air travel with tools

[vavet]

I had to travel to a customer site a few weeks ago and decided it was better to take my own tools with me. I've done this in the past, but I had enough time to ship them UPS ahead of time. This time was a little tighter and it would've cost me a LOT to send them UPS.

So I packed the RIDGID bag my cordless set came with. It got the circular saw, impact driver, drill, two battery chargers, various hand tools, and my favorite folding utility/pocket knife. I checked it as baggage for $25. I weighed it before leaving work to make sure I was OK - 35lbs. Well under the airlines 50lb max for normal bags. I wrapped each of the items in a bubble wrap "bag" so they'd be protected for each other and from rough handling. I didn't figure TSA would like the blade (in either my utility knife or my circular saw) too much. Not having the bag to carry through the airports during connections was nice too.

Airlines require the Li-ion batteries to be in your carry-on baggage and have limits on the number (two) and capacity, but the large 4.0ah batteries are within the limit. I carried both of those on board. TSA didn't bat an eye at them.

Everything made it there and back with no issues.

 

[Musicinabottle]

I did it once back in 1994 I believe it was. No issues.

 

[Toothaker]

I regularly travel with tools. Just check your your baggage. I always research the weight and baggage dimensions to make sure it all fits within the airlines' guidelines. Tools and the third set of clothes get checked - my carry on bag has the laptop and one change of clothes and whatever I need for one night.

 

[Fbmoose48]

Tools that go to mines, oil fields, and remediation sites tend to give the TSA's security theater fits, checked or carried. I've had tools carry traces of everything from ammonia to pcbs to hex chrome. They've gone so far as to pull me off a flight and hold it at the gate while I'm questioned. FedEx asks no questions other than the destination and declared value. Unless there's an emergency that precludes priority overnight shipping I always use FedEx. Meanwhile in up to 95% of attempts during various internal tests in 2017 federal agents succeeded in getting explosive materials, fake weapons, or drugs pass through TSA screening undetected.

https://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2017/07/03/tsa-fails-tests-95-percent/

 

[phildb4]

Ah..the good old days....back in the mid 90's, my brother and I, along with 2 friends went to Italy to participate in the Mille Miglia. We boarded an Alitalia flight at JFK airport, with 4 duffel bags filled with enough tools to deconstruct the entire plane. The crew was curious as to their contents (torches, drills, blades, wrenches, etc.etc)......after we explained that we were participating in the race, they greeted us with open arms, and treated us like royalty. 20 Years later, I tried to board a domestic flight with a fingernail clipper with 1" blade, and they made me toss it away. Wow...how times have changed

 

[PhysicsDude]

I fly with tools all the time. I have a Husky roller bag that's probably been on 100+ plane rides and 25+ states.

I just throw whatever tools I need in it and make sure its under 50lbs, I usually keep the bag right at 49lbs. Saw blades, knives, drill bits, hole saws etc, they're all OK. I usually have 2 or 3 3AH Makita batteries and a few cordless tools in there, never a problem. Only once did it look like TSA opened up the bag and I don't think they even sifted through it much.

If I don't need many tools I stick some in my carry-on backpack. You can carry most tools that aren't knife-like as long as they're under 7". I regularly carry on a Klein 11-in-1 but deconstruct it so that its shorter than 7" and TSA has never had a problem with it.

I don't bother with bubble wrap or anything. I don't think TSA or the plane ride are any worse than carrying and using the tools through a construction site.

Nowadays I carry a hard roller tool box. I put a ratchet strap around it to make sure everything stays closed. Never a problem as long as its under 50lbs.

 

[dwasifar]

I almost lost a nice Makita corded drill to an overzealous TSA agent once. I had it in carry-on, and while it was deemed okay at the security checkpoint for the first leg of the flight, I had trouble when I got pulled aside for gate screening at my connecting flight. The screening agent said it was contraband, and how did I get it into the airport?

I explained that it was passed by security at the first airport, and pointed out that I was kind of stuck if I couldn't continue flying with it. The agent's supervisor was more sympathetic. He said, "I'll let you on with it this once, but don't let me see you in my airport with it again." I think I was obliged to gate-check my carry-on, if memory serves. I've never tried to bring tools in my carry-on again. Don't need the risk.

 

[Dave455]

I work in the aviation industry, and while I don’t need to travel with many tools myself, I work with a lot of guys who do.

The secret with packing tools, like anything else, is to go through every item and keep the weight to the minimum.

So, screwdrivers get replaced by one or two (long and short) bit drivers with a comprehensive selection of bits. Pliers maybe just small combination and long nose. Hex keys get replaced by 1/4 inch hex bits and so on. For sockets, 1/4 drive is your best friend here, especially on aircraft where not many fasteners are bigger than 1/2 inch. If you need 3/8 drive, a lot of guys seem to take one of those long locking flex head ratchets, which they use for everything!

With care, you can get a lot of capability into a small package! There was a thread on small tool boxes or somesuch a while back that showed some good ideas!

 

[nadogail]

I once carried a Buck knife, the folding hunter model. I was in uniform and explained that as a professional sailor, a good knife is a tool.

They produced a box and I had to check the knife, rather than carry it.

That was in the middle’70s

I am retired now and don’t carry a good knife like that.

 

[dnschmidt]

Depends if it's business or pleasure. If it's business send them FedEx to whatever hotel you're staying at (I always preferred Hyatt (Austin) and Marriott (San Jose) and simply charged it to my expense account. I never had that questioned. That's what I did. Personal keep it small and simple.

 

[CGarage]

Make sure to ask for a manager at the front desk of your hotel (by calling in advance and getting a name) and label the package with their name if you have to ship it. Your name and “c/o” (care of). That way, less chance of it growing legs and walking off.

I flew once with tools and told TSA in advance and they were appreciative of that. Apparently there is a length requirement for some screwdrivers etc but they looked at my small bit ratchet set from Facom and let me pass after a quick glance.

 

[dstblj52]

Make sure to ask for a manager at the front desk of your hotel (by calling in advance and getting a name) and label the package with their name if you have to ship it. Your name and “c/o” (care of). That way, less chance of it growing legs and walking off.

I flew once with tools and told TSA in advance and they were appreciative of that. Apparently there is a length requirement for some screwdrivers etc but they looked at my small bit ratchet set from Facom and let me pass after a quick glance.

For corporate stuff we get a lot of stuff shipped to the hotel often with just the managers name, company name, and the rooms which was great because house keeping would bring them up for us most of the time.

 

[CGarage]

For corporate stuff we get a lot of stuff shipped to the hotel often with just the managers name, company name, and the rooms which was great because house keeping would bring them up for us most of the time.

You should have packages stay at the front desk and you should go and sign for it. So much safer. Some of the house keepers can be brain donors. Last thing you need is them “leaving it by the door”, or another guest grabbing it. Happens all the time, especially in 5 star hotels. Not kidding.

 

[jmarkwolf]

In the late 90's I used to travel for work with my Jensen toolbox (see below), which was a jumbo heavy army green military looking suitcase style. I always imagined it resembled a "suitcase nuke" and imagined it would get opened and investigated after checking it at the airport. I kept a small padlock on it to dissuade thievery. But nobody ever gave it a second look apparently.

Of course, it was pre 911.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

I travel a lot for work. Sometimes i feel I spend more time in airports than at home. My “tools” are high end camera equipment. On some jobs the amount of gear I need to bring can be the equivalent worth of buying a very nice Italian sports car. So good protection for it is key. I used to use pelican cases but on a job in Switzerland 10 years ago I had one of the cases come apart on me My client introduced me to Zarages cases
I bought this case 10 years ago on that trip. Since then it’s seen over 500,000 air miles and has been around the world more times than I can count. It’s still going strong with no issues. The advantage of these cases is they weigh way less than their pelican equivalent and have way more useable volume than pelican and other roto molded cases. Since I’m always right at my 70lb weight allowance per bag saving a few pounds of weight on the case is a big deal.

The case has a built in extendable handle and wheels, but I also have a set of larger 4” diameter ones they make for it tgat I can click on traveling to and from the baggage counters

I am a big fan of using Kaizen foam for the interior. It’s easier to custom cut and holds up way better than the pick and pluck ****.

Finally, I attach Apple AirTags to the cases. That way I always know exactly where each case is EnRoute. It’s more reliable than using United’s bag tracking app.

 

[slodat]

I just returned from Okinawa with one of my Storm cases. I have always liked Storm better than Pelican. The latches are far superior, as are the roller handles, etc. I've had this case for about 15 years. It has 250,000+ miles on it. After all the use it finally had a failure. The wheels just fell apart. I'm pretty happy with that service life. I'll replace the wheels and I'm sure it will be good for at least as many more. @Grant Gunderson those are some nice cases. I'm management now and usually my tools go with me to augment what my team has. If I were still working in the tools, I would be buying one!

For the inside, I use small bags and pouches to hold everything. This does a few things - helps with organization, keeps things contained and not rolling around, and it really works well for padding.