Magnetic pick-up tool with telescoping handle.......

[Odie]

If you're like me, there is a continual layer of wood shavings on the floor of your shop. Sometimes it gets a little discouraging to see it right back this way, only hours after cleaning up!

(Clean up is with a big garden rake, a large garbage can, broom, and a snow shovel, btw! )

It was earlier this year that I dropped a little specially fabricated pin I use for tool support on a pin rest. It probably took not less than an hour to find the little bugger! I made an order for supplies a couple months ago, and saw they had a sale on this little magnetic tool. My frustration was still fresh on my mind, so I purchased one........

Well.......a few weeks ago, I dropped that same exact pin into the shavings behind the lathe.....Again! Grrrrrr! :mad:

It did take a couple of minutes to find it, but not longer than that! This little magnetic pick up tool is a welcome addition to any shop that sometimes resembles the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert mingling with your equipment and floor! Ha!

It was well worth the small price, and I just don't know why I never thought to get one of these before......because I can remember not being able to find little dropped metal things in the shop........for decades! Heh,heh,heh!

Oh well.......better late than never!

ooc

 

[Dave Roller]

I've had one of these for years. A real back saver!

 

[Jim Silva]

Yup, great minds think alike.

I use a bolt chuck (as opposed to a screw chuck) for some flat production work I do and am constantly dropping a washer or nut into the shavings.

Jimâ„¢'s Corollary to Murphy's Law states that any unique and irreplaceable object dropped onto the floor will inevitably roll, bounce or move by other means of self-locomotion, under or behind the most inaccessible object located within shouting distance, generally coming to rest behind said object's legs, wheels or other low-hanging, unreachable protrusion.

My magnet pole gets regular usage as a result.

 

[Max Taylor]

Magnetic pick-up tool

I keep about 3 of those. Found them at HF, about 3 bucks apiece. great for extending the life of your back. Max

 

[Griesbach]

I wouldn't be without mine.

 

[MichaelMouse]

If you don't care to buy one of them, put a cow magnet in a plastic bag, tie to a string and drag it around. The bag allows you to quick release that mess of nails or screws you made back into their container.

 

[Clifton C]

cows

I would bet a lot of turners have that telescoping magnet. Great for burrowing
into the pile were the allen wrench, grub screw etc disappeared.
I tried the cow magnet trick, but it attracted more cows then I wanted
and cleaning up after them was more trouble then it was worth
c

 

[ray hampton]

I 've 3 back saver and number of bigger magnets that will pick up about 5 lbs with a thread all for a handle, thanks for the plastic bag trick

 

[mbinga]

mbinga

I have always had at least one of these little darlings on my bench, even back before retirement, in the machine shop. Anything dropped into the bowels of a large turning center will always be out of reach, the only problem there was dealing with the chip's, don't have that problem on a wood lathe.

 

[Tom Wilson]

Magnetic pickup

Also makes a good project to make a wood handle for the pickup tool. Looks lots better then the painted handle. I like the things a lot, also. Have them scattered all over the shop, probably have three or four.

 

[Vaughn]

...Jimâ„¢'s Corollary to Murphy's Law states that any unique and irreplaceable object dropped onto the floor will inevitably roll, bounce or move by other means of self-locomotion, under or behind the most inaccessible object located within shouting distance, generally coming to rest behind said object's legs, wheels or other low-hanging, unreachable protrusion...

I like the way you think, and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

 

[Roger Chandler]

I purchased one of those magnetic pick up tools yesterday because of this thread...........I should have done it a long time ago..........I hate dropping washers or screws or something and then trying to find it in all those shavings..............most of the time I hear it clanging in the impellar of the dust collector

not so good! thanks for posting this tip!