Coat Hangers

[Magicman]

What would we do without them.  Kinda like household "bailing wire".  They are always handy and have been cut, twisted, straightened, bent, etc. every way imaginable.

This morning the vacuum quit vacuuming.  A straightened coat hanger fished the clogged lint from the tube and presto, vacuuming again.   

[Autocar]

I just used one last week to clean a bathroom drain at my mother in laws. I have a number of them hanging on the shop wall made for different things.

[beenthere]

But still not as great as the old baling wire. Grew up with the kind that was cut to length and had a loop twisted in one end (used for hand threading/tying on the old baler). Soft, pliable, yet strong.

Coat hangers are on the stiff side. But make 'em do.

[yukon cornelius]

I love em! the last project I used one on was a rebar clothes drying rack a made for my wood stove. It hangs down from the ceiling "one clothes hanger" from the ceiling.

[Chuck White]

I use wire coat hangers for lots of things, they're just "handy"!

Over all, I think the handiest wire I've found is the wire used to twist rebar together with, it's soft and easily bent into most any shape!

[trapper]

rebar wire is used a lot in trapping.  Straightened a couple of clothes hangers and used them to find the underground water line going to the old barn that I need to cap off this summer

[luvmexfood]

Been many a car door opened with a coat hanger when the keys were locked inside.

[r.man]

Coat hangers are more of a tool than a wire. Trapping wire is what you want for attaching things, coat hangers pull, push and grab things.

[Chuck White]

rebar wire is used a lot in trapping.  Straightened a couple of clothes hangers and used them to find the underground water line going to the old barn that I need to cap off this summer

I've done that a few times too.

Works pretty good!

[Shotgun]

So, how about a little dousing training for those of us that want to learn?

[thecfarm]

Wire coat hangers maybe a thing of the past. Those plastic ones are taking over!! 

[pigman]

They are even good to hang clothes.

[21incher]

My wife got rid of all the metal ones and replaced them with wooden and plastic types so I can no longer enjoy their usefulness. :(

[doctorb]

The funny thing is that, if they have a failing, its hanging heavy coats!

[Onthesauk]

Next thing you know,  you guys are going to  try to find some use for duct tape.

[landscraper]

So, how about a little dousing training for those of us that want to learn?

The number one thing I can say about dowsing is that you have to have faith that it works.  If you doubt that it works, it won't.  Also, some people just have the knack for it, and some don't.  Best thing to do is go try.  You might be surprised.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

The funny thing is that, if they have a failing, its hanging heavy coats!

You're right Doc. And yes, Ray, the plastic ones are taking over.....in our houses anyway.
But I keep me a good ware hanger for roasting Marshmallows or Hotdogs in the fareplace.  ;D

[Bilge Rat]

Wire coat hangers come in different gauge wire.
For coats/heavy stuff get Big Man hangers.
If you need wire hangers go by the local dry cleaner and ask for a few.
We recycle them, customers bring them back so i always have some that i can give away.
A local trapper uses them for trip wires on his traps. He says they work better, last longer than factory.  He comes by a few times a year. He does urban/problem critter trapping.

Remove the coating and use them for welding filler rod in a pinch.

[sandhills]

So, how about a little dousing training for those of us that want to learn?

The number one thing I can say about dowsing is that you have to have faith that it works.  If you doubt that it works, it won't.  Also, some people just have the knack for it, and some don't.  Best thing to do is go try.  You might be surprised.

I'm not saying I know anything about dousing but I can find about anything buried under ground with a couple pieces of copper wire, bend them in a L shape pointed straight in front, one in each hand loosely, and they turn pointing to where the "whatever is under ground" runs to and from.  Not a real good explanation I know but it works for me, dad always said I was the best ground God ever invented  :D

[sawguy21]

Wire coat hangers come in different gauge wire.
For coats/heavy stuff get Big Man hangers.
If you need wire hangers go by the local dry cleaner and ask for a few.
We recycle them, customers bring them back so i always have some that i can give away.
A local trapper uses them for trip wires on his traps. He says they work better, last longer than factory.  He comes by a few times a year. He does urban/problem critter trapping.

Remove the coating and use them for welding filler rod in a pinch.

Did that more than once  ;D

[Bill Gaiche]

Yes to the welding. I have used a bunch way back when to torch weld with and they worked real well. bg

[Dave Shepard]

I have a backhoe. I don't have any problem finding buried lines. :D

[easymoney]

i was going to say use them for welding rods but a couple of you beat me to it. i never buy the store bought welding rods for acetylene welding. our local clothes and food pantry sells a generous batch of them for one dollar. i can't believe how many of them i use in a years time. if you need a small cotter pin and don't have one handy cut a piece of coat hanger. yes i remember baling wire. but it is probably all long gone. a lot of things around the farm was held together with baling wire.

[justallan1]

It's nice to see others use them for welding. I've mentioned that to folks and they refuse to believe it's possible. Now I don't go using it all the time, but it'll sure work in a pinch.

[drobertson]

they are handy for sure, from cleaning hair from the sink drain, to underneath the rig patching a tail pipe,  Not sure how many we have left here, seems that those plastic ones have really taken over, they are nice, but have limited uses like the old metal ones. I know there are are few folks remember the Popping of filler rod going into the ear and down the neck, followed by the comment," must be a cheap one" grab me another one :D