and Japan. Believe it or not, FedEx was the cheapest solution! People know about thier expensive overnight services, and thier domestic ground service, but they have international commercial freight services too. Used to send whole pallets that way.
Now that the Kinkos/FedEx thing happened I don't know if it is still true, but it was up until recently at least a very cheap option to use that specific FedEx service. It isn't well known, but FedEx offers a service for heavy items internationally. It can take anywhere from a couple days to a week or so - I think they likely just use the service to fill any unused space on thier normal flights, so the delivery times can vary radically depending on available space. They have no time guarantees for freight, but it is still pretty fast all told. They are also great at expediting customs delays, which saves another big hassle, and is sometimes worth the money just for that alone. I think they also offer sea delivery still as well, but that may not be the case anymore. Worth checking out though.
Remember as well that repeat commercial customers get a big break over the folks that just walk in the door, so if you know someone with a business account it can be a lot cheaper to ship under thier discount. You can get the discount for mentioning the account number alone - you don't have to ship from or bill to the companies specific location. I think I get about 40% off thier listed rates if that gives you any idea on cost savings they give out. Hell, UPS kept offering to match that discount if I switched over to them, so there is a lot of negotiating room if they think you are currently shipping with a competitor....

[frank02189]

Hi
I'm not sure but but does U.S postal ship worldwide.
Break the taig down to least weight items and ship seperatly.

[Odin]

I'm already in JAPAN. How can I break down an item into smaller parts if I'm not there to do so??? Good idea, but I already thought of that.

Basically, I can only entrust the whole boxes as they are sent to my US address to my family, who know jack squat about tools, much less how to break something as complex as a mill down into smaller parts!

Also, there is a reason they are 50% heavier- that's all the board they bolt the parts to. They told me they do that for a good reason- before they did, any carrier they shipped them through would hurt them in shipping (I think we all know how little care package handlers show for boxes in the US)! The mill's parts unfortunately need to be secured as such to keep them in working order.


Stepper, thanks for the tip. I can't use frieght as an option, though, even with FEDEX unless the total is over 150 LBS. So I'm stuck shipping normally. If I knew a business here I could ship it through, like, if I had a Japanese friend who would ship it here on his business account, I would ASK him. I don't have such a friend, except for a phone rep.- but his company doesn't ship stuff here from America. Vodaphone cellphones is a Japan company only.


Anyone have any other options, or it's going to cost over 370$ to ship this! Take into account the huge gap between Yen & the Dollar when you get into money exchanges over 1000$ USD, and It comes out to be HALF my monthly Japanese salary just for the mill and shipping, not including the upgraded motor's weight in another box if I get it, OR cutting bits I have yet to find a good store for!

[Odin]

Did I mention, that half a month's salary would be BEFORE taxes are taken from the salary? I't be more like 80% of one month's salary. I'd have to live on a sack of rice, daily, eating only lunch & dinner, for a month. I've already done that. I don't want to experience it again, but I must make something or I'm gonna die of creative overstretchment! I need to make something, period.

[elliott]

Maybe someone could put it in luggage and pay $50 for the over weight charge. I have a friend that flies over once a year for two weeks, and sometimes has room. Maybe an add on Craigslist near your US home would provide someone willing to help out.