"The Daring Dufas" wrote in message
...
On 7/29/2010 10:27 PM, David Combs wrote:
I use tin cans (eg goya beans) for storing pencils and pens of
one kind or another. But sometimes it wall fall off the shelf
it sits on (or I knock it off), and the pencils end up all over
the floor.

So, I decided to screw-down the cans:

I drilled a hoile in the bottom of each one, and then
drilled a starter-hole in the (cheap) wood shelf, one
per hole.

Now I get the proper wood screw, reach inside the can,
stick it through the bottom hole, and into the starter
hole, and screw down the can. SIMPLE!

Not so simple!

1: My hand is too big to reach into the can.
2: With needle-nose pliers, I manage to get
the screw through the hole (can held up in the air),
but am unable to line up the screw with the starter-hole.

Also, when sliding the can around, to find starter hole,
the screw will flip out of the hole in the can.

Question: how should I proceed?


Would be nice to have a maagnetic screwdriver -- but
I don't.

Or, unbend a paper-clip, stick it through the hole,
then with the can held an inch or two above the
wood (so I can see the starter-hole), stick the
protruding end into the hole, then try to set the
can down, and then someohow stick the screw into
the double-hole -- but when I try the screwdriver
on it, it flips out of the hole.


What to do? Epoxy it to the screwdriver (joke)?

What would YOU do?

Thanks!

David



Go to Office Depot and pick up some double sided sticky foam
tape. It comes in different thicknesses or you can layer it.
I have tons of the stuff because it comes with all kinds of
telecom gear that I have installed. It can be amazingly strong
when used correctly. I can't imagine that your pencil holders
will be subjected to extreme forces requiring epoxy or mechanical
fasteners. Heck, use Velcro so you can easily empty any crap
that invariably collects in pencil holders.

TDD

That would be my suggestion. Velcro strip wrapped all the way around
the can and a piece on he wall and it's done. You can put the can back
with your eyes closed. I use those small red plastic coffee cans.
Light and hold a lot.