I read the article in the April 08 “Workshop” on the neat Grip n Grab car retriever. My layout is also very deep so the retriever looked like the answer. I ordered one from the Ettore Products Company and it arrived today. So to the problem: The one in the photo looks like its a round tube that they cut off and used a “plumbing Coupling” to turn it into a right angle “Graber”. However, when mine arrived its an aluminum (I hope I spelled it correct) and its not round. Question 1. Did I order the wrong one or 2. do you some how make it round or 3. will the Plumbing Coupling work on the square tube?
If it will work on the aluminum tube, how much do you cut off to make it work?
I’m not at all familiar with the Grip n Grab car retriever you bought, but I hope you didn’t spend too much for it.
You probably could have gotten a very similar product locally at any store that caters to the handicapped as a grabber to retrieve cans from upper shelves, etc. Even Ace Hardware sells those grabbers in several different styles around here.
And you could have seen it up close and personal and even tried it out before buying and would have known exactly what you’re getting.
I guess I’ll answer my own question. I purchased the exact one they talked about in the article and after some time determined that although the alum shaft isn’t round the “Union Elbow” that I purchased slid on the alum shaft and worked as perfectly.
I cut one inch off the alum shaft, and took off the plastic end that came on the grabber and although it took a little messing around I finally got the cable to rethreaded and the thing works perfectly. If you have any hard to reach spots on your layout I would highly recommed making one.