{"id":41386,"date":"2023-07-26T06:26:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T13:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/?p=41386"},"modified":"2023-07-24T10:32:50","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T17:32:50","slug":"how-to-safely-climb-a-ladder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/how-to-safely-climb-a-ladder\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Safely Climb a Ladder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Gareth\u2019s Tips, Tools, and Shop Tales is published by Cool Tools Lab. To receive the newsletter a week early, sign up&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/garstips.substack.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">here.<\/a><\/em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F936d2c75-55aa-48f3-90d3-8ad7498b374e_1930x968.png\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2013&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:garethbranwyn@mac.com\">Send me<\/a>&nbsp;a tip or tool recommendation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2013<a href=\"mailto:garethbranwyn@mac.com\">Tell me<\/a>&nbsp;a shop tale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>-Buy my books (<em>Tips and Tales from the Workshop&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Make-Workshop-Reference-Makers-Technology\/dp\/1680450794?_encoding=UTF8&amp;language=en_US&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;linkId=a5c5857473b51f82c50d43267bdbc081&amp;pd_rd_r=261deaff-c20f-414d-8dc2-428071e686a0&amp;pd_rd_w=AgvlS&amp;pd_rd_wg=vcNNv&amp;pf_rd_p=29505bbf-38bd-47ef-8224-a5dd0cda2bae&amp;pf_rd_r=ZYPBMY37DPZHVEB9F236&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl&amp;tag=minbon-20&amp;utm_campaign=Gareth%27s%20Tips%2C%20Tools%2C%20and%20Shop%20Tales&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=Revue%20newsletter\">Vol. 1<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/53WtG%20?utm_campaign=Gareth%27s%20Tips%2C%20Tools%2C%20and%20Shop%20Tales&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=Revue%20newsletter\">Vol. 2<\/a><\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2013<a href=\"https:\/\/frauenfelder.typeform.com\/to\/Zzu1eX6G?utm_campaign=Gareth%27s+Tips%2C+Tools%2C+and+Shop+Tales&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=Revue+newsletter&amp;typeform-source=garstips.substack.com\">Advertise<\/a>&nbsp;your product, service, newsletter, app, book, tool, or anything you\u2019d like to share with GT&amp;T readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>How to Safely Climb a Ladder<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F936d2c75-55aa-48f3-90d3-8ad7498b374e_1930x968.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F936d2c75-55aa-48f3-90d3-8ad7498b374e_1930x968.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"532\" height=\"266\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You cannot underestimate the wisdom, experience, and common sense that&nbsp;<strong>Scott<\/strong>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<em>Essential Craftsman<\/em>&nbsp;brings to his videos. In this one, he runs through the basics of safely deploying, climbing, and dismounting an extension ladder (what he claims is thew most dangerous tool on a job site). \u201cAfter 44 years in the building trade, the last 10 working nuclear power plant refuels, this is by far the best ladder safety information I&#8217;ve ever seen. Thank You for posting.\u201d When you see comments like this on a video post, you know you\u2019re learning from someone who knows what they\u2019re talking about. If you ever climb a ladder, do yourself a favor and watch this video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_75335\"  width=\"480\" height=\"270\"  data-origwidth=\"480\" data-origheight=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2z99pLPenL0?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>5 Principles of Organization<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_17234\"  width=\"480\" height=\"270\"  data-origwidth=\"480\" data-origheight=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ncZ1mO8mA44?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Artist, filmmaker, and maker,&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vanneistat\/\">Van Neistat<\/a><\/strong>, offers this video on his interesting approach to organization. The video has a very Tom Sachs&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/49p1JVLHUos\">Ten Bullets<\/a>&nbsp;vibe as it humorously runs through a series of 5 of Van\u2019s organization principles: No Stacks\/One-Handed, Kit Your Shit, Use Organizational Talisman, Learn to Build Shelves (and build shelves), and Customize. Some great ideas here \u2014 like never stacking non-related items, one-handed shelf access, and using zipper pouches to organize your stuff. \u201cOrganizational talisman\u201d is his term for what I call homely tools, essential rubber bands, binder clips, push-pins and other often over-looked shop essentials. And, check out his clever idea for custom jumper cable storage under the hood, next to your car battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>Clever Things You Can Do with a Hand Planer<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_63771\"  width=\"480\" height=\"270\"  data-origwidth=\"480\" data-origheight=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ic4r0VRAbiY?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In this&nbsp;<em>Stumby Nubs<\/em>&nbsp;video,&nbsp;<strong>James<\/strong>&nbsp;shows how you can use the often underutilized&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/FEXKxy\">electric hand planer<\/a>&nbsp;as a short of get-by replacement for a jointer (if you don\u2019t have a jointer or don\u2019t have enough room in your shop for one). He gives an excellent introduction to hand planers, their uses, and their limitations. As usually for a Nubs video, there are many excellent tips here, like how to make \u201cwinding sticks\u201d that can help you eyeball the areas of a twisted surface that you need to plane down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>Adam Savage Buys a Fractal Vise<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_83910\"  width=\"480\" height=\"270\"  data-origwidth=\"480\" data-origheight=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NUhrF0xkhhc?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ever since I saw&nbsp;<strong>Eric<\/strong>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/QBeOgGt_oWU\">Hand Tool Rescue<\/a>&nbsp;do a restoration of a &#8220;fractal vise&#8221; several years ago, I&#8217;ve been fascinated by this device.&nbsp;<strong>Adam Savage<\/strong>&nbsp;has too, and he&#8217;s been on the lookout for someone adventurous enough to manufacture some and offer them for sale. He finally&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.alibaba.com\/product-detail\/Fractal-Vise_1600318578412.html?fromMSite=true\">found one on Alibaba<\/a>&nbsp;(for $2500, delivered) and ordered it. In this video, Adam unboxes the vise, tries it out, and begins tuning it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>Maker\u2019s Muse<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CuHzp7qIFaE\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==\">https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CuHzp7qIFaE\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a link to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6LoaCmB75Wg\">the video<\/a>&nbsp;of how to build your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>Shop Talk<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I am so thrilled by how much engagement I get from newsletter readers. I\u2019ve always seen this project as a community effort, or at least something I wanted to grow into such an effort. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:garethbranwyn@mac.com\">email me<\/a>&nbsp;and send comment, words of encouragement, and to share tips and tools. Here are a few messages from this past week.<\/em><br><em><br><strong>Paul Cryan<\/strong>&nbsp;writes:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just checking in to laud and encourage your marvelous Tips &amp; Tools outreach.&nbsp; Rarely do I find a pathfinder resource like yours that guides me so comfortably and consistently among my diverse interests!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/garstipsandtools.com\/p\/gars-tips-and-tools-issue-160\">recent link<\/a>&nbsp;to the DigiKey \u201cProtecting Electronics\u201d got me thinking about the lanolin\/mineral oil mix (and lately, I&#8217;ve been enjoying this spray version&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blasterproducts.com\/product\/surface-shield\/\">Surface Shield\u00ae Rust Protectant<\/a>) you led me to slathering on all my beloved machinery. I&#8217;ve experimented in the past with dipping and spraying electronics with things like CorrosionX Marine, but maybe sheep goo might be worth a try, too?&nbsp; Circuit Sheepy Dip?&nbsp; LOL<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Laughed out loud at the&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/garstipsandtools.com\/p\/gars-tips-and-tools-issue-160\">GreatScott!<\/a><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/garstipsandtools.com\/p\/gars-tips-and-tools-issue-160\">&nbsp;video<\/a>&nbsp;with the creative use of vape pen\/mini-bong for coating circuits to test for hot spots. Being a fan of hands-on methods, I find that a fingertip is plenty sensitive&nbsp;for that kind of sleuthing, but maybe I&#8217;m just overly sensitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And your theme of storing tape has kept me riveted.&nbsp; As a dedicated tapehead, my favorite method is to find a clamp with a suitable form for holding the roll, whatever the size or type, and position it just out of head-bonking range on the ceiling of my shop. I&#8217;ve taken the &#8220;can&#8217;t have too many clamps&#8221; to heart and don&#8217;t ever like to wander too far from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf213b2-0591-436d-bd01-ea3e6ce6695b_4032x3024.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feaf213b2-0591-436d-bd01-ea3e6ce6695b_4032x3024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"387\" height=\"290\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>###<br><br><em><strong>Patrice N<\/strong>&nbsp;writes:<\/em><br><br>I\u2019m in the process of refinishing an oak market umbrella frame. I had a stubborn rusted screw that I could not get out. I tried the usual methods of hammering it, lubricants, etc., but nothing worked. I eventually warmed up my soldering iron and placed the tip on the head of the screw and waited until I heard a tiny snap. That&#8217;s when I could easily unscrew it! The soldering iron concentrated enough heat to the screw to expand it but not damage the oak. Others might know about this trick, but I thought I would share anyway.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>###<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff1152b5-2fce-4f89-914f-be3147c6f2a3_4032x3024.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff1152b5-2fce-4f89-914f-be3147c6f2a3_4032x3024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"343\" height=\"457\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Reader&nbsp;<strong>Marsha Robinson<\/strong>&nbsp;sent in a list of her favorite \u201cspecialty tools:\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I use&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/Bi4s\">this tool&nbsp;<\/a>as intended, very valuable for precise cleaning and keeping the edges of your toe nails trimmed on the sides to prevent ingrown nails.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/cAEd\">thumb scraper tool<\/a>&nbsp;for everything you cannot or should not scrape with a razor blade. Very handy, if a bit pricey.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Originally, I purchased this&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/FRyq\">remover tool<\/a>&nbsp;to get the back off of a watch to change the battery. In my eclectic collection of specialty tools, nothing worked better than this. Have since found multiple applications for prying.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/XOx1Q98\">Here<\/a>&nbsp;is an unusual tool I picked up who knows where. I had no idea what the intended use was, but it quickly became one of my favorite tools for a wide variety of uses. The knife on one end is sharp enough to cut things in difficult or small spaces. Turns out it is a dental wax sculpting tool. Mine is from Pakistan and I found the exact one on the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiamart.com\/\">Indiamart<\/a>&nbsp;website. Others, similar but not exact, are from Germany, called Fahen or Fahnestock wax knives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though I\u2019m not fond of ordering from China, and I detest website pop ups,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.temu.com\/\">Temu<\/a>&nbsp;has practically everything imaginable at very affordable prices. I have placed orders several times, always received them fairly quickly, items are as described\/pictured, and the quality is acceptable. Once I contacted their customer service about some votive candles not being as described, and was surprised how quick they were to respond and promptly issued a refund with no return necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/substack.com\/profile\/14107697-gareth-branwyn\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gar&#8217;s Tips &#038; Tools &#8211; Issue #161<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[2371],"tags":[2372],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41386"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41386"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41392,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41386\/revisions\/41392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}