Get a hook into it!

[OccupantRJ]

This is a simple tool I made years ago, but it has turned out to be one of the handiest ones I own, especially as I'm not getting any younger. It is a 34 inch hook with a T handle, made of 5/16" rod with a pipe handle, and can be used for a variety of things that you never thought of. It works great for removing jack stands from underneath a car, pulling loaded dollys, and makes moving that awkward table, cabinet or other low down heavy object in the shop easier. If you can hook a cabinet down low with it, it is much easier to move some things by pulling, rather than by pushing. Here I was using it yesterday to remove jack stands.

 

[Craftman]

it seems identical to what the milk delivery guys use to move around a stack of milk crate!

 

[OccupantRJ]

I first was exposed to these hooks years ago when I started working in manufacturing. I decided to make one for myself after using one to move something the first couple of days I was there. A real backsaver. We use them at work to steer long wooden crates on dollys, full of heavy screw machine stock, to maneuver down narrow aisles between storage racks.

 

[neverenoughtools]

Can we call you a " happy ****** " ?

 

[OccupantRJ]

Can we call you a " happy ****** " ?

I guess you may!

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

This is a simple tool I made years ago, but it has turned out to be one of the handiest ones I own, especially as I'm not getting any younger. It is a 34 inch hook with a T handle, made of 5/16" rod with a pipe handle, and can be used for a variety of things that you never thought of. It works great for removing jack stands from underneath a car, pulling loaded dollys, and makes moving that awkward table, cabinet or other low down heavy object in the shop easier. If you can hook a cabinet down low with it, it is much easier to move some things by pulling, rather than by pushing. Here I was using it yesterday to remove jack stands.

Me like! Also getting tooo old to bend over more than I have to! Thanks for the idea!

 

[PAToyota]

As my grandfather would say "a reacher" - so you can reach under there and get that _________ easier.

 

[e-tek]

GOOD IDEA! I could definitely use that for the same things. Thx!

 

[Az Scooter]

it seems identical to what the milk delivery guys use to move around a stack of milk crate!

I nkow I used a hook like this to sling milk. I have also used it to push dents out of my truck, that someone else placed there.

 

[OccupantRJ]

That hook had been in my storage trailer for so long that I had forgotten about it. I just used that sucker to pull the mower deck sideways from underneath my riding mower. Yet again another use for it. I've already used it 5 or 6 times this weekend. It's kept stored on the upper bracket of my garage door track for easy access.

 

[5lima30]

Great idea! I will be copying it thanks!

 

[MScott]

If you have access to an old horse drawn rake, the kind that have a lot of curved "teeth across the back," you can make these hooks by simply hammering the tines straight, cutting them to the length you need and bending a hook in them. The top is a perfect handle. I have used these for years as a poker for moving wood around in a wood stove, but longer versions could be used as you have. These rakes are all over the place in farmers fields.

 

[DrunkSmurf]

I've had similar type tools in the past myself and this reminds me I need to make one up...lol

I had one that I welded a second reversed direction hook on the opposite side. It came in handy as well. Worked great for fetching gallon paint cans off high shelves etc.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I've had similar type tools in the past myself and this reminds me I need to make one up...lol

I had one that I welded a second reversed direction hook on the opposite side. It came in handy as well. Worked great for fetching gallon paint cans off high shelves etc.

I thought about putting a dual direction end on mine also, to push things with, but just never got to it.

 

[willy3486]

As I am getting older I think I need some type of tool to help me get off the ground. A lot of times I am on the ground working on something. Like today I changed out my brake rotors and pads. I need something help make it easier to get up. I think its more of a global warming thing. Global warming is causing gravity to make it harder to get up. Its similar to my old 66 pickup. The metal in it is shrinking and I think its global warming as well. I have had it since 1980 and it has shrunk because there is not as much room as there use to be in it. Seriously I think I need to put this on the list to make.

 

[Joe69]

Kinda reminds my of the 5th wheel tool truckers use. I've made them for our drivers in the past.

Joe

 

[danski0224]

Is that a commere gawddammit?

 

[OccupantRJ]

As I am getting older I think I need some type of tool to help me get off the ground. A lot of times I am on the ground working on something. Like today I changed out my brake rotors and pads. I need something help make it easier to get up. I think its more of a global warming thing. Global warming is causing gravity to make it harder to get up. Its similar to my old 66 pickup. The metal in it is shrinking and I think its global warming as well. I have had it since 1980 and it has shrunk because there is not as much room as there use to be in it. Seriously I think I need to put this on the list to make.

Laying down on a deflated air mattress, then inflating it when you want to get up will get the first 6 inches of getting up going for you, Willy.

 

[brett09]

Reminds me of something very similar my dad made. Its made up of 5/16 stainless rod with a welded T piece for a handle. We never used it around the shop or house though, it was always just for hoisting heavy fish into a boat. A gaff. Ha never would've thought to use it any other way.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Arise from the dead!
I had forgotten about another reaching hook from my old workplace. This was back in the days you could get away with doing things of this nature. It was made from 5/16 rod and was about 8 feet long. One end had an 80 degree bend in it about 3 inches long with an opposite angle bend near the end in sort of a zigzag. The other end had a 90 bend and was about 5 inches long to be used as a handle. It was used to switch overhead electrical buss disconnects off or on as needed. It was kept stored standing vertically by way of a retainer clip inside the hollow of a support column near my maintenance and machining area to have it near at hand if quickly needed. No matter who happened to be taking the rod somewhere to use, if they got asked by a new employee what it was, the standard answer was simply “Elephant Key”. Inevitably, the next question would be what was it used for. “ To stick up his *** and unlock his trunk”!

 

[PCustoms]

Arise from the dead!

How is that item used as a hook?

 

[BigMike782]

I have a 3/4" square piece of cherry stock about 24" long with a screw in hook on the end that I use for the same type of things but seeing it in steel is a great idea and I'm going to have to make one.

 

[PCustoms]

I used a take to pull a bag of seed out of the front of the bed yesterday.

I have a stupid mini hoe that needs a handle, maybe I should make it anything getterer outer

 

[GaryM909]

I use a hockey stick with the blade cut off and a screw about an inch from the end. It stays in the box of my truck.

 

[captain14]

I found one along side the road one time. Hook end nneded to be bent back into shape.

 

[four.cycle]

As long as we're dealing with the subject of "old man who can't bend over".....

As a joke, I bought one of these for my buddy:

Performance Tool W83195 40-inch Magnetic Pick-up Tool

Also got him the 24-inch W83196 model (which has a LIGHT at the end of it!)

The 40-incher is ridiculously long. "What the hell am I ever going to use that thing for?" he asked.

Two weeks later, he called me on the phone to say thanks for that gizmo - it saved him having to pull all of the computer desk/hutch thing away from the wall to retrieve some widget his girlfriend had dropped down behind it.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

 

[cody1325]

it seems identical to what the milk delivery guys use to move around a stack of milk crate!

Pretty sure that's where mine came from--Fairmont Dairies. I keep one up on the wall in the shop exactly for "pulling stuff I can't reach" and the guy who originally had it worked for them.

 

[bigredcornhead]

while all these are awesome, these same reasons is why i keep those harbor freight grabbers in the shop. Grabbing jack stands from under cars, and nuts and bolt screws i drop. love those damn things.

 

[OccupantRJ]

while all these are awesome, these same reasons is why i keep those harbor freight grabbers in the shop. Grabbing jack stands from under cars, and nuts and bolt screws i drop. love those damn things. RN

Oh yeah, one of my favorite tools these days. I think there are at least 4 around the property in strategic locations. Picking up fallen pine cones is a regular thing around this area. One of my friends uses a lawn sweeper but I pick them up manually for exercise.

 

[PCustoms]

Oh yeah, one of my favorite tools these days. I think there are at least 4 around the property in strategic locations. Picking up fallen pine cones is a regular thing around this area. One of my friends uses a lawn sweeper but I pick them up manually for exercise.

Man, if I had pine cones I'd be tempted to get an old polo mallet....

 

[OccupantRJ]

Man, if I had pine cones I'd be tempted to get an old polo mallet....

The Equinefencer is a friend on a horse ranch about 20 miles away. I should ask if he would come over to drive a few out of the yard.

 

[rharman]

while all these are awesome, these same reasons is why i keep those harbor freight grabbers in the shop. Grabbing jack stands from under cars, and nuts and bolt screws i drop. love those damn things. RN

Oh yeah, one of my favorite tools these days. I think there are at least 4 around the property in strategic locations. Picking up fallen pine cones is a regular thing around this area. One of my friends uses a lawn sweeper but I pick them up manually for exercise.

One in the master closet
One in the pantry
One on each side of the garage
One in a yard shed on both sides of the yard