Homemade Fork Spreader Ideas?

[BikingBrian]

I'm at the end of my tour, I got a bike box from the LBS today, and I just realized there's no plastic fork spreader. I need to pack and ship the bike home tomorrow, preferably before the LBS opens. Any suggestions for a DIY fork spreader, using parts from the nearby big box stores? My first thought was a 4" long wood block or PVC sprinkler pipe held in place with tape, any better ideas?

[tsteven4]

I think the easiest thing would be to get one from a bike store, but I have used one I made from a piece of dowel and a couple of lag bolts and washers:

[Pat Lamb]

From a good hardware store, a 4-1/2 to 5" bolt with three matching nuts.

Space the nuts appropriately, hand tighten when it's on the fork.

[DaveB]

Roll up a 100mm wide strip of corrugated cardboard into a roll about 1" in diameter, use tape to keep it rolled and tape it into the dropouts. 

The bolt idea is also a good one.   

[BikingBrian]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was able to get a 5" long 1/4"-20 bolt, four wing nuts, and fender washers for under $3 at the big orange store.