What would you do with? (2026 Update)

A number of small toy crossbows :-)

electrician's mice?

You could try easing one slowly up Cursitor Doom's arse if you knew where to find him.

It doesn't really matter what you think it might come in useful for: ten minutes after you've dumped it at the recycling centre/the skip with it has been driven away, you'll come across a problem for which 4 six-metre-long strips of spring steel are the only solution.

Nick

Ain?t that the truth. ;-)

Best suggestion so far seems to be to use one for threading cables. Doesn?t solve the problem of what to do with the other three though? ;-)

Tim

You would have a tough time cutting that I'd imagine.

How about some kind of awning stiffener, or maybe a poly tunnel holder upper. I'm thinking derivatives of the tent application here.

Brian

Some large catapults for getting ropes over high trees for Radio hams?

Strap to replace arris rails on a fence with too long a span that is always breaking in the wind, erm, offer them to University arts department so they can make them into a sculpture of some kind. I'm sure they would love them. Brian

Drain rods? They're the sort of thing that might be useful for doing a drain CCTV survey - strap a £10 ebay inspection camera to them and wiggle them around the bends. They're probably a lot more flexible than regular drain rods.

Also cable rods, on a similar principle.

Theo

Speaking of Radio Hams, what has happened to Jim and T i m ?

They seem to have gone very quiet for over a week now.

Andrew

angle grinder :-)

"Andrew" snipped-for-privacy@mybtinternet.com wrote

Jim just cheered about Italy winning.

T i m got executed by Fredxx

Yes, drain rods and cable rods can be useful for basic inspection work. They’re designed to be flexible enough to navigate bends while still providing enough rigidity to push through blockages or reach deeper sections. Some homeowners attach small inspection cameras to them for a rough visual check, which can help identify clogs, roots, or debris.

However, they’re not as precise as professional CCTV equipment used by companies like *Precise Drainage Solutions*, which uses purpose-built cameras for accurate diagnostics. Drain rods are helpful for simple checks, but care is needed to avoid disconnecting joints or damaging pipes.