Reach-Hook in Minutes!

Hanging items up high can free up space down below. Items with flexible handles can hang on hooks, but getting them down and hanging them up can be tricky. In some stockrooms, people use a hook on the end of a pole to retrieve items that are too high to reach. I found myself in need of such a hook in my garage. I looked at what I had lying around and in about 5 minutes, I had my solution. I show how in this video.

The idea behind this was to use what I had lying around, although the links below will take you to Amazon for similar items.

Bench Vise

Hack Saw

Hanging File Folder Frame

or other steel wire, approximately 4.5 mm (3/16") Diameter

Paint Roller Extension

5/8" (16mm) diameter drill bit, bolt, dowel or curtain rod

Grip the the wire in the vise about 9.5 inches from the end (the first bend in the file hanger I used) and wrap the wire around a 5/8" diameter rod 4 or 5 times. I kept going until I got to the next bend in the wire, about 12 inches away.

Reorient the wire in the vise so the helix is on top and cut off the remaining wire with a hack saw.

Reorient the straight part of the wire parallel to the vise jaws. Using the rod, bend the helix around parallel with the straight part.

Grip the end of the wire in the vise. By hand, bend the helix end over, forming the hook in a "U" shape.

To keep the hook from punching holes in things, round the end by folding it over. I grabbed the end in the vise, bent it down as sharp as the jaws allow, then finish folding the end by pressing it flat in with the jaws of the vise.

Thread the helix onto the threaded end of a paint roller extension and you're done! Be careful not to lift things that are so heavy that they bend the hook. I have been using mine for months and never had a problem with the hook losing its shape.

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