[Tinman]

All being well, we are hoping to get our ITA approved and move over to Christchurch early in the new year :yes
I have a job to go to which requires me to take a small tool chest with me, but I don't want it to be shipped out with the rest of our home for 6-8 weeks before we leave the UK as I will still need the tools to work over here.

I was wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation and can offer any tips or advice about sending the chest over seperately so that it would arrive when we did. (It's too heavy to go as hold luggage - would cost a fortune in excess baggage!!!! :laugh)

I was wondering about shipping it out as air freight - any thoughts?
Cheers

[Going2NZ]

From the US perspective, we shipped quite a bit by parcel post with no problems. Of the 10+ boxes, we only had one even opened and held up for GST (tax) due. And, once we explained that the items were 20-year-old step-up transformers, they released them with no $ due. That was Customs. Now from the MAF side, nothing was a problem but with tools you probably need to make sure that they are meticulously cleaned particularly if they are wood-working tools. Not sure about delivery time from the UK, from the US the boxes averaged 8 weeks to arrive.

You might check with other forumites about the actual time it takes for household shipping to arrive. I think 6-8 weeks might be on the optimistic side which means it would definitely be worthwhile to send your tools seperately.

goog luck
Susan

[katandbob]

tools are really cheap here, my OH bought all the tools he needed to work in as a fitter welder in heavy industry and a posh tool box to put them in and the grand total was $1200. Today we were looking at shipping the rest of his tools that are still in the UK and it works out the same price as buying new ones out here, so its not worth it, His dads pleased as punch as he now has loads of tools to add to his collection!

Kat

Ps With a Handle as "Tinman" are you a sheetmetal worker or panel beater?

[Tinman]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies.
I'm actually a carpet fitter so my tools are all hand tools to do with my trade. Some of them are yonks old so I don't really want to have to replace them if I can help it - they've just worn in now!!!
I'll have to do a bit more investigating about ways of sending them over.

Tinman doesn't refer to my trade but my place of origin - Cornwall!!!!!!! (where the tin came from!)

[mtgillick]

hi,
im a mechanic and got priced £700 to ship my bare essentials over but i dont know what to do,leave them or take them

[bevsere]

Hi all you trade guys.
Bring all your tools. All of them ! Good quality tools here are expensive to buy , especially when earning NZ $. If you need power tools , buy them with your pounds or US dollars before you come. We were shocked by the prices of wood drill bits , pipe benders [ plumber] and quality power tools.

Many of the Kiwi tradesmen are in hock to their companies for several thousand $$ over their tool accounts. I cannot stress enough - bring all your tools.

We did ship out our tools in our container. It took 6 weeks to arrive. We had so many tools that it was queried by the powers that be, before the container was cleared.

My husbands firm lent him the necessary tools until the container arrived. Other tradesmen he worked with were also helpful in this way.

During a recent trip back to the UK , I looked into various ways of shipping/air freighting a few cartons . I was unable to find a cost effective way, so would be very interested to hear from anyone in the know .

[johnandbethcox]

Does anyone know anything about electricity and tools? I saw the other post related to electronics (great info, by the way), but I don't remember it referencing tools. We have a full workshop (woodworking and automotive) that we plan to bring, but are curious about what the electrical translation might be.

Thanks!