![]() ![]() ![]() It's design is very much like the Gopher but with a round hinge-less aluminum tube. It is a Welby Reacher model 46545 made exclusively for Aldi. I did find an interesting alternative at an Aldi market. These mods have held up for 5+ years now. I still like the Gopher with the mods above - 1) rod to stiffen the hinge and 2) gluing screw or drilling through suction cup and replacing with machine screw. ![]() ![]() Had I ordered a Gopher I instead, it probably would have arrived in fine shape. The shipping box was probably slightly crushed during shipping. The thin aluminum tube ripped where the swivel attaches to the handle. I am returning the Gopher II I just received from Amazon. Minor design changes would make it terrific right out of the box. I wish the Ontel people who manufacture the device (in China, of course) would change the design. I wouldn't use it for anything heavier that one or two pounds even with modifications. After modifications, it deserves five stars even for frequent users. Without modifications it probably deserves 1-3 stars. Unless you are really gentle or rarely use the Gopher, it will break. In the Customer Supplied Image area I show this fix using wooded dowels on a Gopher I.Īfter Modifications, It deserves Five Stars It works fine but does add noticeable weight. Note: I have also used one-eight inch steel rod rather than wood dowel. This keeps the arm straight without relying on the hinge. I then wrap duct tape in four places around the dowels and arm. I get two 12 inch lengths of quarter-inch wooden dowel and put one on each side of the metal arm with the midpoint of each dowel where the hinge is. Either before or after the hinge breaks, you can do what I do. I never fold mine so I view the hinge as unnecessary. I wish they had one with a solid arm which would eliminate the hinge. Even moderate sideways stress will damage the flimsy plastic hinge in the middle which allows the thing to fold in half so it can be stored in a drawer. If you don't appreciate its grasping capability, you probably won't bother overcoming the design flaws in the product. I love the simplicity, reliability, and control of the spring metal jaws and the ability of the suction cups to grasp a sewing needle or other very tiny object on a smooth tile floor or even carpet. You probably want to slather some glue on this too since it too may loosen without it. If you have already stripped the threads on the suction cup, throw away the screw, drill the screw hole all the way through the suction cup and put in a flat head machine screw with the nut on the side opposite the suction cup. This fix will last for two years or more. In the Customer Supplied Image area I added a picture showing this fix. This keeps the suction cup from rotating and the screw from loosening. If the plastic threads on the suction cup are still in good shape, get some gloppy glue like E6000 (my preference) or Gorilla Glue and slather it liberally on and around the suction cup screw and the neck of the suction cup. I can see why people give it just one star. The threads on the suction cup are plastic which is easily stripped when tightening the screws, if you can find them when they fell out. Yes they do easily loosen and the screws fall out. Unless this feature is important, I recommend the Gopher I. However, the swivel collar is a point of failure and weakness and raises the price about $2. This would be a good feature if you had difficulty rotating your wrist when you tried to grasp something you want to pick up. The newer Gopher II has a swivel collar near the handle which allows you to turn the handle 1/4 turn and lock it in place. It has two serious flaws which can be corrected but at some effort.īoth the Gopher I (which is red) and the Gopher II (which is blue) are available. I love the Gopher but I understand why it gets so many one star reviews. Don't have to "borrow" anyone anymore because they are tall. This folds in half so I can stash it in my notebook with the rest of my paraphernalia. I got tired of "borrowing" tall people so I decided to find a "grabber". Too many times when I am shopping I find that I cannot reach an item on the top shelf.and I am not that short. I have a zip up notebook that I stash my coupons, pens, aisle by aisle location list, calculator and grocery list in so I know where it all is. Would you believe I bought this to use in the grocery store? I am a bit of a fanatic when it comes to grocery shopping because I hate it and I don't want to do it more than I have to. ![]()
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