Saw a plumber use a magnet to find a bolt and it clicked for me

Tbh I've wasted way too many lunch breaks fishing dropped screws out of machine pits with my fingers. After watching a plumber in a Chicago high rise stick a pickup magnet on a telescoping rod to grab a bolt, I ordered one for $18 and it's already saved me twice this month. Has anyone else found cheap non-elevator tools that just work better in the shaft?

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1 Comment

the_susan1mo ago

Honestly that plumber trick is genius and I wish I'd thought of it years ago. I've spent so many lunch breaks lying on my stomach trying to fish out a dropped screw with a bent paperclip or a stick with gum on it, it's embarrassing. The magnet on a rod thing is one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments that makes you feel both stupid and relieved at the same time. I picked one up after seeing your post and used it today to grab a nut that fell into a drain cover, took me thirty seconds instead of a whole cranky hour. It's crazy how the simplest tools are sometimes the ones you never think to grab until you see someone else use them. Like, I've had a magnet sitting in my toolbox for years and never once thought to tie it to a string, so thanks for sharing.