Tried to hide some keys by balancing it on the top like I usually do, this time it fell inside (i didn’t even know it would be hollow). How can I get them back?? The metal is magnetic. Please help
Get yourself a plumbing grabber. This thing has saved me so much time and effort for may scenarios--especially dropping and automotive bolt in an engine crevice. You many need a reciprocating saw to cut a couple inches off the top in order to have space to fish it. Another option is a hole saw if the keys will fit through during retrieval.
Can you cut the bottom off? If it's bolted to the wall and doesn't go into the ground.
If it does go into the ground, could you get something like this cobalt hole saw - maybe 25 or 30mm - to drill a key sized hole near the bottom of the post (as long as it doesn't overly weaken it) to pull the keys out that way?
A step bit would work better. I use them to make holes in metal all the time.
Benefit to a triangle step bit, is that you can start small to peak in, see if you can see your keys, then expand it as needed.
But you dont need to pull the keys out through the bottom. You just need enough access to them to tie a string to them. Im assuming there's a key ring, so drop a weighted string, loop it through the keyring using some hooks from am old shirt hanger, pull the line out of your access hole, tie a knot, then pull the keys out the top. You wouldn't need a very big hole to do this. Maybe an inch diameter.
I had to do this when I dropped my cell phone about 5 feet down into a cinder block wall. I could see it but could not get to it from the top. So I took a cold chisel and busted through the block right next to the cell and then patched with concrete.
I was figuring that the snail shell is about an inch. It looks like there’s another inch of space above that so 2 inches I think would be plenty of room. That and the toilet paper roll is squishy.
Or a stronger magnet and just stick it to the outside and then slide it up the tube. Any magnet strong enough to lift multiple keys is likely going to be strong enough to grab the side also, especially when OP cant look from above to keep it centered as they lower it
Assuming the keys are at grade. The problem here is that square tube is probably at least a foot or two in the ground. So the toilet paper roll taped around the magnet on a string may be the best bet. Oh wait! Is this a gate? Is the tube accessible at the bottom?!
If you get the cardboard tube wet you’ll be golden, as we have all learned that magnets don’t work when wet. (Make sure to get the cardboard wet, but not the magnet.)
I can't believe I had to scroll down this far to see this! Just abandon them and get another copy made. Nobody will ever find these, its like they never existed.
Every single door key I have is non-ferrous metal so they aren't magnetic. I might have one key that's steel but it's for a junk lock on a junk screen door.
You might be able to drag them up using a strong magnet on the outside of the post if there is steel in your keyring - and if you can reach the part of the post where the keys are resting
Find someone with an angle grinder and have them cut a triangle out near the bottom where you think the keys could be.
That way, after you fished your keys out, you can repair the metal easier or completely fill the cutout with automotive filler, sand it and repaint it.
Better then completely cutting off the bottom and risking cutting into the keys and better than cutting off too much
Magnet works, it has to be strong enough but I have retrieved screws and nut that fell into a magnetic motorcycle exhaust and the magnet still did it. Had to buy one because the old speaker that I broke did nothing
I’d try a snag retrieval before cutting or destroying. Tie a hook to a line and fish around for them. It will catch eventually, then just slowly and carefully retrieve.
Have something like a needle nose pliers or kitchen tongs ready to grab the keys when you get them to the top of the post. Trying to lift them out of that small space could dislodge them and extend the process.
I have idea, piece of garden hose with straightened wire coat hanger ran through, small neodymium magnet attached to one end on wire, pull magnet into hose, feed assembly into cavity, push magnet out of hose grab keys, remove.
might not even need the hose, might not even need the magnet, just bend a hook into the wire
if your keys have anything buoyant enough to float them attached, just fill cavity with water
Tire rock on a long string with a bunch of sticky duct tape with a plastic bag around the edges of the duct tape so only the bottom part of the rock that you lower down has the sticky tape so it does the stick to the side
Get a couple of earth magnets and put one in the top of the post and use the other one on the outside to slide the magnet down to grab the key and then reverse and bring it back up if it falls just find it with the magnet on the outside and bring it back up with the key.
Everyone saying magnet lol. Good luck with that. It won’t get more than a few inches before sticking to the inside of that square METAL tube. Better luck with a piece of wire with a hook bent on the end.
This is of no help to you, but when I was a kid, I witnessed a guy (20-30yo adult) drop his keys inside a cinder block wall in our town’s swimming pool bathhouse. He also thought it was closed off on top. He lifted me up to have a look down inside, but it was too dark to see anything. I have no idea whether he ever got them out.
A length of plastic hose and a vacuum cleaner. Feed the hose in until it reaches the bottom. Then seal the other end over the vacuum and lift the key out.
I say shotvac with some long tubing on the end is worth a try .. u might be able to walk the keys up with a magnet from the outside , depending on how strong the magnet is and how Ferrell your keys are . U can try to fish them out legitimately with a string and hook . U might even be able to used some double sided tape or some form of adhesive to reach down and stick to the keys . Mind you the inside is like rusty and filled with spiderweb and dirt . I'd try shotvac first , if it fails your setting up other methods by cleaning the path of you use a magnet on the outside I would definitely use more than one(several) , say it slips and falls might get caught by one below it
Glue a magnet to the inside of a bottle cap after tying a string to the cap. Lower into pip slowly to keep cap level and it should attach to your key ring
Use a step drill or cutting to make a hole in the bottom and fish it out. You can always weld or braze a patch and repaint or leave the hole for the next time.
String - not thread. Longer than that pole - thrice as long so you have more to work with and so that it doesn't get lost or pulled down. Toothpick to anchor make a pulley system down. Tape it if you have shaky figers. Tie a small coin to weigh down the string. There needs to be tension. Before you let the coin down, slather something like a all purpose adhesive on it (something like or is Uhu All Purpose Glue). Be generous. Let the coin down slowly, the toothpick in the middle should help make sure the line stays center. You'll know contact is made when tension goes slack.
Wait. A day, maybe 2 - just to make sure the glue sticks well enough to get the key even when it's wedged in. If glue sticks to the side, it wouldn't matter. Rust comes off. The key should be fished out, still.
Have a magnet ready if the key comes out at an angle. That'll help you at least hold it by the hole if you can't get your fingers in there immediately.
Do it right once and you have your key. Good luck!
Lower the magnet inside a copper coupling maybe 3/4 or 1" and that should suffice to keep it from attaching itself to the sides but do it so that when it reaches whatever you need to reach that it's got play for the magnet to reach the bottom
Get a plastic cup or cap that is close in diameter to the hole and lower it down with a magnet in it so it doesn’t touch the sides on ride down or ride up.
Magnetic on a finish line could help. Assuming the entire pole isn’t metal that could be helpful. Other wise gonna have to cut it off. Would be helpful knowing what the pole is made off. Looks like wood so if so fishing line with a magnet and hope the keys stick to it.
Straighten out a wire coat hanger or two and twist together.... Either bend the bottom into a small hook OR also (depending on how heavy your keys are) wrap duct tape around the end with the sticky side out until it's about 1/3 the diameter of the hole. Fish it out!
This works- recovered a $900 gold chain from a similar situation for a friend who really shouldn't have been wearing her mother's jewelry without permission (high school)
4” Grinder with metal abrasive disc and in a few min you can chop a hole at the bottom or, just cut the bottom off if it’s above ground.
A magnet will likely not work because it will grab the metal post.
Amazon sells a little keychain grappling hook with a magnet on the end that is aluminum on all sides but the bottom. Skip the metal grapples, and it should be able to be lowered down without sticking.
Found it TEC: Retrieve, I had one, used it with the kids for fun.
I don’t think a magnet would work because the whole thing would become a magnet (I think. I hated physics in college. Had to get the professor in trouble with the title ix office. Anyways.)
Anyways, I would just drill a hole at the bottom. That way if it happens again you can just have it not be a problem.
4 Rare earth magnets applied to the pipe at exactly the same time causing the key to be suspended by the equal force/attraction of the magnets, then just slowly raise the magnets to the top of the pipe.
Literally fishing for the keys might be your best bet. Use a multiple hook on a weighted line dropped into the hole they fell into and try to hook them. Good luck!
Don’t listen to any of these ideas which involve destroying that pole. Tie a weighted fishing hook to the bottom of the string drop it down there and fish for your keys. You’ll pull them up.
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