I remember a thread about labeling a Tuffpak and I think it was Steve that posted about epoxying a white plastic sheet with the flight info and contact info on it. I can't find it in search.

Anybody care to post how they mark their Tuffpak.

I'm pretty through. Here's my routine:

1. Gracy tags on top handle AND side handle.

2. Laminated business card with flight particulars and US / Africa "in case of" phone/e-mail details stuck in the clear card slot on the lid.

3. Message to TSA and baggage handlers taped to smooth shipping label area ("Replacement lock taped inside of lid, please replace and relock if you cut my lock.")

4. Another laminated business card with all of my flight details and "in case of" phone and e-mail info taped to the smooth shipping label panel.

Spray paint...'Part B' on each side in big white letters..even the idiots at Jo'berg airport can find it.

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
Spray paint...'Part B' on each side in big white letters..even the idiots at Jo'berg airport can find it.

BRILLIANT!

George

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
I remember a thread about labeling a Tuffpak and I think it was Steve that posted about epoxying a white plastic sheet with the flight info and contact info on it. I can't find it in search.

Anybody care to post how they mark their Tuffpak.

Yup, I glue not one but two pieces of white plastic onto the riflecase and put name, phone number and flight details on each.

Airline baggage tags and other labels can get pulled off but this method is a good back up.

2 plactic tags (provided by Kathi) on the handles and my name and address in the slot provided by Tuffpac.

Frostbit: You can order a Tuff Pak plastic identification plate with all of your information engraved upon it that fits the large label area on the TuffPak, from Mims Reed (Harry) here on AR. They are the only way to go! I have them on both of my Tuff Paks and they aren't coming off! I have tried other methods and had the labels come off. Not with these! I also put two of my soft i.d. tags (i.e. Gracy, Custom Travel, etc.) on the handles and my law office business card under the plastic card area at the top of the cases.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
I remember a thread about labeling a Tuffpak and I think it was Steve that posted about epoxying a white plastic sheet with the flight info and contact info on it. I can't find it in search.

Anybody care to post how they mark their Tuffpak.

Yup, I glue not one but two pieces of white plastic onto the riflecase and put name, phone number and flight details on each.

Airline baggage tags and other labels can get pulled off but this method is a good back up.

Steve,

I can't remember. Did you use a sharpie and then clean it with WD40? That's my vague memory.

Ganyana,

Careful claiming anyone in an African airport is incompetent. The PC Brigade will have a shitfit and claim you are a racist.

Perry

Perry...you are right, forgive me...the staff at Jo'berg airport are not incompetent- they are thieves - which is why I use a tuffpak even when I am not traveling with guns.

The bastards stooped so low the year before I got that pak they stole the M&M's I had bought for my daughter out of one suitcase on my way home from the states...and things have not improved...

Frostbit,

I don't know what a sharpie is? but FWIW, I write it on with an indelible pen and clean it off with whatever's handy such as WD40, CorrosionX, petrol or diesel etc.

Works a treat!

I made a stencil and painted all the information I wanted on the bag in multiple places. Worked realy well, looked good and made it appear like some kind commercial freight.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Frostbit,

I don't know what a sharpie is? but FWIW, I write it on with an indelible pen and clean it off with whatever's handy such as WD40, CorrosionX, petrol or diesel etc.

Works a treat!

Sharpies are what football players (real ones that hit each other not soccer weinies ) use to sign autographs.

I think we are talking the same thing. Indelible marker. I'll test drive it tonight. I got some plastic and epoxy yesterday.

You can use any plastic.... I've even used the bottom of an ice cream carton on one of my rifle cases....... yeah, I know I'm a cheapskate but the KISS principle works for me!

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Frostbit: You can order a Tuff Pak plastic identification plate with all of your information engraved upon it that fits the large label area on the TuffPak, from Mims Reed (Harry) here on AR. They are the only way to go! I have them on both of my Tuff Paks and they aren't coming off! I have tried other methods and had the labels come off. Not with these! I also put two of my soft i.d. tags (i.e. Gracy, Custom Travel, etc.) on the handles and my law office business card under the plastic card area at the top of the cases.

Ditto, have the plate affixed on side , no problems.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
You can use any plastic.... I've even used the bottom of an ice cream carton on one of my rifle cases....... yeah, I know I'm a cheapskate but the KISS principle works for me!

I got a white plastic "No Parking" sign from Home Depot. The backside is plain white.

I'm leaving for Zimbabwe in 1 1/2 weeks, and feel completely unprepared already, you guys are really not helping!

What is Part B? Why should I be putting in on my tuffpak?

I was told I have to separate my ammo from my rifles, so I have a regular "soft" suitcase that I planned on putting my ammo in, locked in a Pelican case. Is that not safe?

I will be spending a night in Johannesburg, so I will be able to pick up my bags, and check them again the next morning. SAPS paperwork has been taken care of by Gracy Travel.

OK, just did a test drive of the white plastic with a "sharpie" (indelible pen) mark put in the corner. Wd-40, even straight gasoline did not remove it.

What kind of pen should I be using?

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
OK, just did a test drive of the white plastic with a "sharpie" (indelible pen) mark put in the corner. Wd-40, even straight gasoline did not remove it.

What kind of pen should I be using?

Holy crap!! Guess what? A plain old eraser took the mark off.

As to the ammo box for your Tuffpak.
In the past I have used a locking metal cash box with the coin tray removed but MTM Products makes two sizes of what they call a Dry Box.
There are both alike except for size.
The big orange color one I sell is $12 and it will hold 100 rounds of 416 size stuff in the boxes. The green smaller box ($9) will hold a bunch of more like 7 Mag / 06 etc. in their boxes.
This plastic box is lockable in three places and has a rubber o ring on the inside of the lid.Does not weigh squat so that is what I use now as it has rounded corners and more packing friendly than my cash box.
I can have my ammo in a locked dry box inside my Tuffpak which is also locked.
Worse comes to worse I can put a baggage tag on the box and send it along. So far I have not had to do that.
Better tomorrows,
Mims

Frostbit,

I use an indelible ink pen or permanent marker pen and wipe it off with petrol, diesel WD40 or CorrosionX.

If you can rub it out with an eraser, you're not using the right type of pen.

Works for me mate.

Austringer,

check the website for the particular airlines you're travelling with. Some, including SAA and BA have recently changed their rules and both now allow ammo to travel in the same case with the firearm.

Also make a point of printing the regs as per the site and taking them with you when you travel.

Austringer

Part B...so that the useless oxygen theiving bastards at Joberg airport think it is something other than a gun case and it is not worth stealing only one part of a kit...like where is part A?

Also, having had SAA loose my luggage for a few days on every single trip to the USA and most of my flights to namibia...when you come to fill out the missing bagage claim in Harare, a tuffpak doest fit any of the 'standard' case descriptions...so saying it is a large instument case with large lettering on each side (put your name if you like just make sure the leters are large) makes the whole process that much easier and the staff at harare airport that much more co-operative (actually the staff in Harare are pretty good)

Harry:

I have a Pelican case I put my ammo in. Did you fly South African Airways?

Shakari:

I'm flying SAA, but unfortunately the website has not been changed to reflect the new rule, and customer service here in the states claims the ammo still may not be carried in the gun case. If you see anything in writing, please let me know. I would feel much more comfortable putting my ammo case in my Tuffpak.

Ganyana:

Now I get it....man, the excitement must be getting to me. I thought "Part B" pertained to some obscure law I hadn't heard about.

I think that's an excellent idea, I'll write something similar on my case. I was told that if I encounter problems, it's most likely to happen in SA. I'll be spending a night there, so I will be clearing customs. I'll be happy to put up with that, I just home my ammo doesn't get pilfered or lost. I feel quite confident my rifles in the Tuffpak will be fine.

Austringer,

They appear to have moved the goalposts yet again.

When I flew to Uganda about a month ago and back again about a week or 10 days ago, they wanted ammo in the rifle case but I now see their website has now reverted to ammo separated from the firearm.

I think they call it the joys of air travel!

I got some tags from Travelsmith that say "Read info inside if bag is lost" in about 25 different languages. Inside you can put your entire itinerary with daily contact info. Probably not the ideal solution but it might help the honest ones track you down.