Airplane Travel Toolbox

[ladams17]

I've been a service tech for an automation company for the past year but haven't had to do much flying with my tools. I have some upcoming jobs that I am going to have to fly with my tools. What are the best options for toolboxs/ toolbags to fly with?

I have looked at the pelican 0450 which is clearly on the high end...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OEJN5QY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have read on here that some guys suggest shipping your tools to the location which might possibly be an option but if it isn't then I'd like to have the best alternative..

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Jbullfrog]

ship them, It's a pain to check a tool bag and hope the airport minions don't dump it across the tarmac.

 

[FSUwelder1212]

I worked for an integrator for a while and everyone used Chicago case, but like someone said, ship your tools ahead it's way better than dealing with them at the airport. I would ship some and then I had a pelican 1520t with snap on electro set pallets to take on the plane with basic tools just in case.

 

[Cato]

ship them, It's a pain to check a tool bag and hope the airport minions don't dump it across the tarmac.

Dude, it's just a matter of time before the airlines "lose his luggage." Once the minimum wage luggage handlers suspect there are a few thousand dollars in tools inside that $700 portable tool box, it's going lost.

 

[ladams17]

I appreciate the input so far, I'm going to try my best to arranging shipping my tools out to the job.

Also look into the Chicago case.

 

[Wanna Ride]

How much stuff do you really have to have onsite? Pelican makes some nice cases for much less.

 

[RPH]

Global travel as service engineer. Go light, take the bare minimums. My meter, electrical screwdrivers, hex keys, small combo wrenches, wire stripper, crimper, tape measure, and channelocks. Anything big the plant will usually help you with so long as you work with them. It's important to get your customer on your side. Makes life a lot easier in our world.

 

[ladams17]

How much stuff do you really have to have onsite? Pelican makes some nice cases for much less.

I tend to come prepared for anything, which includes bringing tools for tight areas (i.e. Stubby options) and even though most product is metric I come across SAE hardware.

Things like electric impacts, dowel puller, calipers, vacuum tester, locktite take up quite a bit more room then your average bag of tools.

 

[ladams17]

Global travel as service engineer. Go light, take the bare minimums. My meter, electrical screwdrivers, hex keys, small combo wrenches, wire stripper, crimper, tape measure, and channelocks. Anything big the plant will usually help you with so long as you work with them. It's important to get your customer on your side. Makes life a lot easier in our world.

Yeah I definitely make friends quick in the plants. You almost have to in order to get fasteners, stuff welded, and or speciality things done. Unfortunately this is a contracted job at a plant that is more designed for disribution and not manufacturing so extras are limited.

 

[Brownsfan]

I used on similar to what was described above. EVERY TIME I traveled with them and checked them I got the TSA love note. You know the one that says your luggage was randomly picked. For being random it was every single time. They would always mess them all up and a few times didn't close it right tools , meter leads smashed and sticking out. I too started shipping them.

 

[FSUwelder1212]

I used on similar to what was described above. EVERY TIME I traveled with them and checked them I got the TSA love note. You know the one that says your luggage was randomly picked. For being random it was every single time. They would always mess them all up and a few times didn't close it right tools , meter leads smashed and sticking out. I too started shipping them.

You can avoid this by requesting TSA inspection when you check your bags. You can get it inspected then re-pack it yourself and they will tag it. It's a hassle but worth it. I believe if you do this you can also use normal (non TSA) locks, but don't quote me on that I'm not 100% sure about that.

 

[FSUwelder1212]

How much stuff do you really have to have onsite? Pelican makes some nice cases for much less.

Not sure what OP services or the industry he's serving but you want anything and everything you might need if you service automotive. The customer is none too thrilled if you wander off looking for a 10mm wrench after they've burned through all their safety stock and are getting fined $10k a minute by the OEM. Also you need both standard and metric tools because some companies standardize on SAE and some on Metric.


To the OP, I forgot to mention Platt case makes some nice stuff too and are worth looking into. I think they actually rebrand the pelican 1520T that I have. CH Ellis might be worth looking into as well. But when I was in the business Chicago case was by far the most popular.

 

[Wanna Ride]

Not sure what OP services or the industry he's serving but you want anything and everything you might need if you service automotive. The customer is none too thrilled if you wander off looking for a 10mm wrench after they've burned through all their safety stock and are getting fined $10k a minute by the OEM. Also you need both standard and metric tools because some companies standardize on SAE and some on Metric.


To the OP, I forgot to mention Platt case makes some nice stuff too and are worth looking into. I think they actually rebrand the pelican 1520T that I have. CH Ellis might be worth looking into as well. But when I was in the business Chicago case was by far the most popular.

I was asking the OP, not you.

 

[ladams17]

Not sure what OP services or the industry he's serving but you want anything and everything you might need if you service automotive. The customer is none too thrilled if you wander off looking for a 10mm wrench after they've burned through all their safety stock and are getting fined $10k a minute by the OEM. Also you need both standard and metric tools because some companies standardize on SAE and some on Metric.


To the OP, I forgot to mention Platt case makes some nice stuff too and are worth looking into. I think they actually rebrand the pelican 1520T that I have. CH Ellis might be worth looking into as well. But when I was in the business Chicago case was by far the most popular.

I was asking the OP, not you.

Actually FSUwelder1212 is right, I do work in the industry were each minute of downtime cost close to 10k and you can't afford to be looking for tools or trying to barrow someone else's tools. I mainly work in the OEM plants and or jobs for major companies under contract when one of the major aspects of the job is the timeline or lack there of.

I've seen a couple Platt and CH Ellis cases I like but I am leaning towards converting a cheaper pelican into something that works for me, instead of speading 650 for one that's small and heavy.

 

[RedneckWelder]

An option might be a milsurp pelican to save some money.

Definitely would get a TSA pre check (just like when flying with a gun) and buy some damn good locks (I.e not the master lock ****). And if you have the time and someone reliable to receive it on the other end, UPS or FEDEX the tools

 

[gte718p]

For the jobs your talking about a $600 dollar pelican case is a good deal. It is the right tool for the job. It's expensive but having a crappy tool it to risky. It could literally cost you and or your company tens of thousands of dollars to get it wrong.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Shipping the tools overnight with FedEx or UPS, the tools would likely arrive before you do.

Besides both companies handle high value items routinely, and they would likely not get "lost". and if they do, they are insured.

 

[WhiffySpark]

For the jobs your talking about a $600 dollar pelican case is a good deal. It is the right tool for the job. It's expensive but having a crappy tool it to risky. It could literally cost you and or your company tens of thousands of dollars

I wonder if he could get the company to pitch in for it? Seems reasonable?

 

[ladams17]

I wonder if he could get the company to pitch in for it? Seems reasonable?

I am the company. Started my own contracting company working on automation tooling about 6 months ago. The only reason I am asking for advice is because I've never need to fly with my tools, always drive.

 

[ladams17]

For the jobs your talking about a $600 dollar pelican case is a good deal. It is the right tool for the job. It's expensive but having a crappy tool it to risky. It could literally cost you and or your company tens of thousands of dollars

Yeah I am thinking about biting the bullet and just getting the nice pelican case that will last a long time, and then also pre checking it with TSA to limit some of the risk.

 

[gte718p]

Shipping the tools overnight with FedEx or UPS, the tools would likely arrive before you do.

Besides both companies handle high value items routinely, and they would likely not get "lost". and if they do, they are insured.

It is expensive, especially for a one man show, but it will get your tools to you on time and safely. The same can't be said for the airlines and the TSA. When the air line loses your tools their "insurance" is a joke. They may give you $100 for them. It is all based on weight and it is a ridiculously low number per lb.

Build and extra $150-$200 into your bid to make sure your tools get there safely.

Even the military does this. Often UPS or FEDEX can get stuff to us faster and cheaper then military airlift.

 

[greyjasper51]

not sure if its going to be large enough for what you want but years ago i used one of these for a pit box

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/rugged-tackle-box-with-cantilever-tray-n81gg

that thing tool some ABUSE!! standing on it, dropped banged about in the truck, at one point i even lifted a go kart on to it and straightened the front end is a hurry when there was a red flag! i still have it at home, its now my electrical box.

don think you have maplin in the states but something like that, surprising what you can fit into it.

ALSO never broke my intercomp tyre pressure gauge and they arent the most robust things...

 

[SteveCh]

I use UPS and ship to someone I know at destination.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

You bring too much stuff to fly ! Haha. Seriously, cut some of the fat. I think you are best off shipping also.

 

[honcho]

Worked on a large project in Alaska a few years back and some of the supporting technicians shipped their tools via fedex. Talking to them they said they had multiple nearly identical tool kits that they could have at different customer sites. They even had kits prepositioned in international locations where customs was a hassle (they specifically mentioned Saudi Arabia). They did mention that they had some very expensive test gear that they would take with them on the plane because it didn't make economic sense to have multiple sets of the expensive equipment.

As for the Pelican 0450. It's a great case but everything just rattles around unless you have the custom foam inserts like the military GMTK set uses. It also weighs a ton when loaded with tools.

Personally, I would try the fedex route and see how that works for you. One less thing to drag to and through the airport could make your travel a lot less of a hassle.

 

[WhiffySpark]

I am the company. Started my own contracting company working on automation tooling about 6 months ago. The only reason I am asking for advice is because I've never need to fly with my tools, always drive.

In that case you can write it off

 

[ruffryder]

The write off comment reminds me of this..

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XEL65gywwHQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[WhiffySpark]

Yeah but a $600 write off its worth it. I hate uncle sam getting my money

 

[Rogue1987]

You can avoid this by requesting TSA inspection when you check your bags. You can get it inspected then re-pack it yourself and they will tag it. It's a hassle but worth it. I believe if you do this you can also use normal (non TSA) locks, but don't quote me on that I'm not 100% sure about that.

Yes you can. Same way as if you were traveling with a firearm. TSA meets you at the ticket counter, inspects the item, and you lock it with your lock, not a TSA lock.

I'm a big fan of pelican boxes (or if you can find one used / feel like spending the money for it a snap on electroset case and pallets). Sometimes you just don't have time to ship tools ahead of time with an emergency call. And I'll also second making friends with whoever is normally on site where you're going - makes life so much better.

Something to add is its always good to have everything insured. Things do get lost. Or destroyed.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[ladams17]

Yes you can. Same way as if you were traveling with a firearm. TSA meets you at the ticket counter, inspects the item, and you lock it with your lock, not a TSA lock.

I'm a big fan of pelican boxes (or if you can find one used / feel like spending the money for it a snap on electroset case and pallets). Sometimes you just don't have time to ship tools ahead of time with an emergency call. And I'll also second making friends with whoever is normally on site where you're going - makes life so much better.

Something to add is its always good to have everything insured. Things do get lost. Or destroyed.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I appreciate the advice on the TSA situation. I fly next week without my tools and I am going to get some details from the agents at the airport ahead of time.

I ended up pulling the trigger on a pelican 0450 without foam, I plan to make my own foam inserts along with strapping mechanisms to hold tools in place.

 

[ladams17]

I appreciate everyone's input so far, I ended up making the decision to go with the Pelican 0450 case! I will post pictures once I get it and get my tools in it.

 

[Brownsfan]

You can avoid this by requesting TSA inspection when you check your bags. You can get it inspected then re-pack it yourself and they will tag it. It's a hassle but worth it. I believe if you do this you can also use normal (non TSA) locks, but don't quote me on that I'm not 100% sure about that.

I just avoid it now by shipping them and driving to as many places as I can. One time I used a bag and they didn't zip it closed all the way and I'm very surprised I didn't lose any tools.