Can You Take Paint In Checked Baggage

Written by Robert Gamblin

suitcase in airport

Many artists contact us with questions about the best ways to take art materials on shipping. I have been flying with oil painting materials for 25 years and take logged most 400,000 miles with my paints. Here are some suggestions.

What to say/not say to TSA

Artist'due south oil colors comprise no solvents so they are not hazardous. When security asks, "What are these?" never say oil paints. The discussion "Paint" is a hot-button issue with them. (I have fifty-fifty heard of acrylics and watercolors not allowed on airplanes because they were described as "paints.") Tell them that they are "'creative person'south colors made from vegetable oil."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines "flammable liquids" as those with a flash betoken 140 degrees F or below. Artists form oil colors are based on vegetable oil with a wink point in a higher place 550 degrees F. THEY ARE NOT HAZARDOUS. Gamsol has a flash point of 144 degrees F. Visit FAA's Pack Condom – Artists Paints for more information.

You tin can download and print SDS for all Gamblin materials from our website: SDS Page

Be ready to show the SDS to prove the flashpoint
If you do not know the flash betoken of your mediums or solvent, do not program to take whatsoever on board
Do not carry on your palette knives. Put them in your suitcase and check your baggage
Go along your cool—don't hassle security. Show them the SDS and explain that you lot are going on a painting vacation

Restrictions

According to the FAA, at that place is no limit to how many oil colors you travel with. However, all liquids, pastes, and gels in carry-on baggage are limited to 100-ml (3.4oz) containers at the TSA security checkpoint.

Aircraft materials

Check to encounter if you lot can purchase mediums and solvents at your destination (visit our Store Locator for a list of our retail partners). If not, transport art materials ahead by footing transportation. Using the US Postal Service, artists tin can ship materials to nearly places in the world. Call up to specify "ground transportation" service. Insure the package and pay for a delivery receipt.

Checked luggage

If your baggage is inspected, information technology is helpful for TSA to have data about the materials. Put the SDS and a sign inside your luggage. Here's an example from Lori Putnam:

TSA sign for oil paint

E'er make sure caps are screwed on tightly.

Drying time

Oil painting materials are products of the natural world so they are tremendously responsive to temperature and humidity.

Oil colors dry faster in warm weather. Solvents and the solvent in painting mediums evaporate more quickly. A corking advantage for those who want to speed upwardly the painting process, rut may be a disadvantage for those who are used to a longer open fourth dimension.

If you need more than working time, and you are using a quick drying medium like Galkyd or Galkyd Lite then switch to a slower drying medium.

If you apply a low viscosity medium like Galkyd Lite, effort Galkyd Deadening Dry. If this still does not give you lot plenty working time, attempt the slowest of irksome dry out mediums: mix Gamsol and Poppy Oil (or Safflower Oil) in equal parts.

If y'all prefer a higher viscosity medium like Galkyd, add ten% Stand oil to Galkyd to increase the working fourth dimension. If this is still not enough working time, as above, brand a medium by mixing Gamsol and Stand oil in equal parts.

More information on painting mediums can exist constitute in Painting Mediums and Finding Your Happy Medium. Information on painting mediums is as well available in our Mediums Guide. If you want a paper copy, please contact us. We likewise make a Mediums Gear up with TSA-friendly 2 oz bottles then you tin can find the one or combination that is best for your painting mode.

Summer heat

Another effect is the effect of summer rut on oil colors. Many of united states travel in cars and exit our paints and supplies in the oven-like trunks. The viscosity of oil colors is much lower (paints are more than fluid) when they become hot. Oil colors traditionally throw a lilliputian oil over the life of the tube. Only storing oil colors in hot cars and trunks will increase the stress on the paints and can cause more oil to separate from the pigment. Continue your paints absurd to reduce separation.

Aircraft artwork

Traveling with fine art supplies is one claiming. Aircraft fresh oil paintings is some other. Here are a few suggestions.

A "fresh painting" is ane that has skinned over. Dry out to the impact, yous tin easily smear it with your finger if you press too hard. A fresh painting needs careful treatment. Identify your paintings contiguous with wax paper or with non-stick baking newspaper between them. You can also place plastic push button-pins at each corner of one of the paintings to put some boosted space between the paintings. Unpack the paintings equally soon equally they become to their destination.

Ship varnished paintings with nothing touching the surface.

We get calls from artists request what to practise when their gallery shipped a varnished painting with sheet plastic or chimera-wrap directly on the face of the painting. Shipping paintings like this is a bad technique considering the chimera wrap heats and softens the varnish while in transit. Then the pattern of the bubble wrap is pressed onto the surface.

If this happens and y'all varnished the painting with Gamvar, simply remove the varnish with Gamsol and re-varnish.

If y'all have whatever further questions about tips for traveling with oil painting materials, please feel costless to contact us.

Sincerely,

Robert Gamblin