25 replies to this topic

[cripster]

Do any of you have or use reachers on a daily basis? Which one on the market works the best?

[edlee]

Yes, I do.

I got my hands on one shortly after rehab ( three years ago) and haven't been without , since.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have a name on it any where. It is about two feet in length, the back of aluminum. It has only one movable claw ( for lack of a more descriptive term), which I find better than those with two.

I keep it tucked between my leg and the side arm rest ( yeah, I still use them). I've never counted daily usages, but notice if I misplace it within an hour or so.

It's particularly useful in the Jeep Liberty when things in the back slide out of reach, or off the passenger seat.

Get one you like and you won't want to go without it.
ed

[cripster]

edlee, on Dec 25 2007, 01:35 PM, said:

Yes, I do.

I got my hands on one shortly after rehab ( three years ago) and haven't been without , since.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have a name on it any where. It is about two feet in length, the back of aluminum. It has only one movable claw ( for lack of a more descriptive term), which I find better than those with two.

I keep it tucked between my leg and the side arm rest ( yeah, I still use them). I've never counted daily usages, but notice if I misplace it within an hour or so.

It's particularly useful in the Jeep Liberty when things in the back slide out of reach, or off the passenger seat.

Get one you like and you won't want to go without it.
ed

What kind of things do you pick up? (what's the heaviest, the largest, or the most precise?) Did you get it from rehab, or where did you find out about it?
Thanks John

[kewlcatkez]

Hi There,

the old "litter picker" type of grabber used to be prevalent here in the UK, but they aren't too robust IMO. I think they are called "Helping Hands".

Here are some different Types.

Here in the UK, The Red Cross has a selection of varied sized grabbers/reachers.

Here is a USA site with similar Click Here! In this case it is marketed as a Litter Picker, so is probably less expensive.

In the UK you can probably get such an item provided by the OT service, although you will probably have to go thru an assessment!

Youreable has litter picker/grabbers online for only £5.99


HTH,

Take care,

K

[Bulky]

This one is quad-friendly:

Telestik

I got one (TS3040) about three months ago - absolutely brilliant.

[Tim13]

Thank you kewlcatkez!
The long handle reacher in your red cross link is the one i've been trying to replace for years.
Was given one in rehab (probably cost my insurance 80.00), finally broke it in 98 and have never found a better all around reacher.

Edited by Tim13, 26 December 2007 - 12:47 AM.

[ParaforGod]

I use my reacher often. If you go to the USA site that Kewlcatkez put in his response to your question that reacher is the one I have. It was sent home with me from rehab. I have used it for 7yrs. and its like new. I use it to pick up things I drop. Also When I empty the dishwasher I use it to put glasses in the cabinet or get cans of food out of the cabinets. You can use it to get clothes out of the washing machine. You can take it with you while shopping to reach things on the high shelves. I have a small dog that stays in so I have a long tie out in the middle of the yard. The end of the tie out that I hook onto the dogs harness stays on the porch at the door. When the dog has to go out I open the door enough to stick out my reacher get the clasp pulling the tie out into the house. I then hook the clasp onto her harness open the door and she goes out. The tie out is long enough that she doesn' go near the house. When she is ready to come back in she steps into the house I unhook the clasp and drop it just outside the door. The only thing is I need one for every room in my house because when I need my reacher you can be sure it will be at the other end. I hope this helps.

[kewlcatkez]

Tim13, on Dec 26 2007, 12:47 AM, said:

Thank you kewlcatkez!
The long handle reacher in your red cross link is the one i've been trying to replace for years.
Was given one in rehab (probably cost my insurance 80.00), finally broke it in 98 and have never found a better all around reacher.

Hi Tim,

glad I was some use ;)

The site says:

Quote

We are not able to delivery outside the UK at the moment, but there is a Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in almost every country in the world, and some of these have online shops.

and here is the corresponding page with all the links ( worldwide ) Click Here! Hopefully, they will be able to get one to you! or at least point you in the right direction to a local supplier!

WOW, $80 on the Insurance for a grabber!!!!!

Oh and Merry Christmas, to all!









Take care,

K

ParaforGod, on Dec 26 2007, 12:52 AM, said:

I use my reacher often. If you go to the USA site that Kewlcatkez put in his response to your question

LOL, Ok, I have to update to a pic with my hair loose..so you all don't continue thinking I am male! Yup, I am a Girl!!

LOL



Take care,

K


( aka Kerry)

[ParaforGod]

Kewlcatkez I do apolagize I don't know why I said his I didn't even look at your picture. I truely hope you will accept my apology.

[Tim13]

kewlcatkez, on Dec 26 2007, 01:03 AM, said:

Hi Tim,

glad I was some use ;)


WOW, $80 on the Insurance for a grabber!!!!! dunno.gif mfr_omg.gif


LOL



Take care,

K


( aka Kerry)

Well, one Tylenol was between 5.00 and 8.50, i figure a 10.00 reacher has to be around 80.00 :-)

did a little looking and found "my" reacher and a whole variety of them at reachers

thanks again

tim

Edited by Tim13, 26 December 2007 - 01:34 AM.

[kewlcatkez]

ParaforGod, on Dec 26 2007, 01:20 AM, said:

Kewlcatkez I do apolagize I don't know why I said his I didn't even look at your picture. I truely hope you will accept my apology.

Hi ParaforGod,

Thank you for the message. There was no need to apologise, but thank you for doing so. I wasn't offended, just a little bemused and amused! No worries, as the written word doesn't have the benefit of hearing each others voice, and other such 'clues' to our Gender.
I didn't mean my message to be seen as chastising at all! so sorry if it could be interpreted that way.
Merry Christmas!!









Take care,

K

Tim13, on Dec 26 2007, 01:33 AM, said:

Well, one Tylenol was between 5.00 and 8.50, i figure a 10.00 reacher has to be around 80.00 :-)

did a little looking and found "my" reacher and a whole variety of them at reachers

thanks again

tim

Hi Tim,

No worries! Glad you found one. I can see how you came to the $80 conclusion regarding grabbers and Insurance. What an odd state of affairs! lol.



No matter whether we follow Formal Religion, Paganism or Athiest type disciplines.

Take care,

K

[cripster]

Bulky, on Dec 25 2007, 03:58 PM, said:

This one is quad-friendly:

Telestik

I got one (TS3040) about three months ago - absolutely brilliant.

How do you pick up a heavy book like a National Geographic or a Bible with the Telestik?

[edlee]

What I have is a pretty basic reacher, but I've picked up everything , from individual pills I've dropped to , dishes from the cupboard, even a kitten once ( he wasn't happy about it tho).

Anything more than a pound or so takes a bit of technique to pull off.

Stear clear of those made of plastic. They flex too much and are too bulky to be stowed easily about the chair. That part is important or else you need to have quite a few lying about the house as Paraforgod mentioned.
ed

[Tim13]

kewlcatkez, on Dec 26 2007, 10:07 AM, said:

Hi Tim,

No worries! Glad you found one. I can see how you came to the $80 conclusion regarding grabbers and Insurance. What an odd state of affairs! lol.
Take care,

K

Dug out my hospital bill (yes, I save things from 1992) that reacher which retails for $19.00 cost Blue Cross $128.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


BTW, sammonsprestondotcom where i found the amazing selection of reachers has tons of other things that look pretty useful too like cushions, umbrellas for wheelchairs and lots more.

[carole338]

I use my grabber every day. Things are always falling and my bladder does not always cooperate when I bend to pick up. I have two grabbers. One was bought recently at Walgreens for $20.00 and the other was bought for my grandchild 9 years ago at a toy store for about $10.00. I find them extremely useful even as an extension of my arm for closing cabinet doors and dusting.

Carole

[LuckyinKentucky]

I still have a sammons preston that i got in rehab... and have went through about 4 of those ones called the gopher from wal mart.

[Bulky]

cripster, on Dec 27 2007, 05:12 AM, said:

Bulky, on Dec 25 2007, 03:58 PM, said:

This one is quad-friendly:

Telestik

I got one (TS3040) about three months ago - absolutely brilliant.

How do you pick up a heavy book like a National Geographic or a Bible with the Telestik?

Good point! The "sticky patch" will do a magazine but not a book. Most of the books I read are on easy to reach shelves but if I drop them on the floor - game over! Depending on hand function, a tradition reacher sounds better for what you want.

[pieters]

for teh grabber and reacher ., you can find teh good price from dnapath.com. but the fright charges not included.

Admin Note: This company is based in Hong Kong.

Edited by Apparelyzed, 14 January 2008 - 09:18 AM.

[Apparelyzed]

cripster, on Dec 26 2007, 06:12 PM, said:

Bulky, on Dec 25 2007, 03:58 PM, said:

This one is quad-friendly:

Telestik

I got one (TS3040) about three months ago - absolutely brilliant.

How do you pick up a heavy book like a National Geographic or a Bible with the Telestik?

I guess it's all technique.

I don't read the bible, but I have dropped the odd magazine and heavy book in the past.

I use the Telestick to stand the book up on it's end, then with my gloved palm, slide the book up the front of my wheelchair frame, onto my knee.

As for a magazine, If it falls on the floor, I open the magazine, slip the cover between my thumb and first finger, and bend my wrist back so the cover page is bent in two. It helps if you moisten your fingers first, to create a bit of friction.

Then I just lift the magazine up. If it's a heavy magazine, I trigger spasms in my hand to create a grip, but the spasms only last about 3 seconds, so I have to be quick!

Simon

[linds07]

i recenty came across quadtools.com and they make reachers for quads. im ordering one!!

[wheelywendy]

linds07, on Jun 8 2009, 04:22 AM, said:

i recenty came across quadtools.com and they make reachers for quads. im ordering one!!

that one the quad gripper looks good, i might see if they post to uk,
#
i read somewhere on this site from someone that recommended one called bulldog, but so far havent managed to find one, i'm looking for a new one as both mine are now sticking, and i keep having to ask passers by to open the dog cages in my car for me, i normally reach it with my gripper as my cages are right in car behind front seats, brought a couple of grabbers off ebay but they broke within days, so on the lok out for one that will last

[Meadowlarkmark]

I could never find a reacher sturdy enough for my needs so I have ben making hooks for a number of years. I work 1inch X 1 inch oak pieces in to round smooth pieces, to what ever lengrth I desire, the drill a hole in the end and twist a plastic covered bicycle hook in the end and i use them from pulling clothes out of the dryer to picking up hoses in the yard or dragging groceries from the back of my van when I get home from shopping, and the hooks are cheep enough I have them all over the house--check out my vid on the hook

[E-DOG]

Meadowlarkmark, on Jul 10 2009, 04:19 PM, said:

I could never find a reacher sturdy enough for my needs so I have ben making hooks for a number of years. I work 1inch X 1 inch oak pieces in to round smooth pieces, to what ever lengrth I desire, the drill a hole in the end and twist a plastic covered bicycle hook in the end and i use them from pulling clothes out of the dryer to picking up hoses in the yard or dragging groceries from the back of my van when I get home from shopping, and the hooks are cheep enough I have them all over the house--check out my vid on the hook

Sorry Meadowlarkmark, just had to ask.
Why not go out and get an oak dowel, already round instead of whittling down a square piece?

[shawzfun]

linds07, on Jun 7 2009, 10:22 PM, said:

i recenty came across quadtools.com and they make reachers for quads. im ordering one!!

This is awesome. It looks like it's perfect. I drop things all the time. We'll see.....

[Rolin]

I've broken just about every one that I've owned except these two.
The "Nabber Grabber" by Marko opens up wider then most, which comes in very handy. Better quality then most.
The "Niffty Nabber" is bullet proof and well made, even through it is made in china.
I would recommend either over most that I've used. Stay away from the folding types. They don't last long.
The spring steel designs are kinda cheezy and weak.
Look in the janitorial supply market. The products are often built to sustain a higher level of activity.
These are over here in Obama country.

Nabber Grabber
http://store.markoinc.com/nabber.html

Niffty Nabber
http://janitorial-su...e-nifty-nabber/

[Meadowlarkmark]

E-DOG, on Jul 11 2009, 12:22 AM, said:

Meadowlarkmark, on Jul 10 2009, 04:19 PM, said:

I could never find a reacher sturdy enough for my needs so I have ben making hooks for a number of years. I work 1inch X 1 inch oak pieces in to round smooth pieces, to what ever lengrth I desire, the drill a hole in the end and twist a plastic covered bicycle hook in the end and i use them from pulling clothes out of the dryer to picking up hoses in the yard or dragging groceries from the back of my van when I get home from shopping, and the hooks are cheep enough I have them all over the house--check out my vid on the hook

Sorry Meadowlarkmark, just had to ask.
Why not go out and get an oak dowel, already round instead of whittling down a square piece?

I love the process and I have access to all the oak scrap...it's just fun