Skyhooks - an overhead solution

I find it very trying looking for a particular hand tool which has hidden itself from view and with no wall space left to mount tool racks the tools remained in cluttered drawers.

So I eyed up these magnetic strips in either LIDL or ALDI (I can't remember which) and thought they might come in handy. The only vacant space to speak of in my workshop is the ceiling so that is where I fixed'em. My screwdrivers and nut runners now have a new organized home. It still does not stop me scratching my head though when I glance up and spot a gap and wonder where I left THAT one!

Initially I had thought the magnets might not be strong enough for the job but these "skyhooks" are well up to the job and in the two months or so since they have been up there nothing has fallen of.

Rik

While the magnets may be up to the job, the sword of Damocles comes to mind...

That's where I put my working drawings , held up by masking tape for obvious reasons . In this way , they don't take up bench space , are kept fully open , are well lit and don't get damaged .

Trevor .

OK but I can't stand magnetized tools.

Ian S C

Either my ceiling is too high or my arms are too short......

btw Skyhooks is also the name of an Aussie glam rock band from the 70's

I used to use the same sort of thing, but now they are in the bin you will magnetise the tools when drawing them off the holder ruined a very good  expensive calliper this way. Don’t do it. Use wood with drilled holes.

Edit  I hate autotype 

Edited By Zan on 29/01/2019 00:30:03

Magnetic tools are a nuisance, I would avoid these things like I would the plague!

Nice idea.......but , ' King Harold' and ''Hastings' , keeps saying something to me........

A magnetic screwdriver can be very useful but I just stick a small magnet on the screwdriver and the tip temporarily becomes a magnet, demagnetising is easy if it should pick up a bit of magnetism.

Mike

In the event anyone wants the plague I see from Adventures in China that Arc Eurotrade are in a position to supply all your needs. Don't delay though - it's only available while current stock lasts...

Anyone who suffers the "nuisance" of magnetised tools in their workshop obviously does not have one of these:

This example lives under a bench but is rarely used.

Like Mike P though I also appreciate the benefits of magnetic screwdriver tips. With my shaky mitts it often makes things so much easier for me. For this reason ALL my screw driver tips are magnetic. For non-ferrous fixtures I use a dollop of blutack - does the same job!

A hinged and latched notice board fixed to the ceiling could be a space saving way of hanging a drawing for those of us whose neck objects to looking up too long. Colin

There is another kind of skyhook.

https://skyhook.cc/index.html

I have one. It is a pain to set up on the mill. I have to bolt down the adapter base then set the skyhook in place. It weighs almost as much ad the vise I will be lifting. The lathe compound slide is not sturdy enough to support it for lifting chucks. It sits in the corner most of the time.