Airport Security and Paints/Supplies?

In the early 90's i was based in N Ireland and we had our married quarters there. All my model stuff had been left at my mums and so i would bring some over each time i went on leave. On one occasion i had a bag full of enamel paints and this caused some problems, apparently it was the lead.

But of cause that was before 9/11 and thing have changed since then. I know buissness in the UK are having problems shipping paints out side of the EU due to new regulations for air cargo. This has meant orders being shipped through Royal mail being returned, even if they fall within the guidlines. It all seems to be a bit confuseing this end.

next time you want to ship paints, just go to UPS instead

UPS ground is the way I shipped from southern TN to northeastern  KY, I shipped over 100 enamel paint jars to a friend when I switched to Acrylics

the UPS store in our little country city helped with the entire process, from first inquiry to the actual shipping day

we are supposed to be able to use FedEx Ground also, but, the people in that FedEx/Kinko's didn't know how to go about it,,,,,,,maybe it is a matter of training from city to city and store to store with them

it cost about $14 to ship the 100 MM bottles

the key is supposed to be "any shipping method that can Guarantee Ground Only Transport",,,,that is why the USPS won't work anymore for us

Rex

Jeremy

I wonder if anyone has experience bringing (or trying to bring) paints, thinners or other supplies through airport security and checked luggage?

I am in Ohio for business and stopped by a hobby store in Columbus to take a look around. I am from New Hampshire and my local options are pretty lacking so I was very  happy to find an amazing selection of kits and paints, and really anything model related. It's the first hobby store I've been to that's actually built around and staffed by model enthusiasts rather than the RC shops I tend to find where modeling supplies are more of an afterthought than anything else. 

Anyway, I end up buying some bottles of Alclad, a large bottle of Alclad primer and micro-fill, some other Tamiya paints, along with some other solvents, etc. that I simply cannot get at home. I didn't realize until afterward that I can't bring this stuff on the plane. I took it to FedEx and they refused to ship it. 

Finally I go back to the hobby store and they end up being more than willing to ship it for me which was a huge relief. I realize that it's probably best to avoid bringing this stuff in carry-on and checked luggage altogether just to be safe, but  has anyone done this without experiencing any issues? I think most paints would be fine but I was especially wary of the Alclad, since the settled metalizer, I suspected, would stand out in a security scan. 

Finally, just a shout out to Patrick and Mark in the Hobbyland at Graceland in Columbus, Ohio. They were so friendly and knowledgeable  making my visit there the best I have yet experienced. They entertained my questions and were a pleasure to stay and talk to. The store's selection was excellent. I expect to start calling and ordering directly from this store for supplies I would normally have to order anyways. I can't wait until my next trip to Ohio so I can visit them again!

Jeremy,

     I don't have any experience with traveling with paints, glue, thinner, etc., but I know what you're talking about in regards to hobby shops that bill themselves in such a way that one would reasonably expect them to be an all round hobby shop.  But in reality they mainly cater to the R/C crowd.

     NOT that I have a problem with R/C models.  I think that they're fun to watch.  It's just that if I'm walking into a "hobby shop" to shop for model building supplies it'd be nice to find an equal mixture of all hobbies or as equal mixture as realistically possible.

     I have three different LHS' close to me.  One is like 90% or more dedicated to R/C models and the like.  There's another one a little further away and even though they pretty much have more R/C items then models they DO have a LARGE selection of models and a good selection of paints, brushes, fillers, glue/cement, etc. they don't have quite the selection of paints that I as a customer thinks/feels that a hobby shop really should have.  But even though I haven't asked I would like to think that if I needed them to order a particular color or type of paint from a manufacturer that they carry that they would do so.  This shop also has a good supply of Evergreen.

     The third shop also a little further away has a LOT of models, and a good selection of paints.  Then there's Michaels, I'm sure that there is a Hobby Lobby in the area, I just don't know where it is.

     It's good that the shop was willing to ship your supplies home for you.  What reason did FedEx give for not shipping your paint?

      Isn't that one of the reason for them to be around?  To ship things?  If it's paint or thinner that is still sealed in it's bottle then what's the danger?!?

Well I think in general, flammable liquids can't be shipped via air. To be perfectly honest, I think the woman who helped me just didn't really have enough experience to really understand what she could or couldn't do. She looked in her manual of unshippable items and still didn't find what I had on that list.

I did call the FedEx dangerous items hotline and the guy said I either needed to be certified to ship the items myself or I could take it to a certified FedEx (why wouldn't they all be?) but it's a minimum $75 charge to ship dangerous items. I'm pretty sure that they just didn't understand what I had.

In any case, I won't be going to FedEx to take care of anything like that.

The guys at the hobby shop said they have a guy come in from California and he always takes stuff back on the plane with him. Then they said, "then again, he is a pilot!" XD
Guess I know at least ONE way to get it on a plane lol.

Jeremy- that is a fantastic hobby shop.   I too found it on a trip several years ago.

I have been thinking about trying the White Ensign Colourcoats line of paints.  Now I find out that they can no longer ship the paint outside the EU.   That stinks

there are at least three Coloucoats dealers in the US

Mid Tenn hobbies http://www.midtennhobbies.com/

Snyder & Short http://www.shipcamouflage.com/

and Free Time hobbies www.freetimehobbies.com

Rex

Thanks for posting those links, Rex.

From what I understand, or have heard anyway, the EPA has made it difficult for some things to be shipped overseas.

I had heard that labels that are not in English can or are being restricted because the warning labels are not legible by the majority here in the States. Don't know if this is 100% accurate but it does seem like the kind of ball-busting restriction one could expect from the EPA lol.

tempestjohnny

I have been thinking about trying the White Ensign Colourcoats line of paints.  Now I find out that they can no longer ship the paint outside the EU.   That stinks

I know a few companies are having an issue with the postal system in the UK. They say one thing and then do another. Its all a bloody pain.

Thanks Rex I'll look into these companies

Jeremy

Well I think in general, flammable liquids can't be shipped via air. To be perfectly honest, I think the woman who helped me just didn't really have enough experience to really understand what she could or couldn't do. She looked in her manual of unshippable items and still didn't find what I had on that list.

I did call the FedEx dangerous items hotline and the guy said I either needed to be certified to ship the items myself or I could take it to a certified FedEx (why wouldn't they all be?) but it's a minimum $75 charge to ship dangerous items. I'm pretty sure that they just didn't understand what I had.

In any case, I won't be going to FedEx to take care of anything like that.

The guys at the hobby shop said they have a guy come in from California and he always takes stuff back on the plane with him. Then they said, "then again, he is a pilot!" XD
Guess I know at least ONE way to get it on a plane lol.

Jeremy,

     I fully understand that sadly, in this post 9/11 world that we now live in that things that used to be done and taken for granted are no longer allowed.  And that's sad because it means that the terrorists have won.  Because they've gotten us to change how we live our lives.

     That aside I have to wonder just how dangerous is a few bottles of paint and/or thinner?  Also how do manufacturer's who are overseas i.e. Europe or Asia ship such "dangerous" items into the US if they can't ship them by air?!?

     Why would a FedEx, or UPS, or USPS customer have to be a "certified shipper" to ship anything?  Shouldn't that responsibility be on FedEx, or UPS, or USPS?  I mean isn't that why they're in business so that their customers DON'T have to be "certified shippers?"

     Now then on the other hand if the customer has his/her own fleet of vehicles and they want to "ship" something that is "controlled or regulated" then it makes sense for them to be a "certified shipper."  But then again IF the customer IS a certified shipper and has their own "fleet of vehicles."  Then why are they going to FedEx, UPS, or USPS to ship something?

     I wouldn't blame you if after this experience if you decided NOT to use FedEx for ANY of  your shipping needs.

Jeremy

Thanks for posting those links, Rex.

From what I understand, or have heard anyway, the EPA has made it difficult for some things to be shipped overseas.

I had heard that labels that are not in English can or are being restricted because the warning labels are not legible by the majority here in the States. Don't know if this is 100% accurate but it does seem like the kind of ball-busting restriction one could expect from the EPA lol.

Jeremy,

     I agree with you, that that sounds like the kind of nitpicking that one could expect from any oversized government office/department.

     That aside, and that being the case i.e. the in English requirement is why down here in Fl the state had recently passed and then backed off on a law requiring non-US drivers to have an international drivers license so that law enforcement could read it.  Which makes sense, the "rub" came when it was realized that it might drive the Canadian "snow birds" to other states, and that most of their licenses also are in English.

Mr Cowboy, the paints come into the US by boat, then the vendors sell them and ship them by one of the Ground services to us

it really keeps a vendor like Jack at Mid Tenn on their toes,,,,,if they are trying to keep stock up without bumping into "slow boat" lead time

I once had the misfortune of  butting heads with the TSA. I had purchased several kits and was flying home with them. I didnt want them in checked baggage because we all know what the baggage attendents do to your luggage ! When I got to the security checkpoint I put my kits through the X-ray machine. The next thing I know... they were opening all my sealed kits   WHY !!!

Oh well we couldnt tell if they were dangerous.

TSA cant even read an X-ray screen !!!

They can be so inconsistent one point could allow you through with high fives and the next one slap you in cuffs.

Rofl so true yet sad at the same time.

littletimmy

I once had the misfortune of  butting heads with the TSA. I had purchased several kits and was flying home with them. I didn't want them in checked baggage because we all know what the baggage attendants do to your luggage ! When I got to the security checkpoint I put my kits through the X-ray machine. The next thing I know... they were opening all my sealed kits   WHY !!!

Oh well we couldn't tell if they were dangerous.

TSA cant even read an X-ray screen !!!

Timmy,

     That kind of makes sense.  But shouldn't the normal non-plated plastic parts been "invisible" in the x-ray?  The chrome plated plastic parts I can see as being "curious."

     Question, were the boxed kits in another bag or did you send them through one at a time?

I sent them through one at a time so there was no overlapping.

At first I thought the guys were modelers and just wanted a closer look. I might have put up with that .

But noooooo !!!

They were just a couple of      ASuming I finish this sentence will get me banned !!!

littletimmy

I sent them through one at a time so there was no overlapping.

At first I thought the guys were modelers and just wanted a closer look. I might have put up with that .

But noooooo !!!

They were just a couple of      ASuming I finish this sentence will get me banned !!!

Timmy,

     Yeah, it sounds like they knew they "had the power" and they wanted to show you that they "had the power."  It reminds me of a young lady a few years ago who had piercings in a certain sensitive location above the waist.

     If I remember correctly, they did NOT set off the arch, but for whatever reason the TSA clowns, sorry officers, decided to wand her, and they set off the wand.

     She explained to them what they were and had even offered to go into an unused office with a female TSA clown, sorry officer, and lift her shirt/bra and show them to her.  But NO that wasn't good enough for them.  They told her that she'd have to remove them, and then I think show them to them I'm not sure.

     The sad thing is that they'd been in for so long that they were sealed shut and wouldn't budge for normal removal.  They have her a pair of pliers to remove them with.  Which caused her great pain.

     I'm presuming that she'd been allowed to carry them on as carry on, so why couldn't she have just done as she suggested?

Small bottled paints and tools must be in major checked luggage.Goes for putties--no thinners.

Paints and aerosols are considered HAZMAT (Hazardous Material) and the only way you can ship it is via UPS-Ground.  USPS, FedEx and the rest won’t touch the stuff.  

On a slightly related subject, if you carry your tools or buy some new ones and plan to transport them home via a commercial air-carrier; best pack them in your CHECKED LUGGAGE or even better just box it up and mail it via USPS.  I have had some heated discussions with TSA and Greyhound Bus rent-a-cops about what constitutes a “weapon”.  It seems that something as iniquitous as a tent stake or screwdriver can be construed as a deadly weapon in their eyes. Heck, anyone can take an ordinary set of car keys and inflict grievous body injury.  

Radarider