M.A.I.L. :: View topic

JoeyG · Posted on Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:41 am

Hi folks! I could use a little help/advice from those traveling maillers among us.

Next week, I am flying from lovely California, USA to equally lovely Ontario, Canada. Very Happy

I'll be there for two weeks visiting someone, so I want to bring my maille supplies along; this is the kind of visit where there will be a lot of downtime, where I will desperately desire pliers and pieces to work on. However, bringing my supplies has raised quite a few questions for me.

I know that any finished pieces (jewelry in particular) will get through airport security, but I'm concerned about all of my tools and loose rings that I'll want to put in my checked luggage. Has anyone ever had problems with loose supplies in their luggage? I imagine that even if they're confused by a huge pile of steel, it should be pretty obvious that it's not explosive. Then again, who knows what they'll think.

An additional question: has anyone managed to take any mailling supplies with them onto a plane? I know that they'd take my pliers in a heartbeat if I tried to put them in my carry-on, but I wanted to bring some of my more delicate/expensive rings with me. I worry about freaking out security though, even with just a couple ounces of rings.

Final question: has anyone ever had trouble crossing the US/Canada border with your supplies? I'm not bringing maille to sell, just to work on, but customs gets finicky (I had a friend get her peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich taken away because of "potentially dangerous/infectious produce content") so as a result I'm concerned they'll try to make me declare my supplies. I do not want to do that, because then they may try to tax me on it Sad

Whether you were flying or driving, I'd love to know how it went.

Thanks again for the help! Smile

Armandur

The one and only time I flew with my maille supplies was quite disastrous. It was a domestic flight in Sweden from Sundsvall via Stockholm, Bromma to Malm�.

I was on my way to a scouting conference in Malm�, and decided to bring my Maille stuff along.

I packed my standard scouting kit in my newly purchased Fj�llr�ven Kajka 80L Hiking backpack and got to the airport. I had all the mailleing supplies in the checked luggage.

When I arrive at Malm� Airport, I discover, to my dismay, that my backpack is not on the luggage band. I report this to the girl at the baggage claims and get a case number for my bag. Since we where on a quite pressed schedule to get to the meeting I need to leave right away.

As the weekend continues I exchange quite a lot of calls with the airport, but they can't find my backpack.

As the days continue after the meeting, the luggage id is entered into the World Trace system to search for it at all the airports in the world, but the search period comes to an end and they still haven't found my backpack.

As it happened, I prepared a meticulous packing list for the event, which did come in handy when I had to file a form where I listed all the things in my bag, along with the receipts (Always keep the receipts, otherwise the company gives you waaay less than what your stuff is worth).

The scouting stuff and the mailleing things I had in the backpack were quite valuable. The backpack cost almost 3000 SEK (~450 USD). Along with the clothes, shoes, travel towels, sleeping pad and sleeping bag and the mailleing stuff I valued the contents to about 13000 to 14000 SEK.

I filed the application for just above 13000 SEK and I received about 11000 from the airline company.

The 2000 SEK I didn't get compensated was the titanium maille rings, silver findings and tools I had with me. In the agreement I accepted when I checked the luggage, I agreed that the airline company would not take responsibility for any expensive electronics (Computers, mobile phones etc.) or anything made out of any precious metals.

It was quite ironic that I lost the mailleing things, since I put it in my checked luggage due to my fear that they would be taken from me at the security checkpoint Sad

This happened in febuary this year, and I still haven't gotten my backpack back, though I have bought a new one, albeit of the 100L variant.

I still don't know what happened to it, but one possibility might be that they sent the backpack out on the luggage band in Stockholm, Bromma by accident, instead of sending it along to Malm�, and that someone (who knew the worth of a Fj�llr�ven backpack) took it once it was the only bag left on the band.

Well that's my (horror)story, but I hope you will have better luck flying with your things in the future. I will try to avoid flying with mailleing and scouting things from now on, and take the train instead.

Gallery Assistant · Posted on Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:28 pm

As far as flying and putting your supplies in your checked luggage I have never had a problem. Granted TSA has always put a little note in there saying that they opened my bag, but they never confiscated any of my rings or pliers.

As far as going across the border I don't know all of my flying was within the US.

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MailleCode V2.0 T5.3 R4.4 E0.0 Feur MFe.sBr Wg Cwb G.7-5.1 I3.1-11 N20.5 Pj Dcdjt Xa1w2 S08

Ramtide · Joined: April 2, 2012 Posts: 58 Submissions: 2 Location: CA

My suggestion is call customs and ask them ahead of time whether or not they're going to tax you or not.

Also I'd consider calling the airport you're departing from and ask them about their restrictions on tools and metal. Of course if the others got theirs through you should be okay. Just follow the rules and the gubbamint should. Leave you alone. Unless someone is having a power trip that day.

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Gallery Admin · Posted on Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:19 pm

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

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JoeyG · Posted on Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:21 pm

Thanks for the stories/advice everybody! MusicMan, that's what I figured would happen to my bag, but it's good to know that yours went through.

Lorraine, I have looked at that page a thousand times Smile

but I asked because there is no replacing experience for me when it comes to traveling. I've had too many other things go wrong on trips to not at least ask everyone what their experience has been like.

Thanks again, ya'll.

Mouth · Posted on Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:27 pm

i flew out of houston last year.. i had cut rings beforehand.. i went through the security checkpoint with 2 pair of cheap pliers and my rings.. and about six 8" lengths of chain to wrap my steering wheel with when i got home.. i broke it up in fear they would take the maille for it being a weapon..

so, after i got through, i set to assembling the chain.. i had a pretty hefty weapon before i boarded the plane.

i don't suggest you do this, but i was a little curious if they would say anything. no one did. i just smiled and nodded at everyone as they passed by. maybe they were too busy wondering why a guy was wearing a skirt in the airport to wonder why i had a 4 foot long hefty chain.

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Vashalla · Posted on Mon Aug 20, 2012 3:31 pm

I've flown with chainmail supplies in my checked luggage from Texas to Oregon and didn't have a problem, but I can see how an international flight would be a bit different. I was talking to a co-worker about this today, and she mentioned that it might be a good idea to bring a padded envelope with your address and some postage already on it for the supplies you're carrying onto the plane with you. If they do have a problem with you bringing these items on, you can put them into the padded envelope and mail them back to yourself instead of airport security confiscating them from you. At least that way, you won't lose the supplies altogether.

I'll be flying this friday to California with some of my supplies as a carry-on, so I'll let you know what that experience is like with TSA when I return on Sunday. Fingers crossed!

Gallery Assistant · Posted on Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:31 pm

I fly with my pliers and rings probably somewhere between 2 and 5 times per year. I've never had a trouble with the tools or rings yet...though when I was hauling my sculpture in progress to Atlanta for DragonCon last year, TSA ran it through the xray three times. I was saying, "No, really, you can just open the bag and look at it. I don't mind." After the third time, they just gave me the bag. Razz

Gallery Assistant · Posted on Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:33 pm

Oh, and by the way, why are you thinking they'll take your pliers in a heartbeat. Are they over 7"? If they're under 7" in length, TSA shouldn't bat an eyelash. They never have at mine.

Gallery Assistant · Posted on Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:35 pm

Knittingmetal · Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:52 pm

Ifly a lot with my pliers (under 7") and a supply of rings. I always keep my rings organized and have a few samples next to them. If questioned I show them the samples, remind them the pliers are under 7" and have no cutters. Ionly fly with a pair of bent nose and flat nose so they don't even look remotely dangerous.

Getting them through US security has never been a problem, but I once flew through Germany and I had to go through another security checkpoint (even though I was just flying through). Needles�to say they don't allow any tools on planes so I lost my pliers then.

I always make sure to have a sample case, because I make a few simple pieces on the plane (when I'm not bouncing) and it generates sales on the plane. People love buying something on a whim and I always make sure not to listen to music to make myself more approachable. It's always easy to spot the people watching you and you can strike up a ocnversation and mention you have samples!

Summary: domestic fine, abroad unknown.

-Ben

CraftyCanadian · Posted on Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:57 pm