Adam Savage’s Favorite Tools: Extended Grabber Micro Forceps!

7 thoughts on “Adam Savage’s Favorite Tools: Extended Grabber Micro Forceps!”

1. https://mdvip-tested.md-staging.com/premium/843696-ask-adam-most-important-tool-used-least/

   Also one of my favorite tools

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2. The fish hook removal tool is way useful for keeping your fingers away from sharp teeth and pointy fins, and they’re long and thin in case the fish(/shark!) has somewhat ‘swallowed’ the hook. A little searching under ‘fish hook remover’ on Amazon finds nice stainless steel ones for like $10; much nicer than the galvanized ones I used growing up.

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3. One of my favourite tools for fine work like soldering, are these self-locking dental tweezers https://photos.app.goo.gl/1gWwr17BwNmFrsBP8

   The mechanism works a bit like a ballpoint pen, you close them and they latch, you squeeze them again and they unlatch. It’s almost like having a third hand sometimes. I’m sorry I couldn’t find a link to this exact style (there are very old hand-me-downs from my dad).

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4. It is a surgical instrument called an alligator foreceps! I’m an ENT resident and we use smaller ones all the time for getting things out of people’s ears and noses. Try holding it with your thumb and ring finger for more precise control. Love seeing surgical tools in the wild and how other people use them. Thanks Adam!

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5. The alligator forceps don’t get as much use in as I thought they would when I got them. But, as Adam said, having them on hand can save you from wasted time and scrapped material.

   Tools for when needle-nose pliers are almost the right tool for the job (which I think may be always).

   

   Reverse pliers. For getting things out of other things when the test fit tries to become a permanent assembly, and for disassembling things the manufacturer did not intend for you to disassemble

   Stanley MaxGrip long-nosed parallel jaw pliers (STA84-888). Discontinued. They have a slip-joint that allows the jaws to close parallel to each other for flat objects up to about 3mm thick. Good for holding onto flat object up to 3mm thick.

   Two pairs of parallel jaw pliers. Vintage. Think they are both made by Sargent. Will hold a hex-head or square-head fastener — or other small flat-sided object — more securely than will 90° bent-nose pliers. Also useful for press-fitting small parts.

   

   Three kinds of pliers where the nose is bent parallel to the plane in which the jaws open.

   Dolphin-nosed mechanic’s pliers — give better purchase than straight-jawed needle-nose when pulling or prying. Knipex makes them. So does Gedore.

   Osborne No. 600 staple-pulling pliers, Like the mechanic’s pliers, the bend in the nose is a rolling fulcrum for prying. Good for the intended purpose, getting staples out of wood. The outer jaw (lower jaw) is a little longer than the inner jaw and has a sharp tip. Useful for getting a grip on something where you have to get under or between things.

   “Flamingo” orthodontic pliers. Useful for pulling wires, getting under and around things in small spaces, and for making small radius bends in wire and sheet metal. Jeweler’s use them to close the prongs on settings. Pretty useful for holding onto small-ish screws for putting in or taking out.

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6. About 30 years ago, my parents took one of their dogs to the vet with a grass seed stuck in its paw. The vet used one of those alligator forceps to extract the seed. My dad asked if he could keep the forceps.

   They have remained in our family since, and have solved untold problems. We have always referred to them as the “special tweezers”.

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7. “Polypus forceps”

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