Comments on: Finds: The Spudger http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:38:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Maru http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-85906 Maru Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:13:49 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-85906 If I need anything pointyor or flat, I use the two ends of my manicure wooden sticks that are 3 for $1. My all around poking sticks are those bamboo kebabs sticks that sell for $1/100 pcs. If I need a hook, I use my thin nylon knitting needles. I did buy something specifically for my tweaking hours, several types of nylon forceps/tweezers. Can't believe people sell these nylon/wood poking things for $2.95 or even $9.99. Reminds me of when I buy stuff for our laboratory. Scientific suppliers slap on a label on ordinary kitchen stuff (like a cordless mini hand blender that sells for $9.99) and then sells it for $60. Or kitchen 3-mode timers for $55 when you can get one for $15 or less. If I need anything pointyor or flat, I use the two ends of my manicure wooden sticks that are 3 for $1. My all around poking sticks are those bamboo kebabs sticks that sell for $1/100 pcs.

If I need a hook, I use my thin nylon knitting needles.

I did buy something specifically for my tweaking hours, several types of nylon forceps/tweezers.

Can’t believe people sell these nylon/wood poking things for $2.95 or even $9.99. Reminds me of when I buy stuff for our laboratory. Scientific suppliers slap on a label on ordinary kitchen stuff (like a cordless mini hand blender that sells for $9.99) and then sells it for $60. Or kitchen 3-mode timers for $55 when you can get one for $15 or less.

]]> By: Old Donn http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-17382 Old Donn Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:42:54 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-17382 Aside to Nate. Re:burnishing tool. I've still got one. Aside to Nate. Re:burnishing tool. I’ve still got one.

]]> By: chris http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16829 chris Mon, 29 Jan 2007 06:05:43 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16829 When I was doing telecom the guy I worked for (Old Ma Bell guy) called these "booger pickers" They are a completely indespensible especially if you've ever tried to get a stray wire out from inside a 66 block When I was doing telecom the guy I worked for (Old Ma Bell guy) called these “booger pickers” They are a completely indespensible especially if you’ve ever tried to get a stray wire out from inside a 66 block

]]> By: Nate Bezanson http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16742 Nate Bezanson Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:30:57 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16742 Still lamenting the loss of the relay contact burnishing tool... ;) Still lamenting the loss of the relay contact burnishing tool… ;)

]]> By: Old Donn http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16740 Old Donn Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:24:14 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16740 Whoa! I said going, not gone. While there are some distributing frames left, and B-boxes outside, it's nothing like the old vacuum tube, wire spring relay phone company I hired on with. Everybody had a tool pouch, (with spudgers and orange sticks), back then. Now only a select few do anything requiring hands-on.Most sit in front of terminals punching buttons. Whoa! I said going, not gone. While there are some distributing frames left, and B-boxes outside, it’s nothing like the old vacuum tube, wire spring relay phone company I hired on with. Everybody had a tool pouch, (with spudgers and orange sticks), back then. Now only a select few do anything requiring hands-on.Most sit in front of terminals punching buttons.

]]> By: Nate Bezanson http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16455 Nate Bezanson Sat, 27 Jan 2007 19:05:02 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16455 Ahh yes, the orangewood sticks. You can find them at any beauty supply in the manicure section. The high density wood and heat resistance make them perfect for pushing surfacemount components around while the solder's melted, you're right! I'm curious why your job would have less use for spudgers as things go digital. Connectorized cables have always been a big part of central office work, but distribution frame and DSX wiring isn't going away, at least not in most RBOC offices. (They're installing DACS equipment, but put a DSX on either end rather than wiring straight in.) They come in handy for getting crud out of Amphenol connectors, too. Ahh yes, the orangewood sticks. You can find them at any beauty supply in the manicure section. The high density wood and heat resistance make them perfect for pushing surfacemount components around while the solder’s melted, you’re right!

I’m curious why your job would have less use for spudgers as things go digital. Connectorized cables have always been a big part of central office work, but distribution frame and DSX wiring isn’t going away, at least not in most RBOC offices. (They’re installing DACS equipment, but put a DSX on either end rather than wiring straight in.) They come in handy for getting crud out of Amphenol connectors, too.

]]> By: Old Donn http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16382 Old Donn Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:33:41 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16382 We had access to boxes of these on the job, but I've never seen them in stores. They've pretty much disappeared from the job too, since much of our hands-on has gone digital. We had plastic ones like the one pictured, and wooden ones that were better suited for close proximity to soldering irons. Either/or, they've pretty much gone away. If you come across some at a flea market or garage sale, get them. We had access to boxes of these on the job, but I’ve never seen them in stores. They’ve pretty much disappeared from the job too, since much of our hands-on has gone digital. We had plastic ones like the one pictured, and wooden ones that were better suited for close proximity to soldering irons. Either/or, they’ve pretty much gone away. If you come across some at a flea market or garage sale, get them.

]]> By: Nate Bezanson http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16253 Nate Bezanson Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:44:02 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16253 It was driving me nuts too, but I couldn't find anything with the in-site search or Google. The only instance of the word "spudger" seemed to be in context of the Paladin PowerPlay. If this is a dupe, I apologize. Anyway, the pictures are better this time around. It was driving me nuts too, but I couldn’t find anything with the in-site search or Google. The only instance of the word “spudger” seemed to be in context of the Paladin PowerPlay. If this is a dupe, I apologize. Anyway, the pictures are better this time around.

]]> By: Rick http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16245 Rick Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:49:16 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/01/26/find-the-spudger/#comment-16245 Haven't you discussed Spudgers on this site at some point in the past? I know I've read about them here.. maybe it was just in a comment post. Haven’t you discussed Spudgers on this site at some point in the past?

I know I’ve read about them here.. maybe it was just in a comment post.

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