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Lesson learned carrying wood through airport security

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My wife and I were visiting our daughter up in Richmond this weekend. While here, I went to the David Ellsworth presentation on Saturday (which was great), and also picked up some nice turning stock.

Not knowing any better, I put the spindles in my suitcase to carry home. Note that I did not check my bags. When I went through security, the spindle blanks were pulled and I was told that I could check my bag but the blanks were considered clubs and couldn't go through. I don't know if it only applies to spindle blanks or if bowl blanks or logs would also be considered clubs, but it was a lesson learned.

Has anyone run into any issues like this with finished wood?

Thanks....Dave
 
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They wouldn't let you leave them in your bag if you checked it? If that's the case, a bit over zealous in my opinion.

I think the post office is missing a money maker by not having a self-serve kiosk at the security checkpoints. Can't take it on the plane? Then mail it to yourself at home or your destination!
 
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Hi Owen..

Thank you for responding. We were close to the boarding time, so going back and checking the luggage might have made getting on board a little too close for comfort.

I would hope that they would allow finished works to pass through security. I may email TSA and ask them that.

Dave
 
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Security

Yes, that could be a weapon. However, they never ask if you have a black belt in karate or a pencil or pen. I recall when they started this security stuff after 9/11, they took knitting needles from a elderly lady! A lot of it depends on what airport you are in. I have heard of people getting on a plane in the US with a certain object but couldn't do it at another US airport! No consistency is the problem.
Send it to yourself by post office, UPS, or someone similar as suggested.
 

Steve Worcester

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I can remember taking carry ons full of wood in the old days.
You would have to check it today, and there is a kiosk at larger airports, but it is so most people can send home their lighters and pocket knives.
 
Joined
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In the 1950s, on a family road trip to Canada, my Father, in innocent ignorance, had a firearm in his luggage. He was advised that firearms are prohibited in Canada, at least for carriage by foreigners. There was a facility at the border for mailing such banned articles to yourself stateside. As recently as last year, declarations are based on the honor system, unless border agents have suspicion of illegal activity.

With the enhanced paranoia of today, airport facilities like Steve mentioned would be a major improvement in air travel, as well as a stimulus plan for the postal service and similar carriers.

BTW, Canada is very strict about importing some species of timber, by any delivery method.
 
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No... they were rejected because they resembed a club... From a purely legal perspective, I do understand their point. However, also in the suitcase were several woodturning books, catalogs, and a couple of dust collection props I also got from woodcraft...

Dave
 
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Airport security

I think if you mail a firearm now, you have to have it sent by a federally licensed dealer. I'll check on it as I have a friend who has a gunshop.
 
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I have always been mystified by those who regard the rulebook as forbidding anything not specifically allowed rather than allowing anything not specifically forbidden. What you had looked specifically like wood worked to a weapon. Certainly ad hoc weapons can be shoes, with or without loaded heels, or even plastique jockstraps. Those glued-on nails some women wear could be as lethal as a boxcutter. The minions have to make a judgment, so they do.

Imagine if we had the same zero tolerance policy as the school system where you can be subbing in IA and can't take your Leatherman, or even bring in extra gouges to demonstrate. No good reminding them of the ones already there, either. Zero is zero.
 
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That's funny...:rolleyes: Last year, to be exact, last October I went to N.Y. for Bowhunting season and put all my hunting gear including a big knife in my bow case without a problem and came back the same way,maybe the guy was a wood turner....:rolleyes::eek:
 
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Orlando, I assume that your bow case went into checked baggage and thus the lack of problems with the knife and, most likely, the broadheads on the arrows. That would not be allowed in carry on baggage.
 
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Mailing firearms

Here is the info from a friend who is a licensed firearms dealer:
if it is a handgun you have to ship it next day air through UPS and FED EX.
If it is a legal gun where you are leaving from and going to why don't you
just take it with you on the plane, in your checked bag. You have to
declare it at check in. Security people check it and tag it Firearm
Unloaded. you need to have a small lockable case for handguns. After they
check it you can relock it and lock your luggage also. Ammo has to be
declared and in it's original packaging. I always take my carry gun with me
when i fly if it is legal in the state i am going to. If you are stopping
in Canada on your way to Alaska you would have to ship your gun separate.
If i were taking a shotgun i would just go by Wal-Mart and buy me some ammo
when i arrived.
check this link
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm

if you want to ship your gun to yourself you would just box it up and ship
it to yourself. the person receiving it would have to be over 21 for a
handgun and over 18 for a rifle and/or shotgun. I would suggest insuring it
also.
Hopefully, this will help some of you who travel a bit for hunting or shooting.
 
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Orlando, I assume that your bow case went into checked baggage and thus the lack of problems with the knife and, most likely, the broadheads on the arrows. That would not be allowed in carry on baggage.

Cyril,your are correct,but he never said carry on baggage did he?;):D
 
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Given the state of security at the airports I don't put anything in my carry on that would raise a question including the coffee beans that I take along to our daughter.
The statement that security is inconsistent is so true. About 2 years ago I flew out of Norfolk to FL. When I was unpacking my bag at our daughters house my hand closed around my husbands pistol which he had not been able to locate for several weeks. I couldn't believe it! A loaded firearm made it through the security check for checked on bags! I had no trouble bringing the unloaded pistol back following the airlines guidelines.
 
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Avoiding getting my pocket knife taken (also woodturning story)

This story starts during my first class at Arrowmont with Bonnie Klein. My wife and I had a little time planned in for siteseeing. We went into this shop and I was drooling over a Winchester pocket knife. We went on with shopping and ended up forgetting about the knife. Flash forward a couple of years and I was in another class at Arrowmont with Bobby Clemons. I had just finished all but the nub at the bottom of a bowl and asked Bobby how he got the nubs off. He said just take out your pocket knife and cut it off. I said I did not have a pocket knife and he said (and I am paraphrasing because my memory is fuzzy) "What kind of man are you that you don't have a pocket knife". We went to lunch shortly after that and my wife had been back to that store and got that very pocket knife. I went back to class showed Bobby the knife and asked if I was OK now. Several years after that I was flying with my family in the airport and reached in my pocket and, of course, there was my pocket knife. We had already checked our bags and were outside the security checkpoint when this happened. Desperate to save my knife I went to the Hertz rent a car counter and explained the specialness of this knife and asked them if they could keep it for a week. They had me put my name and address on an envelope, put the knife inside and put it in their safe. A week later I returned and there was my knife!
 

john lucas

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I just talked to one of our faculty yesterday. He had a camera stolen out of his carry on luggage. The also broke the screen on his computer that was in the same bag. He figures it had to have happened while he was in the bathroom. The overhead storage was crowded so he had to put his bag about 2 or 3 rows away from where he was sitting.
Nothing is safe anymore.
 
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I myself think that what they did was a little extreme. Being a Marine, I know first hand that anything can be used as a weapon. especially things that are already aboard the plane.
 
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