I might have to fly to Oklahoma in the near future to do some work. The only tools available would be the ones I take with me. Does anyone know if the airlines will let you take tools? (circ saw, drills, bits, hammer, etc)
jt8
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I've flown in the past with drills, saws, etc that I've purchased while traveling. I've always just checked them and never had a problem.
They will not let you carry them on the plane though.
There are also rules as to how heavy your baggage is allowed to be. Past a certain weight and there will be an additional charge. If I recall correctly, it is usually around 50lbs.
You might consider checking into what it would cost to ship them as well as finding out the rules the particular airline you are flying has.
Thanks for the reply. I'll probably take AA out there, so I suppose I just need to give them a call. I just wanted to be sure they didn't think I was a terrorist or anything if I showed up with a Sawzall and a crate full of tools.
Unfortunately, shipping them out there isn't really an option in this case. This is not a paying job. My Dad had passed away last month, and it is his place I'm going to do some work on so that we can get it ready to sell. If I send something to his address, it will just get fwd back to me. And he had only been out there a short while, so I really don't know any of his neighbors well enough. ha ha, plus I might suffer withdraw if I have to go without my tools for the 2 or 3 days it would take to ship them ;)
jt8
Since you can't ship them ahead. . .
At some airports you can lock your bag if you're willing to wait until after it goes through the security screening. Other places don't give you that option and will just cut off the lock. A call to the AA desk at your local airport will let you know what options you have there.
Leigh
shipping them out there isn't really an option in this case
Don't count the preshipping option out. If there's a UPS place in town, you just ship to yourself care of the UPS office and mark the box for hold at the office for pickup. UPS is only going to be around $20 for under 20# of stuff. You just need to figure the lead time right.
Alternately, Greyhound will ship anywhere there's a station. They won't necessarily guarantee a shipping time, but they're pretty good about following instruction on the packages (like "hold at station for pickup, ID required"). Last time I used GH it was under $20 to send a 2x3x2 box full of random, some heavy, objects (estate stuff). Put it on the Bus on Saturday, and it beat me home on Sunday.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
The last time I flew with tools I had a scope under one arm and a small box with all kinds of electronic tools under the other one along with a shaving kit and all carried on.
Of course that was before 9-11.
I would probably box them up and sent them UPS or Fedex. I know a lot of people do that now days. And you can't lot the bags.
just call the airlines ...
different airlines have different rules ...
and this was info from before 9-11 .. so I'm sure it's even more screwed up ...
shipping company might be the best bet.
U going somewhere popular? Call a local moving company and see if the tools can hitch a ride.
Jeff
Buck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
When I was a union carpy I was flying around the country doing punch-out for a company out of Sacremento.The airlines allow you so many check-ins then you have to pay a premium for each additional or for going over the weight limit.
Rubber-made makes some nice little containers that fly well. The "action packer" measures 26x18x17. They're strong and have a place for padlocks. These days they frown on locking your containers though.
I built wheels into one of them then stack the rest.
I had been thinking of a R-M container, but just figured to duct tape it closed (won't that look classy!). Lockable R-M sounds a lot better. I guess I can take along an extra lock if they cut off the first one to inspect, but hopefully inspecting it at check-in would suffice for a domestic flight.
The "action packer" measures 26x18x17
I'll have to run by Wally World and see if they carry it. The wheels sounds like a good idea too.
jt8
If they go as baggage there shouldn't be a problem but there are rules which could disqualify some things -- the fuel cell for a Paslode or cartridges for a Ramset fixing tool are a couple of examples that come to mind.
You can't pre-send some of the heaviest via UPS so they're there when you arrive?
IanDG
Build a sturdy wooden box, insure and ship by rail.
You can take the tools, but they will have to be checked, and you are limited to how many checked bags you can take with you, as well as their weight. With the rising fuel costs, thought, airlines are cracking down on this. Used to be you could have heavier bags and more of them, but just pay extra for the privilege. Several airlines just don't allow that anymore.
Our techs travel with bags of tools all the time, checked, in hardsided luggage--and I do recommend hardsided for your tools.
Of course, these days, you can't lock your bags the way you used to, so there is a risk of theft.
If you can, I'd recommend shipping them UPS or otherwise ahead of time, especially if you're going to be in Oklahoma for awhile.
Leigh
I did this a while back last year, heading out to Abilene Tx to remodel my brother's house. Apart from meeting "Wrecked Angle" personally, he loaned me his chop saw and compressor. I just went on line and asked what people were doing when they had to travel. I was ready to rent some tools locally, but Kevin bailed me out. I shipped out my nailers/ guns, etc. via FEDEX ground and it cost about $150.00. It wasn't cheap, but timing was everything. I would go UPS ground next time if I had more time. It worked fine, and every thing got back terrific. Maybe there is someone there local who can help! I doubt if they're as nice as Kevin and his family!!
Big Bob
Note that you can carry on "instruments" like stud-finders, levels, and ee testers as opposed to "tools" which have to be checked
In general, yes, but keep in mind that it also depends on the individual inspectors at each airport. What may make it though at one may not at another. (Learned the hard way.)
Leigh
true - and remember that if they don't allow it onboard, you always have a right to mail the item to yourself, all airports are supposed to have a system in place where you fill out an address card, drop payment and item in a baggie; I had to have a drill bit I forgot shipped to me that way once in RDU (and I did receive it)-
Good thing to remember, and not something they necessarily tell you.
I watched a young guy nearly in tears because they'd taken the pen knife his grandfather gave him. The TSA guy didn't say anythin, so I finally piped up and told him he could mail it to himself. He was running late for his flight and didn't have time and I had plenty, so I got his address and sent it to him.
At our airport, it's done by the visitor's information center (small items for free, or used to be a few months ago).
Leigh
Yep, it's always seemed to me that you should be able to buy a mailing envelope from them, but it wasn't offered when my wife had to surrender her pair of folding embroidery scissors that she'd forgotten about in her purse a few weeks ago.
It also seems like the same approach should be used at security events. A guy I know (of the opposite political persuasion) couldn't get in to see GW recently because he didn't want to give up a money clip that has a small (probably 1") knife blade included.
Yeah, I've been wondering about a similar issue. I generally go on some sort of church-related trip each winter to somewhere to do church construction, disaster recovery, etc. In the past I've checked my tools through in large (and heavy) suitcases, but I'm guessing that this will be harder to do in the future. (Last couple of trips were by car, so haven't faced the problem since 9/11.)
I'm thinking that pre-shipping would be the way to go, but I need a decent shipping container -- one that's secure, not too heavy, and which is likely to survive the round trip reasonably well. A plastic storage tub isn't very secure, wood crate is questionable in terms of weight and durability, and the metal cases I've seen are likely too heavy (and expensive).
Anyone got any ideas? I typically travel with circ saw, a couple of drills (and 3 lb of bits), RotoZip, several hammers, squares, screwdrivers, pliers, etc, and about 30 lb of fasteners (since they're often the limiting factor in a project). Total probably adds up to 80 pounds or so, probably best divided into two or three separate cases.
http://www.metrocases.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MC&Product_Code=2SKB-R4913&Category_Code=SKB-Golf
For $90 you can stuff a heck of a lot in one of these. Also, much better than a rifle case that screams "Steal Me!!" when shipping long guns.Formerly just 'Don' but not the 'Glassmaster Don' or the lower-case 'don'.
I loved the story (with photos) from several years ago in Fine Homebuilding about the tradesman in New York City who was always told to go around to the service elevator. Just a handy man with a few hand tools.
He got an old guitar case and custom-fitted it to his tools. Now he was an ARTIST, and could use the main elevator.
Pretty cool !
Greg
Hi
There are specific regulations governing shipping dangerous goods by air-(Transportation of Dangerous Goods) TDG. These are published every year by IATA. (International Air Transport Association). Almost all airlines go by their regulations. You really do not want to fly on one that doesn't. Also each airline can have their own exceptions to the regs that they will apply. The things that I can think of are pressurized cylinders, batteries, gas powered tools, powder actuated devices, paints /finishes with a flash point. If in doubt call your airline. We used to ship a lot by F*d-Ex because they are cargo only aircraft and the regulations permit greater quantities of D.G. There is a very specific code and procedure to be followed so don't get to the airport and find out then that your goods are going to be refused. Specification packaging, labelling and declaration are the domain of a trained individual.
Mac
For the ultimate in secure cases its Pelican camera cases (all sizes).
http://www.pelican.com/cases/cases.htmlYou get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
Unfortunately a little pricy for me.
Does anyone know if the airlines will let you take tools? "
John,
I fly a lot so this is my general experience. You are allowed two 50lbs checked bags for "free" everything after that will cost you. You can put anything in them as long as it isn't hazardous in a chemical sort of way (pretty sure you can pack ammo though). You can take one carry-on bag plus a purse or computer.
Jon
I buy cheap coolers for shipping crates...and, you can fill them up with beer on the flip trip<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!
I fly a lot so this is my general experience. You are allowed two 50lbs checked bags for "free" everything after that will cost you.
Two 50lbs bag would take care of it. I am hoping to get the stuff done in a long weekend, so I can probably get my clothes crammed into a carry on bag. ha ha, hate to be the person sitting next to me on the return flight if I run out of clean clothes!
jt8
Check the small ones. And rent the rest.
Who Dares Wins.
Check the bus-lines they may want that business!
Scribe once, cut once!
Just a thought, but where are you flying to? One of us may be close to there, or may know someone who is that might be able to hook you up with a lot of the things you would want, saving you some money and hassle.
Jim
If I fly AA, I will fly into Oklahoma City, but Tulsa would be closer. The place I'm heading is around Eufaula, so from OC I'd probably be looking at a couple hours drive. I'll check SWA and a couple others today or tomorrow.
This whole situation is annoying. The repairs aren't tough, and I've done this type of work before, but for me to make the trip out there and fix it myself, it will end up costing as much or more than having someone local come in and fix it. So we had been contacting various local places to do the work. They all say , "no problem we can do it" and then promptly drop off the face of the earth.
When we'd been down there in early August cleaning out the house, we had noticed that the pace seems to be a bit more relaxed around there. And the banker (who herself was from CA originally) even commented that when she was having her deck built and some vinyl put in, the workers tended to work 1 or 2 days and then take the rest of the week off (wish I could afford to work like that!)
After 7 weeks of this, I'm at the point of, "screw it, I'll make the trip out there and do it myself." We can't sell the house until the repairs are made, and it is costing us $$ sitting there. For stuff I know how to do, I usually like to do it myself so that I know what quality the work is. (Not that I'm a great craftsman, I'm not, but at least I'll know its solid).
Frankly I would RATHER not have to make the trip, but if I don't have someone lined to fix it in the very near future I'm just going to do it myself. It isn't worth all the hassle for something that is only going to break even once it sells.
Based on all the helpful replies in this thread (and I do want to thank you all for the suggestions), it sounds like I should be able to transport all the tools I need, so that is one less obstacle if I end up having to fly out there. However, if there's any Breaktimers out there who know someone who does good work in the Eufaula, OK area, I'd be willing to give them a call. But I have to admit I'm near the end of my patience for Mickey Mousing around with people who say they will do a job and then vanish. I don't mind if they tell me they're busy and can't get to it. And I don't mind if they just tell me they don't want the job.... but the vanishing routine doesn't fly with me. I treat people I hire, or subs with respect and expect the same in return.
OK, I'm done venting for now ;)
jt8
If I remember from the start of the thread that you are in Chicago area.
If you need to drive a couple of hours after you arive have you weight the difference of just driving down.
Then you can carry eveything that you want and not have the hassles.
But you probably have 3-4 house into just getting to the airport, checked in and waiting for the lugage at the other end and driving out.
If you need to drive a couple of hours after you arive have you weight the difference of just driving down.
Might be a good call, that. If he takes 69 south he gets to pass Bug Tussle, if nothing else. Mapquest reports Chicago to Eufaula as 773 miles over 12 hours. Tulsa is 83 miles/1:27 to Eufaula, Mapquest reports. That's two hours flight time, plus check in/out, and a car rental plus another 90 something minutes driving.
AA has a flight from O'Hare to Tulsa, and also Midway to Tulsa (neither of which is American Eagle, which surprises me).Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)