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I'm pretty sure this goes in this section of the forum, I apologize if it does not.

I'm flying out to see my family, like everyone else in the US, for Thanksgiving. I'm taking a model to paint, as it is a gift for my little sister for Christmas, and I want to finish it while I am there. However... Does anyone know how picky TSA is going to be about me bringing 20 little bottles of paint....? Has anyone had problems with this before?

I'd like not lose $75 worth of my paints to some asshat with something against paint..

In general, I'd be very suspicious of them getting through security as they're little bottles of liquid. Make sure they're labeled and in whatever size bag they want liquids in now. It never hurts to make things easier on the people making the decision, after all.

An idea would be to ship it, but that might be difficult due to timing. If time wasn't an issue, I'd say look at doing the one-price post office mailer there and back with the paints securely wrapped up, which would probably be about a $16 total cost.

Shouldn't be a problem in checked baggage.

I brought my Mega Paint Set over from the UK in checked baggage after Christmas.

Carry them on, though, and you're likely to lose them.

I'd check them in your luggage rather than carry on. Be sure to bag them up securely, though. I've had a jar pop open on me (probably in part due to pressure changes) once, and it was pretty darn messy.

Everybody has it right, check your paints. You're only allowed containers that hold at most 3.4 ozs (100 ml) and all of those must fit in a single quart-sized ziptop bag. And even if you did meet all those requirements, don't expect the TSA to allow you on with all those paints anyway.

You're better of keeping them in your checked luggage, safe packed up and stored to prevent paint explosions.

Here are the TSA regs, just in case: http://www.tsa.gov/311/311-carry-ons.shtm

Thanks, guys. I don't have anybags to check because I would rather assemble metal Dreadnoughts than pay $35 to check a bag that's cary-on size....
I looked up the security things for liquids. They went down to a quart-sized bag, and I -stuffed- my paints in there but everything is within guidelines, so it shouldn't be a probleem..... Right? lol....
I'll let you know how it goes, for someone else's travelling reference.

If you're taking few enough to fit in a single, sealable clear plastic bag, you should be okay. I was thinking you were bringing more like a whole paint kit.

I still think you're taking a chance with 20 bottles.

I'd practice being incredibly nice to people in uniform for the next few days...

I have a feeling even if you do the ziplock thing, there's a pretty good chance you're gonna lose them if you don't check them. I think that's for stuff like toothpaste and beauty products.. if they look at little colored jars named things like "rotting flesh" they'll think you're gonna unleash a flesh eating zombie apocalypse airborne toxin.

They'll stick their fingers in each one... before or after the full-cavity search is up to them...

If you meet the letter of the TSA regs, you are good- if water based paint isn't on a ban list, then your description of packaging should meet the reg and they won't mess with you. Its about following the letter of the rules. Make sure you print it out and be able to quote it back at them- not as a jerk, but just a reminder. I've had to do it once, as a gentle reminder, and had no problems (this was for medications, though, not the normal liquid allowance).

NOTE: YMMV due to some TSA agents being idiots/trolls/asshats. Best of luck! Let us know how you do. I don't see how it could be a problem, but that is when the problems come up, isn't it? But I would do the exact same thing if I were in your situation.

Yeah, they dont SAY water based paints, so I have lost some paints carrying them through before. However, I regularly fly with paints in check. I know you said you arent checking bags bro, just sharin.


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Gymnogyps has the right of it. You get some jackass who has his panties in a knot and you'll lose whatever in carry on.

Welp, that was easy. They didn't look through bags, ask to sniff my paints or anything. Rather uneventful. Flying back from Florida........that'll probaably be a trip...

Thanks for all the advice! I will probably take the TSA Regs with me on the way back, maybe even check a bag for extra security. Florida airport security is a bitch...

Good call. I never have problems flying out of Manchester, but coming back from Chicago I've lost superglue, and flying back from Baltimore once I lost a nice bottle of cologne that was a little over the allowed size. :(

Good to hear you made it through OK!

When we went to New York, my daughter begged and begged for a snowglobe, but I had a feeling they wouldn't let us fly with it. I overheard the cashier tell a lady in front of us that they allowed snowglobes, but I was still doubtful.

Sure enough, they took someone's I heart NY snowglobe and trashed it. Weeks later, when we made another trip, the TSA web site specifically said no snowglobes are allowed in carry ons.

Why the snow globe hate? When we got to the hotel, I totally freaked out when my daughter pulled out a pen knife from her coat pocket that went right through the x-ray. Great job, TSA.

It's called security theatre. It's not real. It's allegedly about making people feel safe and snug without actually making them feel safe and snug. It's also the reason I don't fly.