|
Tool Lanyard
by Don Peterson
When a dropped tool would be inconvenient, I attach a lanyard to the tool. The lanyard is made from 1.5 mm braided nylon twine.
A bowline knot on one end provides a loop of about 150 mm in diameter.
The other end is tied around a 1/4″ diameter neodymium magnet with a 1/8” hole through the center.
I toss the magnet end against a steel surface so it’s in a known location.
The loop is pulled through a piece of plastic tubing that is a good friction fit over the two lines of the loop.
This lets me hook the loop over the tool with a cow hitch; the tubing is then slid down to the tool to hold the cow hitch closed.
This simple device has saved tools from drops that would have otherwise cost me time while trying to recover.
For example, I’ve used it on a ball gauge when measuring small diameters in the lathe, as dropping a little tool into the full chip pan will interrupt the work while you pull out chips to find the tool.
It’s also nice for use with a wrench or socket when you’re working on a car and can’t afford to drop a tool behind the engine.
Our tips and newsletters come
from subscribers like you!
Have something of your own to share?
Send in your tip with photos! or Reply to this email.
|
