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How to Make a Spring-Loaded Pole for Shelving

Those who are not blessed with height when shopping know the frustration of being unable to reach an item on the top shelf. You can make a spring-loaded pole with a gripper at the end to aid you in grabbing hold of objects that are too high to reach. The gripper will require supplies from a hardware store and tools commonly found in most homes.

Things You'll Need

PVC pipe, 1 foot long, 1/2-inch diameter
Metal spring, 10 inches long, 1/2-inch diameter
Bonding glue
Wooden dowel, 10 inches long, 1/2-inch diameter
Metal coat hanger
Pliers
Ruler
Metal shears
2 household sponges

Instructions

- 1
  Place the PVC pipe horizontally on a table. Place the spring horizontally on a table. Run a line of bonding glue around one end of the spring. Insert an end of a wooden dowel into the spring at the end that has been glued. Push the dowel about halfway into the spring. Apply another line of glue around the spring wherever it meets the dowel. Let the glue set overnight.
- 2
  Run the spring, dowel end first, through the right side of the PVC pipe. Leave the end of the spring opposite that where the dowel is sticking out of the pipe's right side.
- 3
  Hold a coat hanger upside down by the hook. Press the jaws of a pliers around the horizontal rod at the top of the hanger about midway between both ends. Pull the rod up to form a diamond shape.
- 4
  Turn the hanger over. Measure down 6 inches from each side of the hanger. Cut through the hanger at the 6-inch mark with a metal shears. Dispose of the hanger's hook.
- 5
  Apply bonding glue to the end of the spring opposite that which has the dowel in it. Insert the "V" end of the hanger into the spring. Apply bonding glue around and on the spring so that the end of the hanger is covered. Let the glue set overnight.
- 6
  Place two sponges face down on the table. Apply a dab of bonding glue to the center of each sponge. Hold the center of each sponge against an end of the hanger so that the front of each sponge faces the other. Don't let go of the sponges for two minutes so that the glue can take hold. Let the glue set overnight.
- 7
  Go to a grocery store. Place the sponged-ends of your homemade shelving grabber pole around an object on a shelf that would have been too high for you to reach unaided. Pull back on the dowel to grip the object. Bring the object down to you. Push the dowel up into the tube to release the grip on the object.

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