Planes, Ships, Trains & Jewelry Tools

It's a strange, new world since Nine-Eleven, with inconveniences we've learned to expect... on planes. I always travel with "project baggies" -- ziplocks with all the components to make each jewelry creation I envision, PLUS a ton of the jewelry tools allowed by TSA. I've learned the hard way what's allowed. But a recent cruise taught me new lessons about carrying my tools on cruise ships... at least my NCL cruise ship.

Here are some tips I've learned:

ON PLANES:

• Read my detailed post about tools in carry-on. You'll enjoy the surprises!
• It helps to warn the x-ray screener that your carry-on contains tools for your jewelry projects.
• Always keep a printout of the TSA rules in your carry-on, just in case.
• Hammers of any length are not allowed in carry-ons. Pack hammer & oversized tools in your checked bags.

ON CRUISE SHIPS (at least NCL's Spirit):

• Suspicious tools in ALL baggage (checked or carry-on) will be flagged.
• Checked bag: Porters take everyone's checked baggage to a screening area &, if ok, will deliver to your room hours later. If not ok, checked bag will be flagged, & you'll get a notice to wait in a long line to personally go through your bag with a screener. You'll miss a pingpong tournament & welcome-aboard cocktails. My long-handled, round-tipped metal scissors triggered the notice, but were approved when we examined the baggage together.
• Carry-on bag: Examined in your presence & tools discussed immediately when boarding ship. Tools deemed unsafe will be removed, tagged, & returned at end of cruise.
• SUGGESTION: Before boarding ship, re-pack baggage from your plane trip this way==> Put ALL jewelry tools in your carry-on so they can be discussed as you're screened to board the ship. Saves hours of precious fun-time.

ON TRAINS: To be determined:) I hope to make such a trip one day.

By the way, I sold TWO necklaces while creating them in the sunshine on deck, gliding through teal waters of the Caribbean & singing to myself as the band played Marley's "One Love. One World."

Happy travels!

Security Checks & Flying with Jewelry Tools

Have you ever tried to take your jewelry-making tools on a plane trip? Did TSA confiscate any during the carry-on luggage check? I answer YES to both questions for 2 separate trips this year. Here's what I just took to Florida & the Bahamas. Due to my own carelessness, I returned home with 1 less tool, however.

Fortunately TSA allows some tools in carry-ons now. I arrived in Florida with my carry-on inspected & approved. But in my last minute toss-&-zip packing to return home to Seattle, I didn't pay enough attention. Look what I stupidly crammed into the zippered toolkit.

TEST YOURSELF: Do you know which of these items is/are prohibited from carry-ons?

I was so scatter-brained that I even tossed in an unopened tub of hummus for munchies. Honestly, I know better. Plus the tool TSA confiscated was the same kind of tool removed in my February trip! Does that qualify as a "Duh"? Or maybe too much sun really can fry a brain cell???

CHECK YOUR GUESSES on the TSA link or keep reading below. Click here for the current TSA list of items prohibited.

If you think I was lucky to lose only 1 tool, you're right. I should have lost the chasing hammer & mallet instead of just the chasing hammer. I believe all my other items are legal because they qualify in the rules as "Tools" & are =< 7". I even considered sawing short the handles on the hammer & mallet, before noticing that hammers have their own special rules, are not governed by "Tools," & are not allowed in carry-ons. Luckily my pointy scissor blades are < 4" long. I keep a printout of the page of TSA rules in the toolkit just in case. Despite kicking myself for losing another chasing hammer, I really enjoyed the flight home to Seattle, as I managed to make some items inspired by the sunny skies & warm weather of Florida & the Bahamas. The severe thunderstorms that stranded us & thousands of others in Dallas for 6 hrs on 3/18/08 made television news, but just gave me more time to make jewelry. So what's not to like? "Colors Bright" and "Sheba" are 2 of the projects I completed during that very long day. Plus the stewardess really liked Sheba :)
 


I know with absolute certainty that my carry-on with tools will always be flagged for a manual check by TSA & my carelessness will cost me an occasional goodie. Yet I'm hopeful that one day I'll save enough time to THINK while I'm packing! Regardless, the creative possibilities, especially when we're stranded somewhere, are definitely worth the hassle of lugging those tools.

It's nice to be home with my family & 2 little gremlins. To those of you who celebrate this special holiday, HAPPY EASTER :)