A telescopic pick-up tool has a neodymium magnet in the end used to attract ferromagnetic objects. It is known as a telescopic pick-up tool as it is extendable by telescopic sections to allow the user to reach further.
What telescopic pick-up tool sizes are available?
Telescopic pick-up tools come in varying lengths. This can range from 125mm (5″) to 150mm (6″) unextended and between 500mm (19.6″) and 685mm (27″) extended. The most preferable length will depend on the task being undertaken.
The lift or pull force of the magnet can also vary between pick-up tools. The length of pick-up tool or size of magnet does not affect its lift capacity; rather, it depends on the strength of the magnet.
The lift force of the telescopic pick-up tool ranges from 0.9kg (2lbs) – 2.25kg (5lbs).
A heavy duty telescopic pick-up tool is available which extends from 195mm (7.6″) to 800mm (31.4″) and has a maximum lift of 3.5kg (7.7lbs).
Some pick-up tools are equipped with a power ring. This can be screwed around the magnet to focus the magnet’s attraction. If the power ring is unscrewed, the magnet can attract from its sides as well.
Telescopic pick-up tools are also available with an LED light, either at the magnet end or at the tip of the handle. This can be advantageous, as pick-up tools are often used in dark places such as car engines or drains, where it is hard to see the object you are trying to reach.
Are there any attachments available?
The telescopic pick-up tool is available with either an attaching or interchangeable mirror. The attaching mirror simply clips on, providing extra support to the pick-up tool.
The interchangeable mirror replaces the magnet end with a mirror, creating a different tool, an inspection mirror.
Inspection mirrors can aid the finding and observing of objects in hard to reach areas, especially in car engines where there may be other parts obstructing the view.
Pocket pick-up tool
The pocket pick-up tool is a smaller, lightweight version of the telescopic model. It is still extendable but is generally shorter and has a pocket clip to allow it to be carried around easily.
The pocket pick-up tool is 140mm (5.5″) unextended with a 648mm (25.5″) maximum extension. A version of the pocket pick-up tool is also available which does not extend, this is around 152mm (6″) long.
The pocket pick-up tool can lift between 0.6kg (1 1/2lbs) and 1.5kg (3 1/2lbs).
Are there any similar devices?
The pick-up torch has the basic structure of a torch, with an extendable magnetic pick-up tool in the centre.
The extendable manget is telescopic and can sometimes have a flexible end.
The pick-up tool is used by pulling back the head of the torch to release the tool and manually extending it to the required length. The tool can extend to 93cm (36″).