Magnetic Fingertips
Tape a magnet to the back of your finger to hold several screws and nails.
I often work alone, but there are times when an extra hand or two would make a task easier. Many times I need to hold a workpiece in position with one hand and handle a hammer or drill/driver with the other. This works fine until I need another screw or nail. Reaching into a nail bag sometimes requires me to use my head to temporarily support an overhead board to free a hand to get the fastener.
The other day, I used my head in a different way: I taped a rare-earth magnet to the back of my middle finger. The magnet holds several screws or nails that I can easily reach with my thumb and forefinger while still supporting the workpiece with the heal of my palm.
—Mike Guertin, East Greenwich, R.I.
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
Published in Fine Homebuilding #304
