Traveling with Tools

Hello all,

I’m taking a workshop in the not-so-distant future and will need to
travel by plane with most of my fabrication tools. Does anybody have
any suggestions on travel cases, etc.? I’ll be traveling with files,
pliers, hammers, optical gear, flex shaft, etc.

Also, any suggestions with regards to checking the items for travel?
Of course my preference would be to not let my tools out of my
sight; however, I’m guessing I won’t be able to carry any of that
on-board. --And, there’s the issue of how best to package it for when
they rummage through it.

I’d appreciate any thoughts and ideas. Thanks in advance.

Tamra Gentry
@Tamra_M_Gentry

Ship via UPS or FedEx. It is just too much hassle to fly with tools
now days.

Jim binnion

Tamara:

Good luck. My experience of trying to travel with tools was all pre
9/11, and I didn’t have great luck, even then. These days, god
knows. Depending on your budget, I’d look into a Pelican case, or
something similar. Pelicans are those heavy plastic waterproof
armoured cases that are generally used for protecting camera gear.
I’ve seen Cindy Eid travel out to Maker with one loaded down about
70# of tools and dies, and it seemed to work pretty well. (Except for
when I had to lift it…) Somewhere she found one that has a little
extending handle like a rolling carry-on case. (and is about that
size, so it’ll carry a good bit.) That would be in the $150+ range,
but OTOH, then you’ve got a heavily armoured case to use forever.
(great for taking fragile stuff to shows, for example.) A slightly
cheaper alternative is to look for “dosko-seal” cases, which are
lower-on-the-foodchain versions of Pelican cases. The armour isn’t
quite as thick, but they’re about 1/2 the price. They probably don’t
make a rolly-case version though.

As far as getting past TSA, my suggestions are three (A) fly out of a
small airport. (B) some airports make you stay with your kit until
they check it, so you can explain it to them. Failing that, © leave
a note in there explaining what’s what, and why. (In nice large
type, so it’s eye catching and easy to read quickly.)

Best of luck, I’m on a plane myself tomorrow morning.

Brian Meek.

I too will be travelling with tools and need others’ advice please.
I guess we should probably check the baggage in?

Jennifer Friedman
Ventura, CA

Tamra and all!!!

the inspectors to open up your Tool Box. They will for sure want to
see what’s inside. First, you cannot carry anything WITH YOU! You can
allow you tools to be put in the cargo hatch. Second, your case must
be of a material that can be seen through the x-ray machine, if not
’they’ will put it aside and search through every item.

Do not lock or secure it from being opened. If you don’t allow this,
they will call and have you open it up in front of them and this time
wasting on your behalf!. If you refuse, they will under law break it
open. These guys are not to be messed with!!!

Third, none of your tools will be brought on board or put in the
overhead-shelf units. So let the inspectors do their thing and
relax!!!

Gerry, the traveling seminar setter!

Tamra, I’d suggest shipping your equipment to your hotel via Fed Ex.
It will be expensive but at least you will have tracking and
insurance available if anything were to happen to it. You should let
your hotel know if your package will arrive before you check in. Most
of your tools probably wouldn’t be allowed as carry-on on the plane.
With the possibility of baggage being lost or misdirected (or
pilfered), there is no way I would trust the airline with my tools.
If you do check it in your baggage, buy some travel insurance and
remember that you can’t lock your baggage anymore. I once got called
back from my gate to the check in counter to take little lock of my
baggage or they wouldn’t send my bags. That was a very long walk that
made me very unhappy.

Good Luck,
Nancy Geosoul Arts
www.geosoul.com

Tamra,

It might be easier to ship your tools to the workshop via UPS rather
than dealing with all the hassles at the airport.

Tim

Hi Tamra,

If your travel is all within the US, you might consider shipping
your tools using the US post office.

They have 2 sizes of boxes who’s inside dimensions are: 11" x 8 1/2"
x5 1/2" & 11 7/8" x 3 3/8" x 13 5/8".

These boxes are available free at any post office or postal
substation. The cost to mail them Priority Mail is $7.70 for
everything you can put in the box regardless of weight anywhere in
the US. Priority Mail usually takes 2 days, not counting the day it’s
mailed or delivered. In my experience, the 2 day delivery is met over
98% of the time.

Dave

I traveled to the Kate Wolf workshop last fall with all of my wax
carving tools and files. They are as Kate says “wicked sharp”. I was
very nervous about checking them in my baggage, so I simply told the
folks at the counter EXACTLY what was inside. I offered to show
them, I packed in such a way that it was clear what was what. If you
take the proactive approach, you should have no problem. I think they
thought it was funny and boring to them that I was so forthcoming.
Just my experience.

Mary Elizabeth
Blue Star Wax Carving

Hi Tamra,

I travel with tools often to teach. Shipping ahead is not an option
for me. It adds costs that the guild or school-- whoever brings me
in-- may not wish to cover, and I don’t want to cut in to my fees if
I can help it. But more importantly, I use many of those tools up
until the day I leave.

With the new rules regarding not locking checked bags, I was and am
nervous, but up until this time, I’ve had no problems. (I’m tempting
fate by saying that, of course.)

I use hard sided Samsonite luggage that is strapped with 2 heavy
duty luggage straps and left unlocked. Inside the lid, inside a
plastic sleeve, is my business card (which says “metalsmith”) and an
inventory sheet broken down into various plastic Tupperware type
boxes, each referred to by a letter or number, listing what I have.

I’d say that TSA goes in there about 70% of the time. They leave a
little form saying so. They have always carefully packed things back
pretty much the way they should be.

It’s a good idea to snap some digital photos of your stuff before
you consign it to the air folks and NEVER leave precious metals or
tools that you can’t live with out in that suitcase. I had one
student lose 5 ounces of 18k sheet and wire from checked baggage.
Ouch! Also, never ever travel with chemicals such as alcohol or even
rubber cement.

I’ve tried to have a duplicate teaching kit that doesn’t contain my
favorite hand tools, but I really like to bring some of my
favorites-- things that I’ve found at jewelers’ yard sales or even
obituary sales-- that really illustrate some of what I’m teaching.
Hopefully my luck will hold out.

Take care, Andy Cooperman

Hi Tamra,

If you can ship them ahead, do! Much less hassle. The first time I
travelled with tools (in my checked baggage, cannot carry-on ANY
tools) They were x-rayed twice in a special baggage check… I had
to stand there while they did it, and then I was searched five
times before I was allowed to board the plane. No exaggeration
here. This meant I was the last one on the plane, no space left to
store my carry-on, etc etc… The other time went better, only
searched twice.

Since you are not allowed to lock baggage anymore, but I don’t trust
a box to hold through shipping without a lock, this is my solution. I
wrap my tools in chamois so they don’t rattle about. Then I place
them in a fishing tackle/art supply kind of box. Then I put a combo
lock on it with the the combination taped to the outside of the box.
This way, they don’t confiscate my locked box, and I don’t worry
about the box spilling open with my tools everywhere.

Best of luck in your journey,
Margaret Langdell

I have flown with hand tools in my checked luggage without a single
problem, both before and since 9/11. (In fact, I am in Calgary right
now, having brought tools for a workshop at the Alberta College of
Art and Design, where Charles Lewton-Brain is chair of the metals
department.)

My tool box is plastic and measures about 6"x8"x15". It is packed
with tools. On the outside of the toolbox is a large label that
says, JEWELRY TOOLS along with my business card. The tool box is
packed into my luggage, surrounded by clothing, etc.

When I arrive, I usually find a card indicating that the bag was
inspected. But my tools have always appeared untouched within the
tool box.

Alan Revere

Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, Inc.
760 Market Street
Suite 900
San Francisco, California 94102
USA
tel: 415-391-4179
fax: 415-391-7570

I have traveled to workshops post 9/11 with my tool box. Here is how
you do it.

If you are traveling for a workshop, get a tacklebox with a removable
lock. On the outside of your tackle box, put the words, JEWELRY
TOOLS, your name and contact On the inside, place the
official workshop description from a catalog or website you are
attending, and your contact again.

Check it through. I have had no problem working this way at all.
If it is for a longer workshop, SHIP IT.

If you are traveling with jewelry to show or sell at a workshop, ask
immediately for a secure screening. TSA loves this. They have one
job to do, and getting them to paw (delicately) through your work
gives them something to do. They are nice and friendly (usually).

When I travel to Tucson with our booth materials, we put it all in a
large Rubbermaid container and ship it by FedEx Ground. It costs me
$60.

Also, did you know that if you belong to MJSA, you get HUGE
discounts on FedEx Priority and Ground? Besides all the other good
things be connected with this organization, the savings alone on
shipping is worth the fee.

Good luck!
Karen Christians
M E T A L W E R X
50 Guinan St.
Waltham, MA 02451
Ph. 781/891-3854 Fax 3857
http://www.metalwerx.com/
Jewelry/Metalarts School & Cooperative Studio

I have travelled many times between New York and Oregon, with all my
tools. I don’t bring any tools in my carry on, for fear they will
confiscate something they aren’t familiar with. I just pack
everything in two large suitcases. There is always a paper notice
inside when I get to where I’m going saying that the TSA has checked
everything. But it is all still there in good order. I have sent my
flex shaft, wax pen, files, etc, etc this way and have never had a
problem. Just put them in untaped boxes or tupperware that they can
open and they will close them up the way they were. If you still
have the box that the flex shaft came in, pack it in that, that’s
what I do. That way they can see what it is and what it’s for.

I think as long as you pack your tools in an unimpressive (not
expensive) suitcase no one will steal them, and the TSA won’t either.
Be sure to check with your airline as to the maximum weight that the
suitcases can be, they are very strict with that now.

Good luck and don’t worry!
Jessica Scofield

Jim et al !

If you elect UPS or Fed-EX, I would hasten to add that you should
attach a commercial invoice on the outside.

So what is a “Commercial Invoice”? It must state the contents of the
box of tools, testifying that you are not transporting any chemicals
on board the plane. You are also accepting that the x-ray technician
may open up the box in your absence. That YOU packed the box of
tools yourself. Not to forget what these tools are going to be used
for. This Invoice should put into an envelope for all to see “Plain
and Simple” and don’t forget your full name and address and telephone
number…Gerry!

The large rolling pelican cases are 1600 series (I believe) It
depends on what you have inside for dividers. Either none, foam, or
their dividers.

I believe they are closer to $200 or more. I like them - have 3 that
I use for video equipment. They are airline ATA rated.

Eric

Do not  lock or secure it from being opened. If you don't allow
this, they will call and have you open it up in front of them and
this  time wasting on your behalf!. If you refuse, they will under 
law break it open. These guys are not to be messed with

There is a suitcase lock that is readily available that can be
opened with a key used in the airline industry. I believe it has
some kind of diamond pattern logo on it. It has a combination lock
for you, but the bottom has a key that is supposedly only available
to the inspectors. This way you can keep your suitcase locked, but
if they need to open it for whatever reason, they have the means.
It even has a green/red dot on it that shows if it was opened for
inspection. We bought some of these locks last January for our
visit to Texas and had no problems.

Kerry
CeltCraft Beads & Jewelry

I just came back from Penn. I had to buy a birthday card at a little
store and mail myself back an 2" scissors/nail file/knife Swatch
pocket knife because I forgot to put it into my checked luggage and
did not want to “donate” it. (NOT complaining about security - just
that it’s something you forget about if you have not flown in a
year.)

You can probably put some tools in your checked luggage. Check with
the airline.

Hi,

Thanks for your responses to my questions. Funny story to go along
with that: Leaving out of Midway last year on my way to a conference
in Detroit, I forgot to pull my Leatherman-Tool-on-steroids out of my
backpack where I always keep it. This particular model of the tool is
about an inch thick with all kinds of blades, cork screws and
accessories inside and out. Do you know that I, personally, didn’t
catch it until after I’d arrived in my hotel room?! Nobody at the
airport caught it! I went through all of the standard security
checkpoints!

Of course once I got to Detroit, I pulled it out and stuck it in my
checked bag for the return flight–but I’m still stunned that I was
able to board with it.

Anyway, again, thanks for all your responses.

Tamra Gentry
@Tamra_M_Gentry

The large rolling pelican cases are 1600 series (I believe) It
depends on what you have inside for dividers. Either none, foam, or
their dividers.

The problem that I’ve found with the heavy duty Pelican type of cases
is that they themselves are fairly heavy. With most airlines changing
their basic weight allowance from 70lbs/ bag to 50, this limits the
amount of tools that you can bring.

I’m, always at 50 lbs these days-- used to push it to 70 but now I
have the hosting organization provide some equipment that I used to
bring.

Andy