Handy pointed tool
- Steve Sawyer
- Posts: 965
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:20 pm
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
Handy pointed tool
In the pic below, you will see examples of a double-point knitting needle. Somehow one of these ended up in my shop a couple of years ago. I had no idea what it was, but it seemed to be some kind of sewing thingumbob, and had to take it to a fabric store and ask "what the hell is this?"
Anyway, this has turned out to be incredibly useful for those times when I needed to poke, pry, nudge or otherwise do something that would normally have me reaching for an awl but for which an awl is inappropriate because the sharp point will damage whatever I'm poking/prodding/prying/nudging. Think gaskets, o-rings, a guitar string, a bit of veneer etc. It's also good for working under things then rolling to stretch or separate, such as getting a ring of bicycle tubing over a vacuum connection or peeling a label or glued-on outline from a template. As you can see from the second picture the ends of these are nicely rounded, so much safer to use around soft or delicate, easily-damaged materials. They're made of aluminum and very light weight, so they are a bit limited in their prying ability, but incredibly handy nonetheless.
A pack of four cost me $5.
Anyway, this has turned out to be incredibly useful for those times when I needed to poke, pry, nudge or otherwise do something that would normally have me reaching for an awl but for which an awl is inappropriate because the sharp point will damage whatever I'm poking/prodding/prying/nudging. Think gaskets, o-rings, a guitar string, a bit of veneer etc. It's also good for working under things then rolling to stretch or separate, such as getting a ring of bicycle tubing over a vacuum connection or peeling a label or glued-on outline from a template. As you can see from the second picture the ends of these are nicely rounded, so much safer to use around soft or delicate, easily-damaged materials. They're made of aluminum and very light weight, so they are a bit limited in their prying ability, but incredibly handy nonetheless.
A pack of four cost me $5.
==Steve==
- Peter Wilcox
- Posts: 1319
- Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:31 am
- Location: Northeastern California
Re: Handy pointed tool
Crochet hooks are useful too, for reaching into enclosed electronics cavities and wire runs to fish out wires, and for reaching into a cervical os to retrieve lost IUD strings.
Maybe I can't fix it, but I can fix it so no one can fix it
Re: Handy pointed tool
That made my doodle hurt thinking about it.Peter Wilcox wrote:Crochet hooks are useful too, for reaching into enclosed electronics cavities and wire runs to fish out wires, and for reaching into a cervical os to retrieve lost IUD strings.
Ever-body was kung fu fight-in,
Them kids was fast as light-nin.
Them kids was fast as light-nin.
- Steve Sawyer
- Posts: 965
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:20 pm
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
Re: Handy pointed tool
Thanks, Peter - I read that just as I was taking a swig of my glass of coke! Now I gotta wipe up my keyboard, desktop, laptop screen...Peter Wilcox wrote:Crochet hooks are useful too, for reaching into enclosed electronics cavities and wire runs to fish out wires, and for reaching into a cervical os to retrieve lost IUD strings.
==Steve==
- Bryan Bear
- Posts: 1382
- Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:05 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Re: Handy pointed tool
I believe you want croTchet hooks for that application. . . <G>Peter Wilcox wrote:Crochet hooks are useful too, for reaching into enclosed electronics cavities and wire runs to fish out wires, and for reaching into a cervical os to retrieve lost IUD strings.
PMoMC
Take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you.
Take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you.
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Re: Handy pointed tool
I stopped using knitting needles when I poked one in the right ear, and then the point emerged from the left ear. My dignity was compromised.
- Bryan Bear
- Posts: 1382
- Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:05 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Re: Handy pointed tool
Does that mean you now have a knit-wit?
PMoMC
Take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you.
Take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you.
- Peter Wilcox
- Posts: 1319
- Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:31 am
- Location: Northeastern California
Re: Handy pointed tool
Good one Bryan! Unless it's one of the older ones: https://www.wired.com/2011/07/ff_iud/Bryan Bear wrote:I believe you want croTchet hooks for that application. . . <G>
I took out a Dalkon Shield once - it was a painful, bloody pull - the damn thing looks like a trilobite. (Sorry Steve - don't mean to derail the thread.)
Maybe I can't fix it, but I can fix it so no one can fix it
- Steve Sawyer
- Posts: 965
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:20 pm
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
Re: Handy pointed tool
S'okay Peter. Gotta say this one of the more unusual thread hijacks I've seen!!Peter Wilcox wrote:(Sorry Steve - don't mean to derail the thread.)
==Steve==
- Randolph Rhett
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Re: Handy pointed tool
I really hope you are a retired doctor or something, and not some kind of weird medical fetishist.Peter Wilcox wrote:Crochet hooks are useful too, for reaching into enclosed electronics cavities and wire runs to fish out wires, and for reaching into a cervical os to retrieve lost IUD strings.
- Peter Wilcox
- Posts: 1319
- Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:31 am
- Location: Northeastern California
Re: Handy pointed tool
Yes, I am a retired physician, but I still have a license to kill.
Maybe I can't fix it, but I can fix it so no one can fix it