Tekton announced a new compound angle mini hook, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen this type of tip shape on a hook or pick tool before.
In case it’s not obvious, this is a small “mini pick and hook” sized tool, with 3″ shaft length and 6.6″ overall length with the nylon handle.
Tekton says the compound hook can be used to securely capture and extract objects in hard-to-reach areas, and can be used to retrieve, pull, and push.
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Here’s a closeup of the compound hook end, which features a 90° bend and then an additional 180° bend.
This creates a U-shape that looks to allow for easier capturing of o-rings and similar materials.
I’m not convinced that I need one of these, but I’ll keep it in mind. It certainly does look handy, especially for grabbing larger o-rings.
Price: $5
COO: Made in USA
If you’re looking for a different profile, Tekton mini picks, hooks, and sets are available at Tekton and also available at Amazon.
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frobo
I have a set of hooks that I bought from Mac maybe 40-some years ago. It contains a hook very much like this one. It comes in handy for some things, retrieving o-rings being one of them.
SamR
It is wild how most things are invented a long time ago!
MM
Snap-on used to make a tool similar to this, perhaps they still do, it was marketed as a cotter pin puller but it is also useful for pulling seals. I’ve also seen similar tools as part of gland packing service sets.
If you scale it up you get the popular “pigtail turner” aka “food flipper”.
Jared
I’d like to try that shape. It seems like it would only be useful occasionally, but that’s enough reason to keep it around.
fred
One of the Proto cotter pin pullers has a bit of a compound twist – but not exactly the same shape:
https://www.amazon.com/Proto-Cotter-Pin-Puller-Pick-J2381/dp/B00H1O3DHK
We had some different shaped hooks from a company called Equalizer that were used with rubber gaskets – sort of Tekton pictures their tool:
https://www.amazon.com/Equal-i-zer-Unlock-Efficiency-Precision-Self-Locking/dp/B0D4K76RDD
JR Ramos
I ordered one the day they sent the email announcement…super handy shape and it’ll be nice to have a mini version of it. For the seal they show in the product photo I’d rather use the compound pick rather than this…easier to actually get in and under without risking a gouge on the part, maybe just have to be slightly more careful not to let go of it once removed if falling into the abyss is a risk. Better yet for some applications, there are some good and stout plastic seal picks (not the wimpy o-ring hooks).
For these mini tools I almost wish their handle was just a little smaller, but they are really good quality picks and the handle is comfortable. Much better than their previous couple of versions and on par with Ullman and their private labels. The imported Mayhew ones aren’t that great.
Doresoom
I don’t have that one in particular, but I do have the Tekton 5 piece hook and pick set. They’ve held up well for me so far, and I love that they’re USA made.
eddiesky
Just in time for my log splitter cylinder rebuild!
CA
That does look handy. For $5 looks like a great deal.
Nathan
I had one of those pig tail picks with a kit I had of interchangeable pick ends that screwed on a handle. Forget the name now but bought it off a tool truck in San Antonio tx. Why I remember that explicitly was I got through TSA without issue. My coworker with a serial cable didn’t.
The set was ok but the picks could wobble a bit. I have a gear wrench set with larger hooks in the set that works really well. But I might need another pig tail hook
fred
Sounds a bit like corkscrew-end packing hooks. Some come with screw-on ends – other with fixed ends. Both styles have their proponents.
https://www.amazon.com/FLEXIBLE-PACKING-HOOK-SET-1/dp/B001HWDXYK
https://www.grainger.com/product/PALMETTO-PACKING-Packing-Extractor-Replacement-4VLW7
Kentucky fan
That looks like a great idea.
I have their normal made in USA pick set and so far they have been excellent.
James
I use the HARDK pick set (I buy mine at Princess Auto but that’s the quickest I found on Amazon.ca).
I pull many o-rings every day and these kicks are perfect, including the compound pick that is excellent and the one I use most often. For $10 you get 4 options and the handles are super slim which I prefer for inside of housings etc.
They’re kinda sharp and dangerous for a tool bag so I keep mine in a clear PVC pipe with a cap glued on the bottom but the top cap just friction fit.
This luck looks kind of cool but I don’t see where you would need that extra bend. Then again, we’re only a product of what we experience; I’m sure there’s applications or they wouldn’t have invented it..
TMedina
Clear PVC pipe… I’ll have to try that for mine.
James
Yup works great.
I can just squeeze the pair in a 3/4” diameter and I cut the tube to exact length to help with retrieval. Sometimes I need needle nose to retrieve them, but it sure beats getting stabbed.
Once I was happy with the setup, I replicated it for all 3 of my regular tool bags (essentials / troubleshooting / installation).
fred
In our plumbing business – the guys would mostly carry smaller tools around in 5-gal. pails, toss larger wrenches into the back of the truck, store pipe vises haphazardly etc. One exception was the lengths of heavy walled PVC pipe with caps that they used to transport levels.
Grokew
Sadly it seems like Tekton started doing geofencing.
John
What do you mean by that? They sell products differently depending on where you’re located?