Poker? I Hardly Know Her!

It's become terribly slow at the shop, and one thing is for sure when it's slow... we get into trouble. I've heard of guys breaking their arms skateboarding. I've worked at a shop with a golf driving net/mat. Beers get opened earlier and earlier...

I've seen a lot of different ways of relieving winter shop boredom. Here's one way; making tools.

Pokers are WAY useful. I use mine daily for opening the cut ends of housing and for picking thorns from tires, but they have infinite uses. A lot of times, they are just f-ed up #0 phillips screwdrivers, but there's an easy way to make your own. You'll need:

• 5mm brake housing
• a 14g (2.0mm) spoke
• Plasti Dip (available at Home Depot, usually in the spray paint locker)
• a really good cutters
• file/bench grinder

Basically, you just cut everything to length, fit it together...



...and dip it for a vinyl handle.



...then file/grind the end to a point (and bend it if desired). I also have been heating the end to "heat treat" it.



I could write a more detailed how-to, but honestly, it changes each time I make one, and they are constantly evolving to get better and more well made, as I learn little tricks for securing it inside, or putting ends on.

If you really want one, I'll make you one... PayPal $3.00 to anonymouscyclist-at-gmail-dot-com, and let me know how long you want it. I found that I like 5" total, with 3.5" of housing (1.5" of metal exposed).