Thread burner allowed in carryon?
 

I want to take a cordless thread zapper that runs on one AA battery, but it's not worth checking a bag for. Sorry, I couldn't figure out how to post a picture. if it makes any difference, I have PreCheck.

Sorry, but what's a thread burner/zapper?

My guess is that Night Owl is referring to one of these heated tools that melt the ends of synthetic threads to prevent fraying.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31mIwWOE%2B3L.jpg

As to whether it will be permitted in carry-on bags, I'd guess that if it's in your bag, it won't be noticed. If it's noticed, you've got a 50/50 chance of a TSO saying "No!" based on the fact that he has no idea what it is.

They have no sharp edges or points, and although they heat up, so do lighters, which are allowed, so my own personal opinion is that they're harmless and should not be prohibited. But as I said, many TSOs will simply prohibit anything they don't recognize or understand, "out of an abundance of caution."

50/50 it'll get spotted and confiscated because a TSO doesn't know what it is, thinks it's kind of cool, tries to say it looks like a mini-Taser and has to be confiscated out of an abundance of caution.

Guaranteed to be confiscated if a sock monkey is carrying it.

:D

Thanks for that. Doesn't a Bic lighter still do the job?

Having some experience with similar activities (I work with polypropylene webbing a lot), I can tell you that the heat of a specialty tool like this, or the soldering gun that I use, gives you much finer control over the melting process than any sort of open flame.

The lighter will get the job done in a pinch, but it's crude and rough, and the results can be a bit ugly.