How heavy is the counterweight on a dropweight stringer?

[donnygg]

I just realised I'm allowed 2 x 23kg of luggage for my international flight and am thinking of buying a dropweight home to save on shipping. However, I might have to carry the counterweight in my hand luggage to meet the check-in luggage allowance. I'm wondering how much does the counterweight on a dropweight weigh, just so I don't exceed my hand luggage allowance too?

[Irvin]

I would call the airline and see if that is going to be allowed. It would not be good if they confiscated your drop weight before you got on the plane.

[BigGriff]

Order it on line and save on shipping/taxes. You should be able to find a solid drop weight with some sort of shipping special or deal.

[donnygg]

Originally Posted by Irvin

I would call the airline and see if that is going to be allowed. It would not be good if they confiscated your drop weight before you got on the plane.

You mean carrying the weights in my hand luggage? Like security issues?

Originally Posted by BigGriff

Order it on line and save on shipping/taxes. You should be able to find a solid drop weight with some sort of shipping special or deal.

I'm flying internationally so I don't think there would be any international shipping deal that would be fast and cheap. Even if I pay for excess luggage it's only about $100, which would be about the same as sea freight that would take 2-3 months. Anyway, I'll search further to see if there are any good deals.

[Irvin]

Originally Posted by donnygg

You mean carrying the weights in my hand luggage? Like security issues?...

Yes I do. Some people may consider a 1 pound hammer a weapon. Tie a drop weight on a shoe string and see how much damage you could do with it.

Now I would not consider a nail file a dangerous weapon but try walking on a airplane with one. I would also not consider an 8 oz bottle of shampoo dangerous but I left a bottle in the Atlanta airport once. LOL I think there is a 4 oz maximum.

[SwankPeRFection]

Clearly the dropweight could be considered the core of a home made nuke. Best be careful.

In all seriousness though... just buy online and same yourself the trouble. You won't have to pay for shipping or taxes, depending on where you buy the stringing machine.

[Chotobaka]

FWIW, TSA (in the USA) has a list of prohibited items, as do individual airlines. The airlines' list can vary. I have found international carriers to be more flexible in this regard. Also, do not rely on phone calls with customer service reps -- they are generally uninformed and contradictory in their responses.

[jswinf]

If shipping would be really expensive, maybe you've got a good idea. I just got on my bathroom scale with and without my Gamma x-2 and can say it weighs 22 or 23 pounds. I'm not sure how much of that is the weight, I wouldn't think it's more than 5 pounds. I vaguely recall the box it came in being fairly bulky, not too easy to just tuck under your arm and lug around.

[Gamma Tech]

If it’s a Gamma machine the drop weight is 4.8 pounds for both weights. I’ll toss in my two cents worth and mention that if you are going to travel with only a carry on bag, you may be in for a hassle at security, depending on the TSA agent. I recently found an x-acto knife & blades in the bottom crease of a leather bag I fly with that had to be there for at least a dozen fights. Then, on the other hand, one time they took a pair of mustache scissors and made it look like I had a nuclear accelerator.

[its_me_leon]

I once carried a lead belt used for diving weighing 30 pounds around my waist. No problem at all, but that was before all the security hassle.

[Irvin]

Back in Jan 1967 8 walked on board with a 308 and 30.06 rifle and handed them over to the pilot IN THE Cockpit. But was a long time ago.

EDIT they told me I could not take ammo but no one checked.

[SwankPeRFection]

Originally Posted by Chotobaka

FWIW, TSA (in the USA) has a list of prohibited items, as do individual airlines. The airlines' list can vary. I have found international carriers to be more flexible in this regard. Also, do not rely on phone calls with customer service reps -- they are generally uninformed and contradictory in their responses.

"Ya, well, you know, that's just like your opinion man. "

[Radicalized]

Originally Posted by donnygg

I just realised I'm allowed 2 x 23kg of luggage for my international flight and am thinking of buying a dropweight home to save on shipping. However, I might have to carry the counterweight in my hand luggage to meet the check-in luggage allowance. I'm wondering how much does the counterweight on a dropweight weigh, just so I don't exceed my hand luggage allowance too?

An X-2 weight is about 6 pounds.

To Irvin, my father could have trumped even your "hardware" story on flights to and from Alaska. The difference now and then maybe isn't shocking, but certainly the gap makes one question.

[donnygg]

Hmm, seems like the weight might cause some issue in my carry on luggage. Maybe I'll shift things around in my check in luggage and carry on more benign stuff like clothes. Maybe I'll send some back using USPS flat rate box. Maybe I'll host some friends and get them to bring some stuff home for me :P. Regardless, I think it'll still be more cost effective and efficient than international shipping.

[jswinf]

I really don't see that 5 or 6 pound weight as that big a deal. It's not like a drop-weight stringer uses this big massive thing like you see in Roadrunner cartoons, it's more about the leverage.

My brother flew from Arizona to St. Louis in the mid-1990s with a nice shiny hand-axe in his carry-on, something our Dad was getting rid of. No problem.