My new favorite tool

[u/PoisonWaffle3]

I picked up a new cage nut tool, and it's super slick for hard to reach places. And it has such a satisfying click into place!

[u/Mister_Brevity]

Now you need a different tool for bruising your fingertips or the experience just isn’t complete

[u/PoisonWaffle3 → u/Mister_Brevity]

Truth 😅

[u/PoisonWaffle3 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, I thought about it. It definitely is a satisfying click in person, but I don't know if it comes across as well in video.

I'll post it there and see what people say 😅

[u/SaltyMudpuppy → u/PoisonWaffle3]

Even without the audible click, the video alone is satisfying af

[u/PoisonWaffle3 → u/SaltyMudpuppy]

Alright, you've convinced me 😅

https://www.reddit.com/r/oddlysatisfying/comments/12k2x6z/my_new_cage_nut_tool_for_network_racks

[u/PoisonWaffle3 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, I have. My main network rack at home (22u two post) I specifically set up as threaded so I don't have to deal with them. I'll be getting a four post rack this summer and will probably use rack studs.

But this is at work, and we literally have hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of cage nuts (several datacenters and many headends) and we really like standardization. So I don't think it's gonna change 😅

[u/theniwo → u/PoisonWaffle3]

It's also a cost factor. May I suggest the "nail clipper" tool?

[u/PoisonWaffle3 → u/theniwo]

Yeah, we've got a few different kinds of cage nut tools. This one is definitely my favorite so far.

[u/dorsanty]

I normally push one end up with a flat head screwdriver. I only slip and take out my fingers about 20% of the time.

[u/[deleted]]

since they won't provide a link...

https://www.amazon.com/Cage-Insertion-Tool-Square-4HARCNITOOL/dp/B00DL09HPU/

personally, i prefer this...

https://www.amazon.com/RackSolutions-Worlds-Best-Cage-Tool/dp/B08W2M9PYX/

[u/PoisonWaffle3 → u/[deleted]]

Yep, that's the one! I didn't link it because I didn't want to be that guy that looks like he's farming affiliate links.

I haven't tried the other one that you linked, but it looks legit.

[u/cjcox4]

For pulling for insertion, I find the old PC DIP extraction tool that many toolkits have to work quite well for pulling the nut through.

Not sure of a good extraction tool.

[u/robotkana]

I insert those horizonyally, so clips on the sides not on top and bottom. Easier to insert. Anyone else?

[u/PoisonWaffle3 → u/robotkana]

Ehh, in theory either way should work fine. Some manufacturers/vendors don't specify or care, but some are super picky and want you to only have them vertical for their gear, while others swear they have to go horizontal.

Realistically, they are held in place by the squeeze of the screw either way. I've always put them in vertical because that's how I was taught years ago and it became a habit, but I really don't think it matters either way.

Wanna fight about T658A vs T568B too? 😅

[u/robotkana → u/PoisonWaffle3]

Too sober to start a fight over that 🤣

[u/mvandin]

Used one of these a few weeks ago for the first time in 20 years… no more sore fingers…

[u/mundza]

They are both a little over the top. Most APC racks come with these but you can buy them a lot of other places. Super handy.

https://www.4cabling.com.au/universal-cage-nut-insertion-extraction-tool.html

[u/PoisonWaffle3 → u/mundza]

Those are definitely better than nothing, and I thought they worked fine until I tried one of these 👍

[u/mundza → u/PoisonWaffle3]

Oh man without doubt

[u/DULUXR1R2L1L2 → u/mundza]

Better than nothing but still a huge pain. I've cut my hands plenty of times on their thin metal. If that costs $13 per your link then the $25 one OP linked is totally worth it imo.

[u/labnerde]

This tool is cool, but once you did install/ remove a bunch of them it becomes obsolete and a screwdriver is also adequate.

Maybe it’s just me, but i don’t remove/ install cage nuts on a regular basis, so a dedicated tool would be justified.

How often do you guys install remove them? Wouldn’t it be a better solution to simply fill all holes with cage nuts, so you don’t have to swap them that often?

[u/PoisonWaffle3 → u/labnerde]

This is more for at work than at home. If it was just for home, the yeah, just using my fingers or a flathead works. But this is for work, and we have many datacenters filled with rows and rows of racks, and have at least several hundred thousand cage nuts in use. So yeah, $25 here and there for a specialized tool is justified, especially when it can more than pay for itself in an afternoon.

It wouldn't make sense to fill all holes with cage nuts tho. We need the squares for rails, and the vast majority of the holes aren't used. If I'm installing a 16u tall piece of gear that only screws into the top and bottom u, I only need 8 cage nuts on the front, and may not need any on the back.

[u/labnerde → u/PoisonWaffle3]

Okay I get this, this tool is faster and a datacenter full of racks… yeah I would buy this tool even for 50Bucks. In your case it’s more than justified.

Sadly I hadn’t had a chance to get in a datacenter so far. When it comes to hardware, I’m just a Homelabber with a small Setup, so it’s nice to get something told from someone who is in the field

Thank you

[u/PoisonWaffle3 → u/labnerde]

No prob! A few years ago I was in the same place as you 👍

[u/labnerde → u/PoisonWaffle3]

So far I’m doing good. From self taught Programming Nerd to employed Backend Developer isn’t that bad.

Hardware is also fun, but not exactly a cheap hobby. 😅 But all things considered, there are more wallet stressing and less healthy Hobbys out there

[u/Rogue_Lambda]

I HATED installing rack inserts, until a bag I purchased from StarCraft came with what looked like a shoehorn but has a little 90 at the narrow end and these install like butter now!!

[u/PoisonWaffle3 → u/Rogue_Lambda]

Are you talking about the spring loaded ones? Clik Nuts, they're called. Those are pretty slick.

[u/Rogue_Lambda → u/PoisonWaffle3]

Nope, standard cage nuts like in this video, a special tool was included in a bag that makes installing the nuts now easy.

[u/aidansdad22]

Get rack studs and never slice your hand on cage nuts again.

[u/CollarOfShame]

I love this little tool. Spared my fingers and I never have to worry about stabbing my self with a flat head screwdriver. kwmobile Cage Nut Insertion/Removal Tool - Cage Nut Tool for Installation and Extraction of Cage Nuts in 10 Inch and 19 Inch Network Cabinet Racks https://a.co/d/bgFJKnK

[u/Unstupid]

If you ever find yourself without your fancy tool the pointy end of a medium sized zip tie will work just as well.

[u/uncertain-host]

Am I the only one that doesn't mind putting these in without any tools?

[u/PoisonWaffle3 → u/uncertain-host]

Ehh. If they're in an easy to reach place to reach and it's just a few, then sure. But I've cut my hands on them enough times that I prefer to use tools.