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hauling tools to demos

john lucas

john lucas

AAW Forum Expert
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Up until recently I've been able to drive to virtually all of my demos. I've now reached the point where flying will be necessary. How do you all get your tools there. I put them in checked baggage last time and they lost my luggage. Fortunately I got it back in a few days but this would have really sucked if they were truly lost or it happened on the way there instead of the the trip back.
Clay Foster mentioned shipping by UPS. I'm guessing you have to try and calculate how long that takes to be sure they will get there. Then of course you may need extra tools since you will be without these for 3 to 5 days prior to the event.
So I want to see what others do, especially those who do this a lot. I do tend to be tool intensive in my demos and I'm going to try and figure out how to reduce that.
 
don't forget my wire burning tools that look like a Garrote. I also had one of the CA glue nozzle cleaners that I removed from my tool box. To an Xray scanner it looks just like a Cherry bomb. 🙂
 
Only pack what you really need. I won't take roughing gouges, parting tools, etc...

I also tend to scrounge the locals to bring things like MAPP torches and anvils...

Only things that pack are things I cannot find elsewhere.
 
where flying will be necessary
Click to expand...
Bet your arms will be tired!😱
There are padded cases for carrying various things. Check with a sporting goods store like Academy or Dick's. Look in the firearms section.
 
Too bad that you did not think to raise that question with Richard Raffin at the DWR. He has been hauling tools all over the world for a quarter century or so. I do remember that a few demonstrators have mentioned that they mostly carry unhandled tools and a single twist-lock handle.

Dennis
 
I am slowly changing my travel tools over to handles that come off but there are so many different shapes of tangs they won't fit in one handle. I'm thinking about going with the PVC handles with aluminum inserts like Mark StLeger does. That at least keeps the weight down.
 
john lucas said:
I am slowly changing my travel tools over to handles that come off but there are so many different shapes of tangs they won't fit in one handle. I'm thinking about going with the PVC handles with aluminum inserts like Mark StLeger does. That at least keeps the weight down.
Click to expand...

John......

I'll bet you could still get by with a single handle that fit the largest tang by making up some adaptors for the smaller diameter tangs.......or, you might be able to insert the smaller tangs into semi-permanent sleeves, so all the tools would be quick change for a single handle.

Bets are that Richard Raffan has a complete set of "travel tools" that he uses.......you might want to consider that, too!

On a side note, UPS and USPS have overnight and three day delivery options.......if you decided not to trust airport baggage handlers. If I'm not mistaken, extra insurance is available for airline baggage......you would be sure to get special attention to your tools, if extra insurance was purchased.

good luck

ooc
 
John,
I fly to demos about once a year. I use an old pelican case 12x12x34 that I lock with tsa locks and has wheels.
I use the check baggage.

I have been visited in Md. and Fl by a couple dozen turners in this century.
One shipped their tools through fed ex. A the others used checked baggage.

One shipped a box of roughed bowls by postal service.

The only problem I can remember is returning the tools by fed ex. They were about a week late arriving.

Hope that helps,
Al
 
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