Any - Third Hand Trick

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Wed 22 Feb 2023 07:46
Any - Third Hand Trick - edlithgow

New (to me) trick for at least one of the instances when you need one.

Attempting to bench test my flasher relay,

The word (and the Youtubery) online is actually (and exclusively AFAICT) about testing thermal flasher relays, and indicated mine was broken, which I didn't think it was, at least before testing.

Hardly any of the stuff on the Internyet acknowledges the existence of solid state flashers, which apparently cant be tested in the same (or any?) way.

Not knowing what this1986 car had, I elected to take it apart and have a look. This requires unlatching two sides of the casing while pulling on the central prong, which, as a mere bidexter (a group so neglected by product designers that there isn't even a real word for them) I found challenging

I use artery clamps (aka hemostats) as fine pliers, These have a latching action, which is often a b***** nuisance but does give them a pseudo-mole-grip capability.

Bit of cordage through the (scissors stylee) finger loops and round the neck, clamp on the prong, lever on the sides while pushing downward.

With one bound my solid state flasher innards were free.

If you use cordage with any elasticity you might get hit in the teeth with a rather hard pair of forceps.

You could probably use a necktie, if so inclined.

A practical use for a necktie! Its a Social Revolution

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Wed 22 Feb 2023 19:44
Any - Third Hand Trick - galileo

Ed, your ingenious solutions to problems remind me of Robinson Crusoe's struggles to survive in a similar situation, where there is no Halfords / B and Q / Screwfix or other source of the right parts or equipment.

I would have given up months ago, I'm impressed by your patience and perseverance.

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Thu 23 Feb 2023 04:37
Any - Third Hand Trick - edlithgow

Aw shucks

But I think the Third Hand issue is part of the human condition, rather than just life on The ROC.

Someone must have already used the name. Marketing Madness not to.

If not I'd better register it sharpish.

www.amazon.com/third-hand/s?k=third+hand

Too late. Story of my life

You don't have to believe this, but I actually invented the NATO Watch Strap while I was in the TA.

(I didn't call it the NATO Watch Strap, since NATO had b*****-all to do with it apart from my using a bit of army utility strapping. I called it my field-improvised watch strap)

Its key, underappreciated feature, was/is that if you lose a pin, you dont lose your watch. Amazes me that people hang quite expensive watches on anything else.

Years and years later I read some chancer was suing SWATCH over the rights, and likely to pocket a big settlement.

There went my yacht, again

Edited by edlithgow on 23/02/2023 at 04:41

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Thu 23 Feb 2023 06:11
Any - Third Hand Trick - paul 1963

I've used a nato watch strap for years..thanks Ed!

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Thu 23 Feb 2023 09:24
Any - Third Hand Trick - bathtub tom

There went my yacht, again

You'll need another escape plan if the Chinese threats come to fruition!

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Sat 25 Feb 2023 14:38
Any - Third Hand Trick - edlithgow

There went my yacht, again

You'll need another escape plan if the Chinese threats come to fruition!

IF the US honoured its treaty obligations to take military action against China, US nationals might become enemy aliens in an occupied Taiwan.

However, unless the UK gets A LOT more gung ho than expected, the only non-collateral risk to me should be being mistaken for an American.

Which I try and avoid anyway.

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Mon 27 Feb 2023 08:49
Any - Third Hand Trick - John F

I use artery clamps (aka hemostats) as fine pliers, These have a latching action, which is often a b***** nuisance .....

They are Spencer Wells forceps. Practise releasing them with your left hand, palm uppermost. (The right hand is usually holding a scalpel).

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