Need help with shipping

[Tom Laing]

I hope this isn't a violation of the woodworker's oath regarding use of this forum. If it's a problem, let me know and I'll remove it.

Here's the deal. I just spent a long time building  a blanket chest for my granddaughter, who lives in Alaska and knocked it down into a manageable sized package ready for shipping. Previously, I had perused the Alaska Air Cargo website and it appeared that this would be a reasonable way to send it for roughly $100. 

I chatted with a guy at AK Air Cargo who told me to just drop it at the RDM/Bend airport ticket counter where they'd inspect the contents and send it on its way. What never came up was the critical fact that in order to use their service from RDM, one has to be a "Known Shipper," which I'm not. 

BTW, this only applies to cargo going out of Oregon airports other than Portland. No need for the special status there because it wouldn't have to go on any passenger planes. 

I've looked at various freight forwarders in Central OR and the only one to respond so far wants $1058. 

So my ask...do any of you have "known shipper" status and would be willing to let me tag onto that or know of another way to get it to Alaska? I'm not even sure that's legal, but thought I'd ask, anyway. 

TOM LAING

[R Krueger]

Tom,

I don't fit the category of "known shipper."  Years ago I used an organization called Mercy Shipping International for shipping some tools for myself.  I knew the owner.  Looking tonight I can't find a web page for him - can call in the morning.  However, I did find the following source that you might look into: Shipfwd.com.

In the am I will check and see if my friend is still in business.

Best,

Rex

ORGramps Fine Woodworking

541-977-6277

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[Tom Laing]

Hi All and thanks so much for all the help and suggestions.

In the end, I'll end up cancelling the leg from RDM and drive to PDX as we're routed through there anyway. No problem with spending the night in PDX, my brother in law lives right across the river from the airport.

I really should have spent a little more time thinking through this whole project. I originally figured I'd put it in two separate carry-ons but hadn't  considered size and weight limits of carry-on luggage (62" & 50#). If one piece is over size or weight, it's an extra $100. Even the lid of my box, if just wrapped in thin cardboard would be 62" and that's just one of a bunch of pieces. Probably would have cost me an extra few hundred dollars. 

Yeah, I'll just do the drive.

TOM

On Thu, Apr 16, 2026 at 8:52 PM Bryan Paxson <bryan...@icloud.com> wrote:

I would take to Pony Express and have them pack it and they can help you find the cheapest way to ship.  if it doesn’t have to arrive in a day or two, UPS and FedEx can handle the job at a reasonable cost, I think. 

On Apr 16, 2026, at 4:24 PM, Tom Laing <tac....@gmail.com> wrote:



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