I have had to fly a few times with a backpack full of tools. This is one of the best tutorials on how to set up for flying with tools I’ve ever seen. Thank you!
I’d really like to take a look into those three tool box set ups. I have recently started a new job, and tooling up for the specifics of it. Your set ups are very professional and practical. Thank you for making and sharing the vids!
I fly with tools as well. I use a Pelican case with foam cut-outs to make for quick inspections to make sure everything is accounted for when leaving a job. The only thing I have in a tool roll is ratcheting wrenches, which have labeled pockets. I don't even bother with hex sockets and ratchets. If I get desperate, there's a hardware store in most towns.
Regular Pelican cases have raised bosses on the underside of the lids, for bolting on accessory lid organizers. I keep things like pens, sharpies, a multibit screwdriver, ziptie cutter, pliers wrench, 100mm scale, electro-cabinet keys, gloves, and other randoms that I need to frequently access quickly in the lid. I fly with a 1635; kept the bottom layer of foam and plucked it out to fit my hammer drill/driver, impact driver, charger, 3 batteries, and drill bit index. Top half is stacked with pouches and tool rolls for wrenches, fliers, socket set, crimpers and strippers, pry bars, hammer, other stuff. I've had to face the fact that I just can't with 50lb. I need 70lb. 69.9 to be exact lol, the airlines laugh whenever they weigh it and see the 69.9. yeah I have to pay the extra overweight fee. Another tip too, if you have to fly with an already overweight toolbox and you also have a checked bag, your baggage fees will be at maximum. What you can do is check on the cost of First Class upgrades, especially when you book last minute trips frequently which I know you may be doing. I've been on many first class flights already this year because the price to upgrade has been not much more expensive than my baggage fees, and with First Class you get 2 free bags, both up to 70lb each, and priority boarding which means in and out of the airport and onto your job and home much faster, and free food and free drinks so you won't be having to expense it. I've actually SAVED my company money flying First Class quite a few times if you can believe it. I've been flying with the same Pelican 1635 for 7 years now.
I saw James Krenov's (a woodworker with a cult following) tool kit that he used for 40 years. It took up as much space as most woodworkers' collection of tool catalogues. I think you can tell somebody who really knows their craft by what they consider the essentials, and what's just convenience.
Things like cordless impacts and ratcheting wrenches could speed up a job and improve efficiency, but you can almost always get the job done without them.
I liked your video. I had a selection of tools that I’d carry in my car when I travel cross country. I had three carry tool bags to have the weight more distributed and in the smaller dealer parts of my trunk. My tools got stollen, over the years I had put the tool kit together. I’m trying to put the kit together with the weight & amount of tools together. Your video helped especially the part about the mixed set of metric & sae sockets. BTW I like your dog. I have a Tennessee Treeung Brindle. She was a feral dog that adopted me. I always have her on a leash & always wanted to be able to let her run free. But since I’m in California right now, there is never anywhere that is possible! Too many people that would freak out, & my dog may go after a small dog by its nature. Your dog looked extremely happy! Keep doing what you’re doing! Thanks for taking the time to put your video together. Tell your dog Sally my dog says hi!
I like your thinking. I’ve been an auto tech for @40 years and have found out that its your ability and not high price tools that get things done. Don’t get me wrong, if you like, want to work with and can afford big name tools.... go ahead and buy them. It seems silly to me to go into extreme debt to buy a huge box and tools. Buy what you can afford with lifetime warranty. Tools should make you money and not make you a slave to the tool truck. Most technicians could pare down the amount of stuff they need. Most is just fluff for looks. Glad to see others seeing the metric/ standard size similarities. Keep up the good work.
There are cases where it pays to buy the best tools possible, but often it's not necessary and you can get good service from any decent brand of tools.
I've always had a set that will make me cry if I lose it or break it or have to weld a nut to it or grind on it; for most of my professional life I have used stanley and harbor freight as my day to day tools. leave em on site? gotta do something nasty to em? Don't care there is a walmart or HFT in most towns now. Nice tools don't always mean skilled hands.
My wife would look over at me and ask "are you watching other people's tools?" Yes.... Yes I am. Great looking kit. I'm currently trying to organize my farm implement toolboxes and like the dust/waterproof pelican case you are using. I don't like keep my tools in the tractor cab and need something I can bolt to the implement and open up and not have everything covered in dust and or dirt.
@@WatchWesWork Yes, they do, but I hated mine back then. I imagine it was because I hadn't yet figured out to move things from boxes into zipper bags. I sure use them now!😁👍
Love the humble and honest comments regarding borrowing tools at a customer site: Even if they have it, you don't wanna have to beg and borrow it - like you say, they are not going to be anywhere near where you are working, and they are not going to be easy to track down just because they are there, and then there is the literal hassle you get from the guy who looks you in the eye and is like, "these are my personal tools they better come back" and they spend half an hour talking about the last outside technician they lent a tool to all this before they will hand over the damn 10mm socket you need. Not worth it!
What you have there is just a good all around to located as far as I'm concerned there's a few specialized items but you can use that on side of the road to get somebody going with it wasn't a major catastrophe.
Some tools you can probably through in the carry on or checked luggage you've got for clothes, etc. I took a screwdriver set, knife and a couple other things in my luggage on my school trip to europe, for "just in case" and to keep me sane, and didn't have an issue the whole trip. I hardly think that they'll give you an issue over a multi-meter and a socket set in you bag; but I understand if you don't want to risk it.
I know this is a pretty old video, but to your point at the end about getting the job done out of smaller/more limited setups: my dad and I have done countless hours of side work out of an old Snap-On 26" 7-drawer rollaway and a couple of aviation dog boxes in our suburban garage. I always hear guys saying "oh, you can never have enough tools" and "my boxes keep getting smaller" but honestly, if my garage looked like an episode of hoarders with 10x repeats of everything, I'd be more embarrassed than proud.
Had a professional electrician do some house repairs & he borrowed my Centech $7 multimeter (it was handy). He said it is perfectly fine. Harbor Freight for the win!
So, Wes, are you a millwright, a machine tool recondition tech, both, or something else? So far, all your videos I have looked at have been excellent. Keep it up, and your audience will definitely grow!
Yeah, I need to get better at this. Nothing like hauling 100lbs of tools over to a buddy's house to help him fix his brakes and realizing you needed, oh, about 14lbs of tools.
I would think a quick check you could use to make sure all your tools arrive at your destintion is to keep a luggage scale in your carry on. Weigh your tool box before you fly out and when you arrive at your destination. If there is a difference in weight, then something is not right.
I drive a truck with a mechanics box on it . The whole truck is a tool box . And still sometimes I don't have what I need . How can you possibly manage without an 8 pound sledge hammer ???? Just kidding . Nice video
It seams strange to me that you leave out the multimeter. Especially cheap ones are extremely light, and you could even just fit one in your pocket. But I guess you know better than I do what you need.
back when I traveled doing similar work, they allowed me to bring my tools on board. I usually went with one large brief case style but sometimes two. I used to be amused that I could disassemble the plane with what I had in those boxes. Some of crap holes around the world I had to go work in, you didn't assume they'd have anything. You could get you one of those King adjustable wrenches like AVE with a hammer head on it. I think those types of wrenches are common in mining. www.amazon.com/Purpose-Wrench-Adjustable-Prybar-Hammer/dp/B07DF9V864
Yes, I have seen them. I don't think it's a big deal. I've flown all over North America and never had anything turn up missing. If I did, it's probably because I lost it.
I know this comment is old...but I have had more bags and cases damaged by the locks than most anything else. The lock gets snagged on a conveyor or somehow gets used as a lever to either break the lock, break the locking tab, or both. Besides, TSA locks provide almost zero security, they are cheap and easily broken, and anyone can get a set of TSA keys, especially the common ones. I did have good luck with zip ties: I'd put one thru both lock loops, and leave 2 new ones in a bag with a note for TSA asking them to put them one after inspection. Most of the time they did. I also kept a spare pelican latch and handle in case one got broken so I could field repair it.
Oh man. You make me look like a pack rat when it comes to packing my tools. I keep trying to scale back what I bring with me. I use a 14in Rolling Husky bag. I've go to through my stuff and pair it back. I fly almost weekly and I'm constantly battling the 50lb limit. I've had to shuffle tools into my clothes bag and check it to avoid the overweight fees multiple times.
I think what really gets me is that the work I do, I need to be a fabricator and a quzi electrician. I retrofit the control systems for cnc plasma tables. We cover a wide variety of tables so I find some tools work better than others depending on table. Plus I carry an assortment of miscellaneous hardware, connectors and odd ball crap that I can't always run out and buy when I'm stuck in the boonies. But this video has me trimming the fat again. I've already replaced 3 screwdrivers with one and I'll be investing in a metric/inch combo set of sockets so I can leave my full sets at home.
Yea, that pelican 0450 is nice, but really not for flying. I have a pelican 1600 that I travel with and it weighs in at like 48.5 lbs and I just keep it loaded as is.
Since you're in the US, you can travel with firearms in your checked in luggage (not carry-on luggage though)... But why would you do this you ask? Because if you have a firearm in said luggage, it will be inspected at the security checkpoint with you present, then you HAVE to lock it, hand it over to them, they mark it as checked and nobody is allowed to open it and rummage inside unless you are present again! Because of how US laws work, you don't actually need to have functional firearm in the case, just it's receiver (that's what US law considers a firearm, nothing else)...you can even order what's called an "80% lower" over the internet for around $50, finish it (you should have no technical problems with that) and it magically becomes one ;-) Note the firearm laws differ from state to state, so you need to do some research before attempting it. Also not all airlines are gun-friendly, so - you need to research before attempting. There was a Defcon talk about this, I suggest you watch it if interested.
More precisely, they haven't the slightest clue...which is why I would be concerned about the straight edge and scraper at the very least...If some bumblefuck drops it on the floor, they won't tell you, they won't apologize, nor will you be able to prove that they damaged it and demand financial satisfaction. You'd probably spot that the straight edge has encountered the floor way faster then you'd ever allow it to, but what if not? :P You could easily waste hours of work on a job, just because the straightedge is...not straight...
I have had to fly a few times with a backpack full of tools. This is one of the best tutorials on how to set up for flying with tools I’ve ever seen. Thank you!
Even not flying, this looks like a great travel set, that does 85% of everything you could need.
One vote for a look at your driving distance tools! Thanks for the video.
I’d really like to take a look into those three tool box set ups. I have recently started a new job, and tooling up for the specifics of it. Your set ups are very professional and practical. Thank you for making and sharing the vids!
I fly with tools as well. I use a Pelican case with foam cut-outs to make for quick inspections to make sure everything is accounted for when leaving a job. The only thing I have in a tool roll is ratcheting wrenches, which have labeled pockets. I don't even bother with hex sockets and ratchets. If I get desperate, there's a hardware store in most towns.
Regular Pelican cases have raised bosses on the underside of the lids, for bolting on accessory lid organizers. I keep things like pens, sharpies, a multibit screwdriver, ziptie cutter, pliers wrench, 100mm scale, electro-cabinet keys, gloves, and other randoms that I need to frequently access quickly in the lid.
I fly with a 1635; kept the bottom layer of foam and plucked it out to fit my hammer drill/driver, impact driver, charger, 3 batteries, and drill bit index. Top half is stacked with pouches and tool rolls for wrenches, fliers, socket set, crimpers and strippers, pry bars, hammer, other stuff.
I've had to face the fact that I just can't with 50lb. I need 70lb. 69.9 to be exact lol, the airlines laugh whenever they weigh it and see the 69.9. yeah I have to pay the extra overweight fee.
Another tip too, if you have to fly with an already overweight toolbox and you also have a checked bag, your baggage fees will be at maximum. What you can do is check on the cost of First Class upgrades, especially when you book last minute trips frequently which I know you may be doing. I've been on many first class flights already this year because the price to upgrade has been not much more expensive than my baggage fees, and with First Class you get 2 free bags, both up to 70lb each, and priority boarding which means in and out of the airport and onto your job and home much faster, and free food and free drinks so you won't be having to expense it. I've actually SAVED my company money flying First Class quite a few times if you can believe it.
I've been flying with the same Pelican 1635 for 7 years now.
Well, Wes, you are showing us plenty of good work, good skills, and a good attitude as well. I would hire you in a minute, but wait, I am retired!
I enjoyed that Wes, thanks for sharing. Glad you got the job done out there having what you needed.
I saw James Krenov's (a woodworker with a cult following) tool kit that he used for 40 years. It took up as much space as most woodworkers' collection of tool catalogues. I think you can tell somebody who really knows their craft by what they consider the essentials, and what's just convenience.
Things like cordless impacts and ratcheting wrenches could speed up a job and improve efficiency, but you can almost always get the job done without them.
I liked your video. I had a selection of tools that I’d carry in my car when I travel cross country. I had three carry tool bags to have the weight more distributed and in the smaller dealer parts of my trunk.
My tools got stollen, over the years I had put the tool kit together. I’m trying to put the kit together with the weight & amount of tools together. Your video helped especially the part about the mixed set of metric & sae sockets.
BTW I like your dog. I have a Tennessee Treeung Brindle. She was a feral dog that adopted me. I always have her on a leash & always wanted to be able to let her run free. But since I’m in California right now, there is never anywhere that is possible! Too many people that would freak out, & my dog may go after a small dog by its nature. Your dog looked extremely happy! Keep doing what you’re doing! Thanks for taking the time to put your video together. Tell your dog Sally my dog says hi!
Another useful video, Wes. Always amazes me how a simple set of tools can be so very useful.
I like your thinking. I’ve been an auto tech for @40 years and have found out that its your ability and not high price tools that get things done. Don’t get me wrong, if you like, want to work with and can afford big name tools.... go ahead and buy them. It seems silly to me to go into extreme debt to buy a huge box and tools. Buy what you can afford with lifetime warranty. Tools should make you money and not make you a slave to the tool truck. Most technicians could pare down the amount of stuff they need. Most is just fluff for looks. Glad to see others seeing the metric/ standard size similarities. Keep up the good work.
There are cases where it pays to buy the best tools possible, but often it's not necessary and you can get good service from any decent brand of tools.
Exactly
I've always had a set that will make me cry if I lose it or break it or have to weld a nut to it or grind on it; for most of my professional life I have used stanley and harbor freight as my day to day tools. leave em on site? gotta do something nasty to em? Don't care there is a walmart or HFT in most towns now. Nice tools don't always mean skilled hands.
My wife would look over at me and ask "are you watching other people's tools?"
Yes.... Yes I am.
Great looking kit. I'm currently trying to organize my farm implement toolboxes and like the dust/waterproof pelican case you are using. I don't like keep my tools in the tractor cab and need something I can bolt to the implement and open up and not have everything covered in dust and or dirt.
Didn't know where you were headed with this. Glad I watched it. Some good tool recommendations and some smart, thoughtful choices.
It's not something most people need to worry about, but if you have to do it, this is my recommendation.
Would love to see the set up that comes at the end.
Everything looks in order with the exception of no multi meter or Knipex. Never forget the Kipex.....
This looks *WAY* better than the rolling Husky tool bag I used to fly with!
I used tool bags before this. They actually work pretty well.
@@WatchWesWork
Yes, they do, but I hated mine back then. I imagine it was because I hadn't yet figured out to move things from boxes into zipper bags. I sure use them now!😁👍
One of the perks of being an aircraft mechanic is my travel kit can weigh whatever I need it to when I have a roadtrip.
Darn this is sooo cool. That's a nice set up
Love the humble and honest comments regarding borrowing tools at a customer site: Even if they have it, you don't wanna have to beg and borrow it - like you say, they are not going to be anywhere near where you are working, and they are not going to be easy to track down just because they are there, and then there is the literal hassle you get from the guy who looks you in the eye and is like, "these are my personal tools they better come back" and they spend half an hour talking about the last outside technician they lent a tool to all this before they will hand over the damn 10mm socket you need. Not worth it!
You could save a little a with getting rid of the channellock tongue and groove pliers and adjustable wrench with a knipex 12 inch pliers wrench
What you have there is just a good all around to located as far as I'm concerned there's a few specialized items but you can use that on side of the road to get somebody going with it wasn't a major catastrophe.
what I wouldn't give to shadow you on your repair jobs. :)
If I find the right customer, I'll make a video of a field service job.
Some tools you can probably through in the carry on or checked luggage you've got for clothes, etc. I took a screwdriver set, knife and a couple other things in my luggage on my school trip to europe, for "just in case" and to keep me sane, and didn't have an issue the whole trip. I hardly think that they'll give you an issue over a multi-meter and a socket set in you bag; but I understand if you don't want to risk it.
I want see your other tool box tour. Those boxes are killer.
I know this is a pretty old video, but to your point at the end about getting the job done out of smaller/more limited setups: my dad and I have done countless hours of side work out of an old Snap-On 26" 7-drawer rollaway and a couple of aviation dog boxes in our suburban garage.
I always hear guys saying "oh, you can never have enough tools" and "my boxes keep getting smaller" but honestly, if my garage looked like an episode of hoarders with 10x repeats of everything, I'd be more embarrassed than proud.
Had a professional electrician do some house repairs & he borrowed my Centech $7 multimeter (it was handy). He said it is perfectly fine. Harbor Freight for the win!
Excellent choices very good video.
No locking pliers? I find many uses for them.
Remember rental options call ahead. Thumbs up 👍.
So, Wes, are you a millwright, a machine tool recondition tech, both, or something else? So far, all your videos I have looked at have been excellent. Keep it up, and your audience will definitely grow!
I'm not really trained or qualified as anything. I do some freelance repair work for a large machine tool company.
Yeah, I need to get better at this. Nothing like hauling 100lbs of tools over to a buddy's house to help him fix his brakes and realizing you needed, oh, about 14lbs of tools.
Cut weight get rid of duplicate sizes using a metric to inch cross reference.
I would think a quick check you could use to make sure all your tools arrive at your destintion is to keep a luggage scale in your carry on. Weigh your tool box before you fly out and when you arrive at your destination. If there is a difference in weight, then something is not right.
If something IS missing, what are you realistically gonna do about it?
Being forced to scale your outfit down to what you really need is an interesting topic. It could even be a video challenge. The 50lb challenge.
It definitely forces you to prioritize.
well said. I believe that's what distinguishes a PROFESSIONAL from an AMATUER.
can i fly with air impact wrench and sockets?
Tools don’t fix the equipment the mechanic fixes equipment
Show me what’s in your other tool boxes please.
What kind of work are you in that requires you to travel to fix things? Would really like to get into that kind of field, HD mechanic currently.
What were you doing in CT ???
Hey Wes! This 2017 video popped up in my feed with 75 comments almost 6 years later. I'm throwing in another comment for TH-cam metrics.
Where’d you get ur folding cart from?
Sears maybe. I'm not sure.
I drive a truck with a mechanics box on it . The whole truck is a tool box . And still sometimes I don't have what I need . How can you possibly manage without an 8 pound sledge hammer ???? Just kidding . Nice video
It seams strange to me that you leave out the multimeter. Especially cheap ones are extremely light, and you could even just fit one in your pocket. But I guess you know better than I do what you need.
Is that the only tool you need for most jobs?
It's enough for most things. Most places will have lots of tools I can use it needed. It's just nice to have my own stuff for most jobs.
Seems to me you could wear a jacket with generous pockets and stuff them with multimeter type of tools that don't fit in the pelican.
back when I traveled doing similar work, they allowed me to bring my tools on board. I usually went with one large brief case style but sometimes two. I used to be amused that I could disassemble the plane with what I had in those boxes. Some of crap holes around the world I had to go work in, you didn't assume they'd have anything. You could get you one of those King adjustable wrenches like AVE with a hammer head on it. I think those types of wrenches are common in mining. www.amazon.com/Purpose-Wrench-Adjustable-Prybar-Hammer/dp/B07DF9V864
Where did you get that knee pad?
amzn.to/2Myl52C
You can lock your tools but you need TSA-approved locks. TSA has master keys
Yes, I have seen them. I don't think it's a big deal. I've flown all over North America and never had anything turn up missing. If I did, it's probably because I lost it.
I know this comment is old...but I have had more bags and cases damaged by the locks than most anything else. The lock gets snagged on a conveyor or somehow gets used as a lever to either break the lock, break the locking tab, or both. Besides, TSA locks provide almost zero security, they are cheap and easily broken, and anyone can get a set of TSA keys, especially the common ones.
I did have good luck with zip ties: I'd put one thru both lock loops, and leave 2 new ones in a bag with a note for TSA asking them to put them one after inspection. Most of the time they did.
I also kept a spare pelican latch and handle in case one got broken so I could field repair it.
Oh man. You make me look like a pack rat when it comes to packing my tools. I keep trying to scale back what I bring with me. I use a 14in Rolling Husky bag. I've go to through my stuff and pair it back. I fly almost weekly and I'm constantly battling the 50lb limit. I've had to shuffle tools into my clothes bag and check it to avoid the overweight fees multiple times.
You can't take it all, even though you want to.
I think what really gets me is that the work I do, I need to be a fabricator and a quzi electrician. I retrofit the control systems for cnc plasma tables. We cover a wide variety of tables so I find some tools work better than others depending on table. Plus I carry an assortment of miscellaneous hardware, connectors and odd ball crap that I can't always run out and buy when I'm stuck in the boonies.
But this video has me trimming the fat again. I've already replaced 3 screwdrivers with one and I'll be investing in a metric/inch combo set of sockets so I can leave my full sets at home.
FYI Pelican makes a dedicated tool box model. Haven't used it.
They have a really kick ass model with drawers that the military uses, but it weighs something like 45 lbs empty.
Yea, that pelican 0450 is nice, but really not for flying. I have a pelican 1600 that I travel with and it weighs in at like 48.5 lbs and I just keep it loaded as is.
Why did this pop up today?
TH-cam seems to be recommending some really old videos. No idea why.
Since you're in the US, you can travel with firearms in your checked in luggage (not carry-on luggage though)... But why would you do this you ask?
Because if you have a firearm in said luggage, it will be inspected at the security checkpoint with you present, then you HAVE to lock it, hand it over to them, they mark it as checked and nobody is allowed to open it and rummage inside unless you are present again!
Because of how US laws work, you don't actually need to have functional firearm in the case, just it's receiver (that's what US law considers a firearm, nothing else)...you can even order what's called an "80% lower" over the internet for around $50, finish it (you should have no technical problems with that) and it magically becomes one ;-)
Note the firearm laws differ from state to state, so you need to do some research before attempting it. Also not all airlines are gun-friendly, so - you need to research before attempting.
There was a Defcon talk about this, I suggest you watch it if interested.
You can request to be present at the check any time you want. It's a non issue. The TSA isn't going to take my tools. They don't care.
More precisely, they haven't the slightest clue...which is why I would be concerned about the straight edge and scraper at the very least...If some bumblefuck drops it on the floor, they won't tell you, they won't apologize, nor will you be able to prove that they damaged it and demand financial satisfaction.
You'd probably spot that the straight edge has encountered the floor way faster then you'd ever allow it to, but what if not? :P
You could easily waste hours of work on a job, just because the straightedge is...not straight...