Hi! As Brian Meek says, I have invested in two special suitcases for
travel, since I travel to teach workshops frequently. Both are sized
to be legal for be carry-on, because I use one to protect the samples
that I bring to workshops, and I find that the other is plenty heavy
by the time I fill it with my favorite tools for checking. As Brian
said, one is made by Pelican, and cost about $100 on-line. The other
is a Porter Case, and it did cost more, but it can become a cart for
ALL my luggage, so I find that useful, since there is not always
someone so nice as Brian around to help me. I decided to think of the
cost of the “seriously protective” luggage as “insurance”. Over time,
it will be less than the cost of shipping my tools to workshops.
When I travel to a workshop, I check the bag with the tools. I carry
on the bag with the samples. I use those new locks that TSA can open.
In both bags: I try to have everything easy to see, in plastic bags,
etc. I put an ad for the workshop inside, and perhaps a note, to
explain what the stuff is for. I get to the airport two hours ahead
of the flight to allow for them to check inside, and still catch my
flight, and have all my luggage arrive too. I make an effort to stay
calm and friendly when explaining the samples to the security folks
that are doing their job.
If I have to order metal or supplies for a workshop, I have the
supplier ship them directly to the workshop.
This system has worked for me for the last couple of years. I hope
the info is helpful to someone.
These “special” locks can be purchased on the net. I have them and
they are not a problem when traveling in the US. My experience is
that these locks are not acceptable to any of the places I have gone
to overseas or when using non-US airlines.
I teach regularly in Honolulu and must fly there from SF. I always
divvy up my tools and supplies between suitcases (weight limit) and
when I have included something that might make them
question…(powdered borax in a jar), I label it clearly. I’ve
never had any problems. I always find a little inspection flier in
my suitcases letting me know they’ve been in there.
Once, I got the sneaking suspicion that someone tried on the jewelry
samples since they were pinned down all wrong on their velvet pads.
:>
Tamra’s story about inadvertently carrying on a “dangerous” tool
reminded me of a series of flights I made several years ago - BEFORE
9/11.
One of the tools I always carried was a switch-blade knife that was
attached by a cord to my belt. Another tool was a long stem
thermometer with a pointed end for checking interior food temps. I
always carried these items onboard in my brief case, along with all
the other inspection equipment, and thought nothing about it.
Honestly, it was after the third plane flight that I realized such
items were not appropriate to have in my carry-on! Security never
said anything. Things are different now!
I just traveled on Sept 27 to Istanbul - Turkey with a luggage full
of tools, Acetylene - Oxygen torch tips, side cutters and all,
including a centrifugal casting machine (which was given to me by
Mr. Gustave Hoefs who was kind enough to let me see his work shop
and all the beautiful things he had produced, and to whom I owe a
special thanks for his kindness) from Columbus Ohio.I traveled with
United Airlines, a shared flight with Lufthansa.
What I did was, I put all the tools in a separate ordinary luggage ,
and told the security officer what it had contained, and told them
that I could leave the luggage open without a lock, but they said it
was not necessary because they had keys to open all types of
luggage’s, and after it went through the X-Ray machine, they said
that every thing was OK., and I received my luggage, without any
loss, in Turkey. Just for we landed and took off at two
airports one in Chicago, and the other in Frankfurt.
Just thought I have an obligation to share my experience with my
colleagues in case some of you members may want to travel abroad with
your tools in the future.