Sometimes I check, sometimes I carry on. When I do carry on there are times when I just have to shake my head and sigh. In addition to my camera and laptop, my tools are a digital multimeter, thermocouple, IR gun, AC current clamp, and a dielectric tester in a pelican case. The dielectric tester always gets a reaction, usually not good. One TSA agent tried to tell me the tester was not allowed as carryon. I had to show her my ID that showed my Seattle address and my BP that shows me as a MVPG75k on AS and told her I carry this through security at SEA several times a month without issue. She finally relented after making me promise not to take it out of the overhead bin during the flight. (sigh) She was afraid I might zap someone during the flight. The fact that AS does not have 120V AC at their seats did not make a difference. (I did not tell her that since it weighs 38.5 lbs, using it as a bludgeon would be much more dangerous) I also carry a 10-in-one screwdriver now mainly because the tips can be taken out so the overall length of the screwdriver is less than 7", One TSA agent made me put the tips in a separate ditty bag within my overall tool bag. (really??)