Sorry to learn of the poor experience that you had with the TSA and traveling with your oil paints. Unfortunately the TSA are the ones in control and they make the rules that we all have to follow.

All we can do is provide the link to our MSDS sheets that Scott Burdick wrote in his article that should be helpful by providing information about the paints along with his info Our MSDS sheets state that our DS oil paints are “NOT EXPLOSIVE” and “NOT COMBUSTIBLE”

“FLASH POINT (METHOD): N/A AUTOIGNITION TEMPERATURE: N/A
EXPLOSION LIMITS IN AIR (% BY VOLUME): NOT EXPLOSIVE
EXTINGUISHING MEDIA: NO SPECIAL MEDIA REQUIRED
FIRE FIGHTING PROCEDURES: NO SPECIAL FIRE FIGHTING PROCEDURES REQUIRED
UNUSUAL FIRE & EXPLOSION HAZARDS: NOT COMBUSTIBLE”

I have recently learned on the news that the TSA does seem to change their rules as a way to thwart potential threats, so calling the TSA, as Scott suggests, for changes and updates would be important. It is disturbing to learn that when you did call, they told you that:” “you can not travel with oil paints and they should and will be confiscated.” in comment #2. Was that for carry-on only or did it also apply to all luggage?

If that is the current position that the TSA has on oil paints, then Scott’s tip in his article (I included it in the last paragraph on the blog post) that the best way to travel with oil paints is that: ““I simply pack everything into a box and ship it UPS to the hotel I’ll be staying at avoiding the hassles of checking it on the airplane.” Shipping your paints looks like the only option that the TSA has left for Artists. That tip may then be the best one when traveling with oil paints at this point on your trip to Japan. That is a shame and a real hardship for artists!

From what you have posted about your experience, Artists need to plan ahead and call the TSA before every trip to see what the current guidelines are and follow those. Thank you for sharing your experience and sorry to learn that the current TSA regulations are so strict.