I used to think a bent paperclip was a fine lens spanner wrench

I was fixing a Canon AE-1 for a friend last year and the front element was stuck. For about 20 minutes, I tried to make a tool from a paperclip and some tape. It just scratched the ring. Now I have a proper set of JIS screwdrivers and a real spanner I got for $35 online. The job takes two minutes and I don't feel like a caveman. Anyone else have a 'tool' they made that they're now embarrassed by?

3 comments

3 Comments

terry_carter1518d ago

My 2005 Honda Civic had a rattling heat shield. For a month I used a big hose clamp from the hardware store to hold it up. Looked terrible and still buzzed. Finally bought the proper bracket for like twelve bucks. Felt like an idiot for not just doing it right.

riley_schmidt18d ago

Saw a forum post where a guy tried fixing his heat shield rattle with like three different sizes of hose clamps before giving up. He said the metal just expands and contracts so much that clamps never get it tight enough to stay quiet. Makes sense why the factory brackets have those little spring washers built in.

the_holly18d ago

Ugh, that's the worst. Been there with my old car, trying every cheap fix before caving for the right part.