Wire Stripper in Check in Baggage  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: RoadRunner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 01:38:40 pm
content: i was just wondering if it is okey to carry a wire stripper like this. in Check in Baggage on a international flight.as per rule i think i am allowed to carry , but should i avoid ?https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B000PAR60C/

author: janekm
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 01:44:09 pm
content: Probably fine as there’s no exposed blade/pointy bit but you can be unlucky, some agencies have a catch-all rule against “tools” they can apply if they don’t like the look of it.I was recently caught by that with my nice screw driver with exchangeable bits (which came with me through literally a dozen security checks before). Fortunately they let me keep the base (and never mind I had lots more of the bits in my bag)The general rule with tools is... if you can’t afford to lose it, it goes in the checked in luggage.And now after writing all that i realised you were taking about checked in luggage to begin with, that’s definitely fine!

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 01:53:34 pm
content: Checked luggage should be fine - and I can't see why there would be an objection for carry-on .... but I'm not a TSA agent.

author: RoadRunner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 01:59:24 pm
content: Quote from: Brumby on November 05, 2017, 01:53:34 pmi am concern about the looks. it look like a gun. i have carried my swiss army knife in check in luggage many times there was no issue but so blade should not be a problem. but shape may be

author: Mjolinor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 02:05:08 pm
content: It will not be a problem as long as it is checked.I don't actualy think there are any rules about carrying guns as long as it is checked. Whether you are doing that legally is not of concern for the flying side of the trip only the authorities either side.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 02:07:08 pm
content: Check in luggage should be fine. Even if you were to have a gun in checked baggage, it wouldn't be a real safety risk. You can't exactly jump into the cargo hold to grab it.For carry-on, things are different. There may be a question, but I'm not a TSA agent...

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 02:31:46 pm
content: It's completely fine. Tools are allowed in check-in baggage unless they contain lithium batteries. You'd be amazed if you had ever seen how my baggage looks under x-ray. In Russian airports all your belongings are also checked under x-ray when you enter airport, so I had a lot of opportunities to hear some funny comments when security guards see it. I always have a lot of tools, wires, gas/water valves, electronic components with me. One time I had disassembled electric motor. Security woman looked on it like if I had a nuclear reactor. Waited like 10 minutes until another security man came and confirmed it's fine. My baggage was also stopped a few times and I needed to come for additional baggage check (with opening) under my supervision.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 05:18:38 pm
content: You folk have it lucky. On a trip to Nigeria I had to bribe customs to get my tools in AND to get them out again after I'd done the job

author: Mjolinor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 05:23:26 pm
content: I had that in Senegal, in and out including demonstration equipment.The advantage was that you got through customs and immigration at light speed.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 05:25:29 pm
content: Quote from: German_EE on November 05, 2017, 05:18:38 pmThat is a different thing, importing the goods. Though paying to get them out of country is really strange. The only time I ever paid a bribe was to Ukrainian customsbefore Ukraine increased import limit. Though, I try to not bring stuff with me which looks expensive. I may have some parts which may cost EUR 5k or even more but you'll never guess that.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 05:38:30 pm
content: Quote from: Mjolinor on November 05, 2017, 02:05:08 pmThere certainly are rules about carrying guns in checked baggage, at least in the US, and I suspect most places that allow guns at all. They must be DECLARED when you check them and must be in a LOCKED secure hard-side case.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 05:43:01 pm
content: Quote from: Nusa on November 05, 2017, 05:38:30 pmYes, you cannot just pot guns into a baggage. You will have some big troubles. And if you do so on international flight, you'll likely end up in jail.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 05:46:52 pm
content: Don't fly into a state that doesn't allow guns (of a certain type) carrying such items. In fact, don't even be on a plane that gets diverted into such a state. Or miss a connecting flight where you have to take possession of your checked luggage.http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/18/traveling-mans-gun-arrest-appealed-supreme-court.htmlMost times it is no big deal but some states are a real problem.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 05:58:47 pm
content: Quote from: RoadRunner on November 05, 2017, 01:38:40 pmYou run a risk both ways. If you carry it with you it might get confiscated at a security check if it breaks any rules. If you check it in it might disappear from your baggage if it looks valuable.Personally, I try to avoid putting anything valuable in my checked baggage. I always try to keep it with me.The rules about carry on items are fairly well documented. As long as your tool is within the rules it should be fine. The rules being, for example, no liquids, no blades, no long pointy bits, etc.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 06:11:16 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on November 05, 2017, 05:58:47 pmTools are generally prohibited from hand carrying. You might be OK with something like wire stripper which is made mostly out of plastic but I would not count on that. But if you take, say, electric drill into hand baggage, even without any drill bits, it will not be let through in most cases.

author: Avacee
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 06:34:50 pm
content: I've flown with firearms several times and the procedure is simple:Guns and ammunition must be in separate hard lockable cases.You must declare you are travelling with firearms/ammunition to the airline in advance. Note: not all airlines allow firearms. BA and Virgin Atlantic are very good with regard to firearms. Virgin earn bonus points for allowing one item of sporting goods at no extra cost so long as you are within your weight allowance.When you get to the check-in desk declare the firearms. Duh! :p- Extra step in the UK is that the police will be called to check the serial numbers against your firearms certificate. Check-in early as this can take a while if the police are on their coffee breakA representative of the airline will take the cases - this person will carry them to the aircraft where they go into a separate locker within the aircraft that the captain has the key for - the cases don't go near the normal luggage handlers.At your destination you find the airline desk and a representative of the airline will bring the cases from the aircraft to you.You then apply for a temporary firearms license at your destination via the Red Channel - never had a problem. South Africa once gave me a 5 year temp license as I said I'd be returning the year after next :pYou can also pay a premium to use this separate locker for jewels, ashes, etc.Though once the separate locker was full so the cases were put in the normal hold and thus appeared on the luggage carousel

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 09:06:45 pm
content: Eh, I had once my name called at the airport because they have found something suspicious in my checked bag - I had my photographic tripod in there and on the x-ray it looked exactly like an M-16 stashed in there! With all the post 9/11 jitters it was not much fun.

author: RoadRunner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 09:29:32 pm
content: Quote from: janoc on November 05, 2017, 09:06:45 pmthis is the thing i am worried about , they may mistake for being a gun or part of gun , and call me upsome where i read a guy was called up after they found something like a hand grenade in his baggage , which later found out to be belt buckle

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 09:47:05 pm
content: Quote from: RoadRunner on November 05, 2017, 09:29:32 pmNormally that is nothing to worry about - they call you up because they have to open the bag in your presence in most countries. That's a completely routine thing happening many times a day. Unless you are really carrying a gun or that grenade in there, the issue will be cleared very quickly and you will be back on your way again. I think even a poorly trained agent will be able to make a difference between a gun and a wire stripper (or at least recognize that it isn't dangerous).In my case the policeman even showed me the picture of my bag from the machine and we both had a good laugh at it.You are worrying too much. And anyway - if you are so worried, why to carry that stripper then? I am pretty sure you can get a cheap one at your destination without too much hassle too.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 10:21:57 pm
content: Quote from: RoadRunner on November 05, 2017, 09:29:32 pmIt won't look even remotely as a gun in x-ray. It's mostly plastic and metal parts don't resemble gun at all.

author: Mjolinor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2017, 10:31:08 pm
content: I think I have seen some training videos for X ray personnel and it is quite amazing what can look like a gun when viewed in two dimensions.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 06, 2017, 09:44:49 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on November 05, 2017, 05:58:47 pmThis happened to me. I lost a Gerber multitool to the TSA. Oddly enough, they didn't take anything out of the tool bag that was in my checked luggage(lots of expensive things in there). Thankfully, it was on a company trip so my boss authorized me to purchase a replacement.

author: trys
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2017, 10:29:12 pm
content: Many years ago, well before the days of the antics of the comedy beards, I was about to board a flight to install a community radio station for a city. I had the usual bag of bits and tools, enough to build a transmitter and to cut and saw things that I needed to. One of the items was a butane powered soldering iron.Naturally, the security staff were not happy. I explained the purpose of my visit, and they agreed to let it on. The condition was that it was placed in a sealed bag, and taken by a stewardess so I would not have access to it during the flight itself. I had to leave the butane cannister at the airport.I didn't have the same problem on my return. They just nodded, and let me on. By then I probably looked like I'd spent the last two weeks with a soldering iron.Trys

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2017, 10:35:37 pm
content: Quote from: Mjolinor on November 05, 2017, 10:31:08 pmI've wondered, too!Once, at the security screening, my carry-on suitcase got pulled aside for hand inspection, and the TSA guy asks me "is there anything in here that could cut me?". I reply no, and he says "are you sure?", and I'm puzzled, cuz he keeps pressing the issue a few more times. Turns out the suspicious item was an iPhone 4S, which I was bringing as my second phone, tucked into an inside pocket of the suitcase. How on earth, even if seen from above as it would have been with the suitcase laying flat, would that look like a sharp item? The thing's got a continuous 8mm-ish steel band around the entire edge, for crying out loud…

author: Tomorokoshi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2017, 07:50:42 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on November 05, 2017, 02:31:46 pmA couple once-removed stories from a place I used to work at in the 1990's:Service Technician #1:He had a mechanism in his carry-on bag. It was round, about 30 cm across, with spools, reels, and pneumatic actuating cylinders on it.Security: "What's that!"Technician: "It's a rotator."Security: "What's a 'rotator'?"Where he then has to explain all the obscure details about how it works.Service Technician #2:He had his tool bag with all the usual tools. Due to weight he would check it in. He gets to the arrival airport, and he can't find his bag.Security: "Sir, are you looking for your bag?"Technician: "Yes, it didn't come down the carousel."Security: "Please come this way."He is led out to the tarmac. His bag is placed well away from anything.Security: "Go open your bag."

author: Tomorokoshi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2017, 07:54:16 pm
content: From a salesman at a place I used to work at. He did a lot of travel. His advice was to put your business card conspicuously in various places in your suitcase. One on each side when opened, in various bags or boxes in the suitcase, etc. Psychologically, when the inspector opens it up and sees a card with your name staring back at him, there is an effect of feeling watched. Not sure how well it actually works, but at least in my limited travel I haven't lost anything.

author: nes999
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2017, 01:05:15 pm
content: Quote from: Avacee on November 05, 2017, 06:34:50 pmI used to fly to gun shows. I was bringing some high value muskets.I declared them, and the lady said hold on I will go get sue, sue knows about guns. I was instructed several times to remove the magazine immediately! I had to explain several times that black powdered rifles don't have magazines. It was the biggest hassle.It has been awhile since I've flow with a firearm. However my firearms always came back with the normal luggage.Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2017, 01:36:12 pm
content: I'm just imagining some movie style scene where they open a bag to inspect something odd, and when they do a spring snake jumps out at them and they all freak out and try to shoot it with tazers. Oh the humiliation...

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2017, 02:48:07 pm
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on November 08, 2017, 01:36:12 pmEh, if only tasers ... Today if the security freaks out over your bag you are more likely to get your luggage blown up by a bomb disposal robot at the slightest suspicion that something could be out of order there than someone actually trying to open it.When it comes to security, common sense and proportionality are long gone and replaced by an all out military-style response as the default. That's why you get e.g. airport terminal evacuations and huge delays whenever someone leaves a bag unattended (typically because they are in a toilet where it is often physically impossible to bring the bags in!), despite pretty much no bomb having ever been found like this (all recent airport bombers were suicide ones, i.e. someone brought it in and detonated it in person).