Buying equipment from overseas raises fair questions: how long will it take, and what happens between paying and receiving? Here are real numbers instead of vague promises.
Consumables ship from inside the United States
Sandblast resist masking film and abrasives are stocked in the U.S. and ship domestically. There is no ocean freight and no customs paperwork on your side.
| Item | Typical delivery |
|---|---|
| Sandblast resist masking film | 5–10 business days |
| Brown fused alumina & garnet abrasives | 5–10 business days |
| Spare and wear parts | 5–10 business days |
Delivery time depends on where you are relative to the warehouse. Tell us your ZIP code and we will confirm before you order.
Machines are built to order and shipped by sea
Machines are not stocked units. Each one is built for your configuration, then shipped by ocean freight. The timeline breaks down into distinct stages:
| Stage | Typical time | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| Production | 10–30 days | Which machine, and how customized the configuration is |
| Ocean transit | 20–30 days | West Coast ports are faster than East Coast |
| Customs clearance & inland delivery | Varies | Your port of entry and final destination |
What changes the timeline
- Machine and configuration. A standard model moves faster than a customized one.
- Destination port. West Coast arrivals (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle) are typically quicker than East Coast (New York, Savannah, Houston).
- Time of year. Chinese New Year and peak shipping season can add time. We flag this when quoting.
Customs clearance and import duties
ArtCut handles customs clearance. You are not filing paperwork with U.S. Customs, hiring a broker, or chasing down documentation. We manage that process as part of delivering the machine.
Import duty is a separate matter, and we want to be straightforward about it.
Why we quote duty as a current figure, not a fixed one
U.S. import duty rates on machinery in this category have been revised a number of times in recent years, and further changes are possible. A rate quoted today is not guaranteed to be the rate in effect when your shipment actually clears — and that gap can be several weeks.
So we do two things:
- We quote the duty rate currently in effect when we prepare your quote, so you can budget with a real number rather than a guess.
- We confirm the actual amount at clearance, when the applicable rate is known with certainty.
If the rate has moved between quotation and arrival, you will hear it from us directly. We would rather tell you about a variable cost upfront than surprise you with it later.
What this means practically
Treat the duty figure in your quote as accurate-as-of-today rather than locked. For most buyers the amount does not shift dramatically, but it is not a number any importer can promise months in advance — and anyone who tells you otherwise is guessing.
What you get before you commit
Your quote includes freight options to your location, the destination port, and an estimated delivery window. You will not be guessing.
Common questions
Can I get a machine faster?
Sometimes. Air freight is possible for smaller equipment but costs considerably more than sea freight. If your timeline is tight, tell us the deadline when you request a quote and we will tell you honestly whether it is achievable.
Which port will my machine arrive at?
We ship to the port most convenient for your location. Tell us your city and state and we will quote the routing that makes sense.
Do you ship outside the United States?
Yes. ArtCut ships worldwide. Lead times for production stay the same; ocean transit time varies by destination.
Get a timeline for your specific order
Tell us the machine you need and where it is going. We will give you a realistic delivery window with your quote.