Homemade Metal-Pickup Tool

With this Homemade Metal-Pickup Tool, David Wilhelm (Cedar Grove, IN) can more easily retrieve nails, screws, nuts, or any other small metal objects, whether on his shop floor or work bench. The devise is simply a 6-inch-long piece of 2 x 4 into which are screwed (on the 6-inch edge) a line of four strong round magnets that have holes in the middle. Covering the magnets is a piece of aluminum flashing creased to fold under the 2 x 4. To operate, Wilhelm holds the flashing in place to pick up the metal objects. Once the bottom is full, he pulls the flashing away from the magnets and the pieces drop off, which is easier and safer than scraping them from an unprotected magnet.

Cost: Nominal

Limitations Addressed: Upper extremity, Visual