How to safely remove rocker base from HM shell rocker?  

Someone will have
an authoritative answer. I can't imagine that the chair would have been made with loose bolts. Try unbolting one connection and see if the bolt is loose and recedes. Keep your fingers on it. A reliable shipping strategy would be to reattach the nuts to the bolts before packaging . . .

Hi
The shell is tapped, so a ratchet should work just fine.

Don't use a shipper, use the...
Don't use a shipper, use the post office if you are USA. A standard 20" x 20" x 24" shipping box from Staples will work and will be under the max size for the USPS. Shipping cost will be 50 bucks +/- depending on distance.

shipping
The chair's too big for a standard size box, I'm afraid. It's roughly 26 x 26 x 26 intact, and taking off the base removes ~10-12" from the height. It's not heavy at all, but it's so large most shippers use dimensional weight to calculate the cost.
Thanks for the help with the screws, too. I was afraid to try without getting some advice, first.

Greyhound
Why not use Greyhound? A 25-pound 30"x40"x40" box, insured for $300, costs $50 to ship from San Francisco to New York City.
http://www.shipgreyhound.com

greyhound
Greyhound's a great option. I thought about that, too, but the buyer lives over 30 miles from the nearest G'hound pickup spot. I miscalculated the shipping costs, so this is my fault entirely. I'm just trying to figure out a better option before I bite the bullet first thing Monday and pay what it takes to get the buyer his item on time.

I wasn't sure you were includ...
I wasn't sure you were including the base. I just received an arm shell in the 20 x 20 x 24 box, that I bought on ebay, and it fit perfectly. Maybe send the base in a second box.

Unscrew.
Detatch.
Done.

size of shell rocker
Hmm. The shell on mine measures a little larger. I assumed they were all the exact same size. I think I'm going to let the pack-and-ship place figure out how best to box it up. By the time I buy the box(es) and packing material, I'd be out just about the same amount of money.

Done!
Easy as everyone said it would be. I thought it must be a cinch, but I didn't want to ruin a pricey chair by assuming too much. Thanks for the help!