Traveling with Your Tattoo Kit: A Checklist for Flying with Machines, Needles, and Ink

Tattoo conventions and guest spots will play a crucial role in career development, but taking part in flying with expensive and fragile equipment and dangerous materials may become a significant source of great anxiety. A packer's bag, clear labels, and awareness of both the regulations of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and your particular airline are the key to taking a stress-free trip.

Section 1: The Golden Rule of Tattoo Travel

Whenever you travel, always carry all your sharps (needles, cartridges, razors) and your tattoo machines (coils, rotaries) in your checked luggage.

·         TSA Policies on Sharps: TSA states explicitly that sharps of any kind, such as a needle, should not be carried in a cabin bag (carry-on) or bag except where medically justified and pacified in a container resistant to punctures (which is what the tattoo needles are not considered to belong to).

·         Delay Prevention: Although tattoo machines are legally protected devices that can be carried in carry-on cases, the nature and bulk of the coils, motors, and grips usually raise red flags with security scanners. Placing them in checked baggage will reduce the risk of having your bag inspected and x-rayed by the x-rays, and possibly, damaged by the machines.

·         Exception: Power supplies, clip cords, and foot pedals can generally fit into the carry-on bags, but the best and consistently safe way would be to check everything.

Q2: Should I use a separate case for my tattoo equipment?

Yes, most definitely, a special hard-sided, lockable case is highly suggested.

·         Security and Damage Prevention: To prevent crushing or damage of the expensive machines at the hands of the airline handlers, you need a Peli or any other hard-shell case.

·         Clarity to TSA: You are clear in your case (or have a notice within): Categorize your case (should have a label) saying, Professional Tattoo Equipment: Contains Machines, Needles (Secured), and Ink. This openness will enable the TSA officer to determine the contents swiftly and prove that they are professional tools, not arms and dangerous parts.

Section 2: Rules for Ink and Liquids

Q3: What are the specific rules for traveling with tattoo ink?

Tattoo ink is classified as a liquid and is subject to different rules based on whether it's in your carry-on or checked baggage.

Table 1.1 Rules for Tattoo Ink During Flight

Q4: How should I pack disposable liquids like green soap and alcohol?

Decant, put them into checked bags.

Decanting: Buy some travel-size spray bottles of your green soap and distilled water (less than 4oz).

Liquids: Fill any bulk liquids remaining (distilled water, pre-cleaning agents, etc.) in tightly capped containers and put them in a secondary and sealed plastic bin or bag in your checked case to ensure that they do not leak on other equipment. It should never be tap water; always use distilled water to rinse.

Section 3: Needles, Sharps, and Power

Q5: How must needles and cartridges be packed to avoid confiscation?

The needles and cartridges should be in their original, unopened, sealed and unopened and should be put in checked luggage.

Original Packaging: Never remove the cartridges from the separate blister packaging or the needles from the packaged wrappers. The initial packaged is evidence of sterility and safety.

Safety Containers: Pack all your individually packed sharps, such as needles, razors, and any other sharp disposable objects, in a small, hardened, puncture-proof container of plastic or metal (such as a fishing tackle box or metal tin) into your checked baggage. Do not fill a standard biohazard sharps container unless there is a medical courier who is licensed to service it, since airlines will not accept a partially filled sharps container.

Q6: Are there special rules for power supplies and wireless battery packs?

Yes, the lithium-ion battery packs are strictly regulated, and they must be placed in the cabin almost all the time.

Wireless Battery Pack: You should place all the lithium-ion batteries that are not in use (used in wireless pen machines such as Critical or Custom Irons) and the battery banks in your carry-on baggage. This is a prerequisite safety regulation in all leading airlines because the cargo hold has the potential for fire due to the presence of batteries.

Power Supplies/Cords: Power supplies/ cords/ foot pedals can be placed in the checked luggage or carry-on luggage, but should be neatly coiled and arranged to eliminate the appearance of the X-ray scan.

Section 4: Documentation and International Travel

Q7: What documentation should I carry, especially for international travel?

Have a copy of your professional portfolio, studio licenses, and equipment list with you always.

Etiquette: When traveling abroad, bring some of the following documents showing that you are a licensed, professional artist and that you are going to work (i.e., your studio business card, a signed arrangement with the guest spot /convention, and copies of any licensing or health certificates). This proves that it is commercial and not for personal use of the equipment.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS): Each Material Safety Data sheet is not frequently requested, but having digital copies of your ink and pigments MSDS on your phone or in the cloud, it can be easy to answer any day custom enquiries related to what your materials are made of.

Following these safety guidelines is useful for an artist to take their materials to go and visit a marquee client for work.

FAQs

Q: If I'm only taking a single wireless pen machine, can I carry it on?

The machine could be allowed, but the attached lithium-ion battery pack should go in the cabin for safety reasons. But in case you have needles/cartridges, those also have to be checked. This is because your process involves the use of sharps, and so to reduce security hassles and make sure that there are no complications at all, you will have to check and confirm that the sharps are in the right place.

Q: Do I need to declare my tattoo equipment to the airline or TSA?

No, you do not have to meddle with your equipment with the airline officially. But you shall mark your business package well as Professional Tattoo Equipment. This mere gesture of openness comes to the rescue of the TSA person who screens your bag, easing their job and theoretically eliminating any possibility that they will grab the equipment and see it as suspicious, and slow down your trip.