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MacGyver Online Forums > MacGyverisms > Paperclips

Posted by: Amy 3 November 2006 - 04:34 AM

From April 19, 2006 to August 14, 2006

Penny:

QUOTE

I was recently at a seminar and as a team building exercise we were in small groups, handed a paper clip, and asked to come up with all the ways it could be used. Well, immediately I said, "I wish MacGyver were here," to which I got some laughs.

So it got me thinking, just how many ways can you use it?

How did Mac use one?

MACGYVERISMYDAD:

QUOTE

he used on to try to fix the rental car in "three for the road" i believe he used one a couple times to pick locks,handcuffs ect. he used the paperclip the monkey wrench and a shoelace to make jacks cab accellerate into the men with bazookas thats all i can think of right now off the top off my head

Mac's Lab Rat:

QUOTE

The paper clip macgyverism I always remember is from the very beginning. In the pilot he used a paper clip to diffuse the missile at the very start. He had a bunch of special odd shaped missile disarming tools but had to resort to a paper clip!

Toni:

QUOTE

He also uses one to start the car in season 1 ep The Prodigal

MEP:

QUOTE

I can't remember to much what Mac used them for but I do remember that Gizmo use one that like kind of like this one as a bow in Gremlins 2

Hey it looked cool and besides with a rubber band there great to shoot at people.

Penny:

QUOTE

In The Heist, didn't he use one to snag a woman's dress to create the distraction in the casino?

MacsChick:

QUOTE

Yes he did! LOL!

That's one of my favorite scenes because he humbles that snooty girl who was rude to the cocktail waitress!

Rockatteer:

QUOTE

Humbles or humiliates?

MacsChick:

QUOTE

Good question, Rock--I was thinking a little bit of both!

Macs Lab Rat:

QUOTE

I know its not a Macgyverism but there’s this guy who’s trying to turn a paperclip in to a house!! One of my friends told me this and for a split second I thought it was an attempt at a mega-Macgyverism and was trying to figure out how on earth someone could turn a paperclip in to a house

until they told me more…
http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/
Two things immediately spring to mind – Why didn’t I think of something like that first and what sort of numpty swaps an snowmobile for a barrel of beer??!

MACGYVERISMYDAD:

QUOTE

well once you drink the barrel of beer you won't miss the snowmobile...atleast not until the next day

MacDriver:

QUOTE

I'm not entirely sure about this, I really should rewatch it, but it seems like MacGyver might've put a paperclip on the end of his can opener blade in the opening gambit of Trumbo's World when he was picking the towel up off the clothesline.

= MacGyver gets to take his pants off...again

silentk:

QUOTE

A paperclip makes a fine cheap lock pick, when you're in a tight jam

MEP:

QUOTE

paper clips also make really good book marks

Rockatteer:

QUOTE

MacGyver might've put a paperclip on the end of his can opener blade in the opening gambit of Trumbo's World

I think it was just the blade by itself. the shape of it makes great stand-in for a hook

Stupid Little Genius:

QUOTE

hey everyone!! silentk is my bro

you know the one i keep ranting about.... the one who broke the light and melted the bathroom flowers... and introduced me to MacGyver

Rockatteer:

QUOTE

Welcome aboard SilentK.

MacNymph:

QUOTE

hey everyone!! silentk is my bro

you know the one i keep ranting about.... the one who broke the light and melted the bathroom flowers... and introduced me to MacGyver

Hi SilentK. We like your lil sister. You must have tortured her just the right amount to make her the terrific smart bum she is today.

Good Job!

(You need to post. MGod says there aren't enough males here. They're here they just don't post. They're.... silent...K? )

silentk:

QUOTE

10-4 old buddy, I'll post whenever I have the chance. And yeh sluggy is cool, shes helped me out in many macgyverisms. and shes a darn fine lil sis.

silentk:

QUOTE

Oh yeh, I used a paperclip to rig a guys pc so that the power button was made redundant. The motherboard didn't supply the right signal to the power supply to turn it on. So i slipped a paperclip into the connector to bridge the connection.

Old Fan:

QUOTE

In the old days, on the Old Mac computers - the ones before the G-4 models - there used to be a tiny little hole near the drive (the slot where floppies were inserted). If/when a disk got stuck in the drive (they always did) one would poke a straightened out paper clip into the little hole - it would hit the spring, and "voila"... the disk would be ejected.

The perfect MAC tool!!!

Rockatteer:

QUOTE

You can do that with cd/dvd drives on computers now... theres a little hole near the eject button, so you can pop open the tray without having to turn on the computer.....

Macs Lab Rat:

QUOTE

You can do that with cd/dvd drives on computers now... theres a little hole near the eject button, so you can pop open the tray without having to turn on the computer.....

<wonders why you would want to do such a thing>

Can't play disks in them when the computers not on so why would you want to be able to open them...Oh! Maybe you're wanting a handy cup holder?

Rockatteer:

QUOTE

Maybe to take the disk OUT of the computer... especially in an office situation.

Old Fan:

QUOTE

Hummmm... I have a G-5 now (big honkin' hard drive) and the metal case (they used to be solid plastic) is perforated in front and back with big holes for ventilation where the dvd/cd tray is. If one of those big holes can be use to force-eject the disk... I sure don't know which one it is...

Rockatteer:

QUOTE

yeah I was talking about PC drives with the tray that slides in and out.

I'm not sure if Mac drives have the little hole.

Posted by: j12752 1 September 2007 - 03:26 AM

A friend of mine told me she uses a paperclip to hold up the little rings on her shade valance lol

Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 1 September 2007 - 11:33 PM

I use a paperclip as a ring marker when I'm weaving chain maille. The paperclip hooks to the first set of rings so I know which end of the pattern I started with and can keep everything flowing inthe same direction. This is especially important when I drop the chain and the rings flip out of alignment. The handy little paperclip has saved me much frustration.

Posted by: MacBeth 25 October 2007 - 05:43 PM

We recently moved to a new office, and there's still work going on from the build-out. The kitchen was supposed to have had hot water "on demand", but so far, it's been more along the lines of "tepid water and only if you really insist".

Yesterday, we had plumbers in who were supposed to have fixed the problem. They came in early and were gone by the time I arrived. I asked a colleague who also gets in early if they'd fixed the hot water.

She replied, "I don't know, but at one point one of them came out and asked for a paper clip."

At this, another co-worker burst out, "What? Did we have MacGyver in here?"

We still don't know what the plumber did with the paper clip . . .

Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 25 October 2007 - 10:02 PM

Posted by: MacGirl 26 October 2007 - 05:05 PM

Posted by: MacBeth 12 March 2008 - 05:01 PM

I got to play “Spaghetti Monster” at work today, of the non-flying variety; my workstation area, and the one next to it, were torn apart and re-assembled (correcting an installation area dating back to, oh, last summer).

So I had to remove everything from my entire work area, and take down one computer and half a dozen peripherals, and set them up again after the fuss was over. On the other hand, it gave me a chance to get the cabling done right this time – nice and tidy instead of a spaghetti plate.

We have aftermarket keyboard trays on our workstations, which come with completely useless little notches that are supposed to hold the cords for the keyboard and mouse out of the way. The problem is that the keyboard trays move, which means that the cords need to have some play in them, especially the mouse cord – because the mouse moves also. (Duh . . . ) Not buenos notches at all.

A while ago, I realised that the ideal solution to this was a paper clip. The extra-large ones work best: you can even loop them through the otherwise useless cordholder notches, or secure them to the back of the keyboard tray, or attach them anywhere to the underside of the desk.

Thread the mouse cord through the paper clip, and it will slide back and forth easily, stay out of the way, stay untangled, and have enough play without too much slack.

You can also use paperclips to bunch cables together if they need to have some freedom of movement; otherwise I use twisties.

Posted by: MacsChick 12 March 2008 - 05:02 PM

Yes--twist ties--always save them!

Posted by: Issus 22 March 2008 - 11:28 AM

How about using a pair of shoe laces, and old rusty wrench and a paper clip to take out two bazokas. I got to try that one. Will anyone lend me his car?

Posted by: The True MacGyver 11 April 2008 - 04:01 PM

In a carving project recently, my buddy was using a wood carver to scratch off layers of the rubbery base. Well he accidentally sliced straight through it. In disbelief he showed the damage to me. A long crack ran down the side, a sliver holding on by a thin joint. I pulled out a paperclip, straightened it, broke it in half, and inserted it in the crack. I pushed both sides together, the clip pushing into them. It worked as a structural support beam. The solution worked. He finished his work, just fine.

Posted by: Jennifer-SAK 13 May 2008 - 05:02 AM

In the computer tech world, paperclips are the saviours to many lost cd's who refuse to eject when asked, also handy on those dinosauric floppies and Zip disks. Paperclips have also helped me hold a screw in place cause those damn drive bay screws are so tiny my fingers can't hold em. Paperclips have also spared me when it comes to guiding that annoying audio cable to the dvd-rom drive, damn Compaq's are build just like that COMPACT!

Grab a paperclip, wrap with a thin layer of scotch tape and have at it, all your tech work with a grounded clip!

Posted by: Issus 13 May 2008 - 09:48 AM

True. the paper clip to eject a Cd. I do that every time the light goes off and I'm working on a project or something and i use DVD's couse there the best thing for info Storage

Posted by: AlanP 29 January 2009 - 10:38 AM

I use paper clips to reset many electronic devices/gadgets...or of course you can do it with a pen or mechanical pencil if there's one around.

My dad used one to tied my pants when I was like 5. my pants was too big and dad used a paper clip he has in his bag to somehow tightened it and prevent them from falling

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 29 January 2009 - 06:10 PM

QUOTE (AlanP @ 30 January 2009 - 07:38 AM)

My dad used one to tied my pants when I was like 5. my pants was too big and dad used a paper clip he has in his bag to somehow tightened it and prevent them from falling

Wouldn't a belt have been easier?

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 18 March 2009 - 11:16 AM

I've done that myself with paper clips. I've also used them to unclog some stuff at a nursing home, and to hold up the hem of some pants I was wearing.

Posted by: macsgirl1 3 May 2009 - 05:38 PM

I had to use a paperclip for a keychain in a pinch when mine broke.

They also work great for zipper pulls.

Posted by: Beachbead 4 May 2009 - 11:30 AM

. Unbreakable Bag Closers
I used to buy those plastic "Snack Saver" clips to close up potato chip bags, cereal bags and other food containers. "Snack Savers" are cheap- you can buy 3 on a card for a buck. Unfortunately, I found that "you get what you pay for" because the cheap plastic closers were always breaking. Once I got bright and started using paper clips instead, no more problems! Not only that, but paper clips actually work better for closing bags because they hold them shut tighter!

2. Zipper Pull Replacement
Here's another use for paper clips that will boggle your mind. When the zipper pull broke off of my favorite winter parka while I was out doing errands, I took it to a local cleaner to have it repaired. The lady behind the counter said she could easily replace the pull in just a few minutes for seven bucks. I thanked her for her time and left. Once I arrived home, I slid the end of a paper clip into the zipper pull and it's worked fine ever since. If you really want to be fancy, you can find a paper clip that matches the color of your coat, but I think silver goes with everything.

3. Cherry Pit Remover
I've heard of a plunger-type cherry pit remover, but I've never owned one. I find the task much easier to do if you just use a paper clip. You'll need to grab the clip and "unfold" it so it looks like a square "S." Then, push it down into the middle of the cherry until you feel it hit the pit. Hook the curve of the paper clip under the pit, then pull it up and out.

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 5 May 2009 - 02:59 PM

Hubby gained weight and uses it to fasten the clip of his pants to the button hole.

Posted by: macsgirl1 5 May 2009 - 09:38 PM

When i got my first apartment i didn't have alot of money so I made garland out of paperclips for my christmas tree.

Thanks Mac for all the great ideas for paperclips

Posted by: Beachbead 6 May 2009 - 09:16 AM

chain together paper clips to make a Bookmark.

Posted by: macsgirl1 6 May 2009 - 05:44 PM

The other night I had to use a paperclip to fix my windshield wiper blade and it's still on!

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 19 May 2009 - 03:25 PM

I remember going to Vacation Bible School and making necklaces and belts out of paper clips then covering the with green self liner.

Posted by: Issus 23 November 2009 - 01:14 PM

I always have a few paper clips with me...dead usefull they are. Long live METAL paperclips, don't like plastic ones.

Posted by: MacsChick 24 November 2009 - 07:06 AM

But you can make a pretty necklace out of the colored plastic ones. I do that often at the office when I'm bored.

Posted by: Issus 24 November 2009 - 09:33 AM

I used to do that to at school, in english clases to be precise, and people laught at me for it. But I was true to my cause and proudly wore it.

Posted by: MacLovin 14 February 2010 - 01:28 PM

To hold sheets of paper together.

Actually,I know I've used them for several things but just can't think of many as of now. One would be for fishing something out of a small space. Another time I picked the bathroom lock after the kids locked me out.

On a side note my 12 month old has taken to carrying one around with her. It's kinda cute and I attribute it to her watching MacGyver with me.

Posted by: Lalaisse 17 May 2010 - 04:25 AM

Once my sister was wearing a thight dress, the kind of dress with a zipper in the back from waist 'till neck. She bent a little and the zipper gave in and it broke!

So, I got me a few paperclips and pinned them into the back of the dress. It was perfect and stylish!

Now my family calls me The MacGyver Apprentice!

Posted by: Victornox 2 January 2011 - 12:01 PM

I have used a paperclip to pick a padlock, it just has to be a realy small paperclip

Posted by: deepfathom393 2 January 2011 - 12:09 PM

Paperclips make great fashion accessories. I use them as earrings

strange, I know.

Posted by: MurDaltonfan 2 January 2011 - 02:08 PM

I can pick some locks with them. And I've used them when the zipper on my pack pops off.

Posted by: MacFan092985 11 February 2013 - 06:10 AM

Back in high school I picked the lock to one of my teacher's offices. Actually I didn't "pick the lock", so much as I straightened out a jumbo

, shaped it into a U, threaded it around the lock bolt and pulled it toward me, thereby moving the lock bolt back into the door frame, allowing me to open the door. I don't even remember why I wanted get into the office, I think it was simply to see if I could do it.

Posted by: KiwiTek 11 February 2013 - 02:29 PM

QUOTE (deepfathom393 @ 3 January 2011 - 09:09 AM)

Paperclips make great fashion accessories. I use them as earrings

strange, I know.

There could be a whole new idea of MacGyver accessories. Paper clip ear rings, SAK necklace*, Duct tape bangles.

* would have to be one of those mini SAKs otherwise it wold be too heavy.

Posted by: AussieMacFan 30 May 2013 - 03:20 AM

I wear Paperclip earrings and a Paperclip bracelet, every day.

Posted by: Daisy8577 30 May 2013 - 08:03 AM

I love the paperclip earrings and bracelet idea. Heaven knows when u need one!

Posted by: YopeGyver 30 May 2013 - 08:06 AM

My ears aren't pierced so I'm afraid the earring idea is out for me, but the bracelet...

Posted by: MDBfan 30 May 2013 - 08:52 AM

I'm interested in the bracelet.

Posted by: AussieMacFan 30 May 2013 - 01:22 PM

There you go, that's my Paperclip bracelet.

Posted by: MDBfan 31 May 2013 - 08:57 AM

Cute!

Posted by: Daisy8577 31 May 2013 - 08:59 AM

Love it!

Posted by: YopeGyver 31 May 2013 - 11:22 AM

Nice, Aussie! =D

Posted by: AussieMacFan 31 May 2013 - 07:38 PM

Oh thank you!

Posted by: MDBfan 8 June 2013 - 12:38 PM

I copied your style Aussie.

I knew I had some coloured paperclips somewhere.

Posted by: AussieMacFan 8 June 2013 - 01:13 PM

Nice!

You know what's really horrible, I was up at the library and I saw a girl wearing a paperclip bracelet. One of my friends asked her if she knew what MacGyver was. She and her friend said it was a retarded old show and that it was dumb.
People wearing paperclips just do not, say things like that!
I managed to keep myself from thumping her but trust me, that wasn't easy.

FYI I am not a violent person.

Posted by: KiwiTek 8 June 2013 - 09:00 PM

QUOTE (AussieMacFan @ 9 June 2013 - 09:13 AM)

You know what's really horrible, I was up at the library and I saw a girl wearing a paperclip bracelet. One of my friends asked her if she knew what MacGyver was. She and her friend said it was a retarded old show and that it was dumb.

Well with an answer like that you have to wonder if she even knew that her bracelet was made from paperclips.

Posted by: Wheeljack 8 June 2013 - 09:41 PM

Paperclip bracelets look very 1980-ish! Dunno if that was a "cool" thing to do back then, but it's easy to picture.

Posted by: AussieMacFan 8 June 2013 - 09:58 PM

True that, both of you.

Posted by: MDBfan 9 June 2013 - 12:05 AM

QUOTE (AussieMacFan @ 9 June 2013 - 09:13 AM)

She and her friend said it was a retarded old show and that it was dumb.

They probably stated their opinion without having watched MacGyver first.

Posted by: Daisy8577 9 June 2013 - 07:36 AM

I think you are right MDBfan. They are judging something they most likely have never seen.
How sad is that! They probably think the paperclip bracelet is something new.

Posted by: Jediferret 9 June 2013 - 08:22 AM

I tend to ignore people like that. I have a friend that thinks MacGyver is boring and will never watch the show because I like it. I get annoyed with people who will dismiss something just because somebody else likes it and not give it a chance.

Seriously... people can be really close-minded sometimes.

Posted by: AussieMacFan 9 June 2013 - 07:05 PM

Yep, true that too.

Posted by: MDBfan 23 June 2013 - 01:00 PM

Today, while hiking, my MP3 player wire broke and I had to squeeze it between my thumb and index finger to hear properly. I had a paperclip in my pocket and put it on the wire just to hold it in place till I got home. First I thought I had to buy a new headset but this solution works well, at least for a while!

Posted by: YopeGyver 23 June 2013 - 08:11 PM

Oh my geese! Same here, MDB! Right in the middle of my fav radio show http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yours_Truly,_Johnny_Dollar.

Now why didn't I think of that?!

Posted by: Daisy8577 25 June 2013 - 06:00 AM

When I was younger with braces I used one of the rubber bands to temporarily fix mine.

Posted by: Matrix 3 July 2013 - 08:07 AM

QUOTE (Jediferret @ 9 June 2013 - 12:22 PM)

I have a friend that thinks MacGyver is boring and will never watch the show because I like it. I get annoyed with people who will dismiss something just because somebody else likes it and not give it a chance.

Seriously... people can be really close-minded sometimes.

That's how almost all of my friends are Jediferret.

Posted by: YopeGyver 3 July 2013 - 08:37 AM

QUOTE (Matrix @ 3 July 2013 - 11:07 AM)

QUOTE (Jediferret @ 9 June 2013 - 12:22 PM)

That's how almost all of my friends are Jediferret.

That's a shame. It's their loss, unfortunately.

Im very fortunate to have access to this community and to have two good friends outside of MOL as well, who also enjoy the show. I just introduced another teenager to MacGyver last week and she said it's one of the best shows she's seen.

Posted by: MDBfan 3 July 2013 - 09:25 AM

QUOTE (YopeGyver @ 4 July 2013 - 04:37 AM)

I just introduced another teenager to MacGyver last week and she said it's one of the best shows she's seen.

That's awesome Yope!! Which episode did you watch?

Posted by: YopeGyver 3 July 2013 - 10:01 AM

First, the Pilot and then next, The Human Factor.

Posted by: Matrix 3 July 2013 - 12:23 PM

QUOTE (YopeGyver @ 3 July 2013 - 12:37 PM)

QUOTE (Matrix @ 3 July 2013 - 11:07 AM)

QUOTE (Jediferret @ 9 June 2013 - 12:22 PM)

That's how almost all of my friends are Jediferret.

That's a shame. It's their loss, unfortunately.

I'm very happy to be on this website talking to other MacGyver fans. I think out of the five or six people who I've tried to get to watch MacGyver, only one of them still likes it and watches it.

Posted by: MDBfan 3 July 2013 - 01:10 PM

QUOTE (Matrix @ 4 July 2013 - 08:23 AM)

I think out of the five or six people who I've tried to get to watch MacGyver, only one of them still likes it and watches it.

Hey! That's great! You got one person to like MacGyver.
I haven't succeeded - yet.

Posted by: KiwiTek 3 July 2013 - 03:04 PM

QUOTE (Matrix @ 4 July 2013 - 08:23 AM)

I think out of the five or six people who I've tried to get to watch MacGyver, only one of them still likes it and watches it.

A lot of the problem is that because the show is so old now, it's process for story telling is quite different to what people are now use to. Most shows these days are high energy presentations with lots of camera or picture movement on screen, from mobile camera work through to fancy fast moving scene changes. Basically the whole story telling process has evolved over the years, so trying to get someone to even watch an old show, let alone like it is quite a mission.

It seems easier to get people to like the ideals of the show rather than the show itself.

Posted by: MacFan092985 3 July 2013 - 07:07 PM

I completely agree with you KiwiTek. Shows move so fast now partly due to the fact they run in fewer minutes than older shows did, so they have to get more story into less time. A show like MacGyver wouldn't make it today, simply because of there wouldn't be enough time to tell the story and show him creating his MacGyverisms.

Posted by: Matrix 3 July 2013 - 07:40 PM

When I started watch MacGyver in 2008 I got my dad back into the show (It was on back when he was about my age, but never really watched it that often) and I got my mom to watch it and she really enjoys it.

Posted by: Maclover 13 October 2015 - 04:13 AM

IMO the humble paperclip is unsurpassed for pressing the recessed re-set button hidden deep in the casing on a good number of computerised gadgets. In particular my old TomTom unit - my new one doesn't have one, but my old one used to get a bit cranky long before it gave up the ghost. I always had a paperclip in the car and in its case - straightened out they are about the only thing that would reliably punch the reset button inside the tiny hole in the casing.

I am also another one keen on them for replacement zipper pulls - they will keep an old bag going for ages. They will also do the same job as a safety pin in carrying something like elastic or a tie cord through a hollow seam such as when you pull the cord out of a coat hood and need to do the push and shove it routine to get the cord back in place. A safety pin is slightly easier to use - less catchy bits on it, but a paperclip will serve with the cord tied on the end.

Posted by: Barry Rowland 13 October 2015 - 11:09 AM

Maclover, you are spot on! There's nothing better to do that than the trusty paperclip. I've used mine as temporary pins to secure carburetor linkage in a pinch.