Where Do I Get A Pokey Stick?

[+kone]

I have been looking around for a stick with a pointy metal spike at the end which I could use to pick up trash... I see people have these occasionally. What are they officially called and where can I get one?

[+bons]

I figured people just made them with a dowel and a nail but it turns out that you actually can buy the dang things.

 

http://www.cjms.com/peoppappicpi.html

 

I never would have guessed.

 

I've also seen people use these:

http://www3.seton.com/product/181478

[+Renegade Knight]

Just don't leave one at a cache. It might have to be added to the banned item list.

[+briansnat]

The dowl and nail is an easy way to do it. Buy a dowel at a hardware store, drive a long, thin nail into the end, then clip the head of the nail off and sharpen it on a stone, or witha file.

Edited May 10, 2004 by briansnat

[+TotemLake]

How about something that would be versatile?

[+PSUPAUL]

God gave me mine.

 

 

I found a old stick by a tree, get your mind out of the gutter!

[+kone]

Yeah, I was thinking that I will just put a nail into the end of an old broom handle.... just was wondering if I could easily find one from somewhere which had a fancy grip, is collapsible, etc...

[+rusty_tlc]

How about this grabber.

$20 but it picks up everything.

[+Team Flashncache]

How about this  grabber

 

Strangely, that looks like a pack of cigarette papers used to show the scale.

What else might you use the grabber for?

 

LOL

[+kone]

Thanks for the suggestions all... but I just went out and got a dowel and put a big nail on the end.

 

/soon to head out into a bush with my stick, hoping to poke a lot of trash

[+Prairie Dog]

How about something that would be versatile?

That's a neat walking stick. REI has some good products.

BUT, at $50.00 each that's a little too expensive for me.

I am always impressed with the resourcefulness of geocachers. I'm sure someone will build the perfect CITO stick fully customized.

[+BlueDeuce]

The dowl and nail is an easy way to do it. Buy a dowel at a hardware store, drive a long, thin nail into the end, then clip the head of the nail off and sharpen it on a stone, or witha file.

We have a local cacher who provides these for CITO events. He however uses a screw in the end of old brooms sticks. They are probably easier to insert into the dowel than a nail and hold better, plus the threads help grab the trash. Same technique to make them - Screw them in, cut off the head and sharpen (grind).

 

So nothing gets poked, He carries several by placing the ends in a piece of heavy Styrofoam. If you only have one or two I guess a cork would work.

 

 

Edit: Typo

Edited May 25, 2004 by Elf Danach

[+flask]

darn. i thought this thread was going to be much more fun.

[+The Cheeseheads]

How about this  grabber

 

Strangely, that looks like a pack of cigarette papers used to show the scale.

What else might you use the grabber for?

 

LOL

Cans and bottles? Stuff that the spike either won't get through, or it it does, would take some effort to yank off what it picked up.

[+Planet]

I had mine made at my friendly old fashioned neighborhood hardware store. Unfortunately it won't grab the glass, beer cans, and other hrd items, but it did save a lot ef bending down to get some of the paper and softer stuff.