what was are some tools you created or usable junk that you have in your toolbox?

Question

I have twisted forks, strangely wound pieces of wire, and I've taped a lot of things (or used rubber bands on them or electrical tape) and have lots of super glue, and lightbulbs on covered wires, drain cleaners (wires) I've fashioned, and stuff from restringing lamps, skate keys, magnets from shower curtains, bunch of old keys, cotton meat wrapping thread, melted candles, bent tacks, pieces of dowels and pvc pipe, etc.

Answer 1

In addition to the essential rolls of duct tape, rolls of wire and various sizes of drywall screws (which seem to fix about 90% of problems (at least temporarily), I always have some old bicycle spokes (spring-hard steel which can be bent into various shapes for hooks or filed to a point on the end etc). Also, I always save some of the steel bristles that break off the street cleaners they are thin, flat,spring steel; make excelent lock picks, can be filed or ground to make "nano-scrapers", tiny screw drivers, etc and can be bent to make replacement springs for mortise locks etc.). I always have some of the magnents that come out of old hard drives around; very strong, and good for holding things in place (to steel anyway) good for identifying scrap metals like 300-series from 400-series stainless and crome-plated brass from crome plated steel etc. Can be taped to a string or wire and used to retrieve things etc. I use the stiff springy wire from old coat hangers (old ones with the heavy, springy wire, not modern ones) to make clips to hold box and combination wrenches together so I can retrieve the whole set at once (bend it so it looks like a big safety pin). Another kind of wire I keep on hand is the about 1/4" dia wire that goes around the perimeter of old matresses/box springs it's very hard springy steel and can be bent/ground/filed into a variety of special "tools"

Answer 2

I have these flat pieces of metal with beveled sides that are meant to hold up communications wires in the kick plates of Steelcase Answer modular furniture systems. I use them for furniture skates and they work very well.

I also have magnets from old computer hard drives. They are the strongest magnets that I have ever used.

Answer 3

45.52 carats The Hope Diamond--the world's largest deep blue diamond--is more than a billion years old. It formed deep within the Earth and was carried by a volcanic eruption to the surface in what is now India. Since the Hope Diamond was found in the early 1600s, it has crossed oceans and continents and passed from kings to commoners. It has been stolen and recovered, sold and resold, cut and recut. Through it all, the diamond's value increased. In 1958, Harry Winston donated the Hope Diamond to the Museum, and it now belongs to the people of the United States. Visit the Museum to learn more about the dramatic interactions between people and this diamond, and about its natural history

Answer 4

lol I think you and I bought the same kit! I have the old alligator clips soldered on a turning signal bulb, the super glued string to the lazer pointer (high tech plum bob), spike welded ball of many nails (no particular purpose other than fun with the welder). etc...

Answer 5

I have tools in my tool box. No junk. I use the tools every day. I use real tools and materials, not jury rigged junk. I often have to fix what handyman hacks have done.

Answer 6

i just bought an emergency kit from k mart. great stuff in it ; - )