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I've started to plan for a playing trip to the U.K. and have come up with a minor potential snag. I thought I'd run it by the travel-hardened pros here on the list. What do you do about valve oil? The TSA bans flammable liquids from both checked and carry-on baggage.

I know this pales compared to figuring out how to keep the baggage apes from turning your horn into an ash tray. Never the less, I'd hate to be whisked off to Guantanamo Bay when they discover a bottle of Al Cass in my suitcase.

You can pack it in checked baggage or put it in a quart zip-lock bag and carry it in the cabin. I took two bottles of Hetman's onboard a plant today.

The airlines are on the lookout for compressed flammables, such as gas containers for camping stoves. You could probably take valve oil with your carry on stuff, just put it in the baggie along with small containers (less than 3 ounces?) of toothpaste and eye drops.

You might brush up on how to say "valve oil for my tuba" in the relevant languages. That might help to communicate with questioning security inspectors.

Also, be careful which liquids you put in your checked baggage. The plane's baggage area normally is not pressurized well, which causes containers to leak, even with tight lids. Store liquids in a well-sealed plastic bag to avoid ruining your belongings in case of leaks.

I've flown several times across the Atlantic with valve oil in my case...ALWAYS ziploc bags to keep them from spilling everyhere. And never with any questions or incidents.

-Josh

Never had a problem. I flew here to Vietnam with my tuba and had all of the accessories with it. No problem at LAX or at customs in Saigon. (You don't want the valve oil they sell here!)

put it in a baggie and stick it down your bell..haha

CTAYLOR wrote:put it in a baggie and stick it down your bell..haha

Have you done this? That might be more trouble than it's worth. It might look like you are trying to get away with something. Just put the bottle in its place in the case and it looks like it's part of the instrument. I've done it.

I've been hassled by the TSA for valve oil...

Take a small amount with you. There is some quantity *limit* set by the TSA (dont know what it is). I had a couple half-empty bottles of Al Cass with me, fortunately they were below the limit. They took my sunscreen though, a full, brand new $12.99 bottle. ...bastards.

The first line of advice is best. Go here and post the thread:

http://www.brass-forum.co.uk

Most of the people on the forum are more than happy to help, and without all the sarcasm that you occasionally find on this forum. And yes, I resemble that remark.

Also good for setting your valve block on fire if you use string linkage rotaries.

Greg wrote:

windshieldbug wrote:Also good for setting your valve block on fire if you use string linkage rotaries.

Yes, nearly as good as Al Cass or Blue Juice. Any Petroleum based oil will be flammable.

Who uses string linkage on their rotars? Other than horn players of course....

Trombone players

tubajoe wrote:There is some quantity *limit* set by the TSA (dont know what it is).

If the oil is in the case with the tuba and the case can be opened for inspection you won't have any problem. But I can tell you this from personal experience: the highly-trained dogs employed by the Secret Service at political events can't tell the difference between valve oil and gun oil.

Just drop into Phil Parker's ( www.philparker.co.uk ) and buy some when you arrive in London and save yourself hassle.

I assume you play a piston tuba? With my rotary tubas, I would just oil before leaving and not worry about oil for a short tour.

Neptune wrote:Just drop into Phil Parker's ( www.philparker.co.uk ) and buy some when you arrive in London and save yourself hassle.

Actually, I'll be flying into Manchester and then getting straight on a train to Durham. The only store in town that looks promising (at least according to UpMyStreet) is one called EBGB. All the web references to them I could find, however, were in regard to guitars and amps. The one email address I found for them is apparently no longer valid.

At this point my plan is to see what happens with a bottle in the quart ziploc. If the TSA doesn't approve I guess I'll just mooch from the locals. Thanks to all who replied.