Closure on "Lighted Grabber Tool"

[CWLee]

A week or so ago I posted about my problem with a pair of pliers which slipped into a cavity through a narrow opening. I have now retrieved the pliers, and for those of you who helped with useful advice I have written below a bit about the process. Many thanks to you guys.

From Pep Boys, the auto parts store, I purchased a moveable mirror on a metal wand about 15-20" long. I also purchased there a magnet (first tested to ensure it would pick up a comparable sized pair of pliers) on the end of a flexible metal wand, again about 15-20" long. Each cost about $6-7. From an electronics store I purchased, for $12, a small LED flashlight.

I tied a string to the flashlight, and lowered it, along with the mirror on the wand. I didn't mention before that the hole through which I had to work was at the end of a very tight crawl space, so there was no opportunity for another person's hands to help me. With the string in one hand, and the mirror wand in the other, I tried unsuccessfully to locate the pair of pliers in the cavity.

Next step was mounting a drop light over my shoulder with a

100w incandescent bulb in it, and just using the mirror. That was better, and I saw where the pair of pliers was. Then I inserted the magnet wand, and that proved difficult since everything in the cavity was steel/iron and the magnet was pulled around. Eventually I was able to make contact with the pair of pliers, and move it around on the floor of the cavity.

Then I was able to pull it directly upward toward the opening. As I tried to pull it through the opening it came off the magnet. I tried a few more times and then when it got near the top I used a pair kitchen tongs to reach in and grab it and pull it farther up until I could grasp it in my fingers.

One happy camper.

My next project is to fabricate a semi-permanent cover for that opening, with some small holes in it for ventilation.

Thanks again guys.

[nielloeb]

A long time ago, someone I knew had a similar situation, but figured it would be cheaper to buy new pliers. I've applied this a number of times. The last was when I needed a platform so kids could reach the start of a zip line. Pre-made ones cost a lot. Do-it-yourself plans cost over $100 just for the materials. I ended up buying a deer stand on sale for less than any other solution.

[RicodJour]

I think you're missing the point - obviously you're not a tool junkie. He wants _more_ tools, not the same number! ;)

Those little universal jointed mirrors on the extensible wand are great

- very useful when you're messing with the back of your puter or other electronics. Too bad they don't have mirrors that would reverse the reversal so you could read normally.

R

[tom&kel]

[CWLee]

Both of you missed the point. The problem was not the cost of replacing the pair of pliers. The problem was that leaving them where they fell risked major problems when the associated equipment was started. The pair of pliers could have caused hundreds - perhaps thousands - of dollars of damage.

What is a "zip line"?

==========================

but figured it

number of

wand are great

puter or other

reverse the

[RicodJour]

Glad it worked out for you. I ran across this on eBay:

R