Can you bring Fuller's Earth on a plane?

[Risu]

Leaving for Dragon Con in a couple days, and I need to heavily distress a costume, part of which is flying in with a friend, so I won't be able to distress it before the flight. I know that Fuller's Earth has to be shipped by ground, so does that mean it's a no-go to bring a small bottle of it on a plane?

 

[MFP 2020]

This is probably not helpful, but: I don't see why. It's just powdered clay. I would take it in my carry-on.

 

[Risu]

Well it ships by ground only and it's apparently a regulated substance in Canada. I just don't want to get hauled off the plane for dust.

 

[Phish4dinner]

I dunno. But you should wrap it in balls of plastic wrap and stuff it in the suit case lining for some cheap entertainment at customs expense.


Im kidding of course.

 

[cavx]

If it was sealed, would it matter if it were in checked luggage?

 

[Risu]

Not sure. I would think even if it were sealed a dog might be able to smell it, but I don't know if the dogs are honed in on that particularly. It doesn't really help that I'm also bringing a number of other suspicious looking props with me.

 

[cavx]

Sprinkle some coffee grains in your bag. That will throw off the dogs :ninja

 

[Risu]

Thank you Alex, I'll take "Things that will win you an anal cavity search" for 400. Haha

 

[MFP 2020]

The likelihood that a Canadian Customs dog is trained to sniff Fuller's earth (or any mineral) is pretty slim. I can't see any reason it would be regulated. Where did you get that? —Oh, wait. You're not going to Canada, so who cares about Canada?

I would call the airline or TSA and ask. There's always a chance you'll get some a-hole agent and have to explain your little baggie or jar of dirt. Before I got real Fuller's, I used powdered foundation from Target and "Indian healing clay," which is just Fuller's (bentonite) under a different name. So maybe just hit up a local store?

http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924104

 

[RobertMuldoon]

How about posting it to your hotel so that it's ready and waiting for you when you arrive and check in?

 

[Risu]

Unfortunately it's already too late for that. The shipping wouldn't get it there until the end of the con and the costume requires the beard I have to shave off on day 2.

As for the Canada thing is not completely relevant to my situation, just a reason that it may be a problem. I believe Fuller's is flammable when dispersed in the air, much like powdered coffee creamer.

 

[C17ldmstr]

Risu,

Section 14 of the MSDS, posted in the link above, confirms that Fullers Earth is not a DOT regulated material and there are no shipping restrictions. I certify shipments for air movement as part of my every day job and this item is unregulated.

I would package it in my checked luggage with a copy of the MSDS in case TSA gets curious. But again, there is no issue transporting this material by air.

Hope this helps...

 

[Apollo]

Why not buy some when you get to the dirty dirty?

 

[Risu]

Huh, that's interesting. When I bought it they said it was ground only. OK then, looks like it's not a problem.

 

[ajones1138]

I work for the TSA (sorry about everyone's shampoo and such), and I can't think of a single reason why you couldn't bring it, especially in checked baggage. as long as it doesn't say its flammable, it SHOULD be good to go.

 

[Risu]

Awesome. As long as I've got a TSA guy on the line, how would the average bag check of an arc reactor go?