Help! Dropped the mop handle into the oil tank.

bertsmom

I was trying to measure the oil left (plenty) and I'm after dropping the plastic mop handle into the tank. I can see it clearly as it's floating but I can't retrieve it until I get a grabby thing on Monday from town. Is this dangerous and can I turn on my heat in the meantime? Any advice appreciated

.red.

bertsmom wrote: »

I was trying to measure the oil left (plenty) and I'm after dropping the plastic mop handle into the tank. I can see it clearly as it's floating but I can't retrieve it until I get a grabby thing on Monday from town. Is this dangerous and can I turn on my heat in the meantime? Any advice appreciated

If it's floating id imagine it'll be ok once the oil level doesn't drop to the level of the outlet.
Have you tried a bit of string and a hangman's noose to grab it?

Wearb

Any plastic bits on it?

bertsmom

I can't see me being able to do the Hangmans noose thing with string but thanks it would be worth trying if I had a clue how.
Yes there are plastic bits on it. Is that bad? I'm going to try and use the fire tongs but I'm wary of just dropping more stuff in. Can't believe I've been this stupid!

Wearb

Put a string on anything else you use. Kerosene can dissolve some plastics.

bertsmom

Yes thanks I'm actually tying everything else to my wrist before I try. The fire tongs is reaching it and lifting it but drops it before I can get it out.

Harry Palmr

If you have a decent length of twine you might be able to make a "crossover loop" lower it in and round the end and then pull both ends to tighten it and then lift gently.

.red.

bertsmom wrote: »

I can't see me being able to do the Hangmans noose thing with string but thanks it would be worth trying if I had a clue how.
Yes there are plastic bits on it. Is that bad? I'm going to try and use the fire tongs but I'm wary of just dropping more stuff in. Can't believe I've been this stupid!

YouTube will help you there.

J.R.

Lots of mop handles have a hole at the top where you can hang up the mop.

If it has one - straighten out a wire coathanger to make a long straight piece of wire. Make a hook at the end - use this to hook in to hole on the mop handle and lift out.

bertsmom

Thank ye all for the help and suggestions. Absolutely nothing is working for me but on Monday I shall be able to get into town a d buy a litter picker or similar to help.
The tank has about three quarters full at the moment. Do ye think it would be ok to turn on the heat even with it still left in the tank?
Thanks again.

.red.

bertsmom wrote: »

Thank ye all for the help and suggestions. Absolutely nothing is working for me but on Monday I shall be able to get into town a d buy a litter picker or similar to help.
The tank has about three quarters full at the moment. Do ye think it would be ok to turn on the heat even with it still left in the tank?
Thanks again.

Is it a wooden handle, plastic, or metal with plastic fittings?
If it's wooden and floating and the tank is 3/4 full I wouldn't worry about it, even if it was the end of next week before you got it out.

bertsmom

Thanks .Red. it's a metal handle with plastic tip and end bit

bbbaldy

Work away. You can use the heating. Don't leave it in there for more than a few days though.

iamwhoiam

Would a long handle BBQ tool help ? The one for turning the food over , maybe you could grab it with it ?

Ten Pin

Get a couple of these, tesco, dealz, woodies etc might have them. If it's not long enough, bind it onto another handle with duct tape.
Or else a strong magnet taped to a handle or clothes line / heavy twine.

bertsmom

Thank ye all so much. I'm going to turn on the heat but I'm going to go into Woodies tomorrow and I'm call into maplin and see if that tool in the link is in stock.

RiseToMe

Where are you based?

mickdw

Tie a string of short length to each side of tongs. About 4 inches long.
push down tongs and get loop under handle that is in tank. Lift tongs up abit til tongs is above the handle then swivel numerous times in your hand til string tightens into handle. Lift out.
You need to do this near one end of the handle or else you won't get it out of tank.

Wearb

The handle might not be ferrimagnetic and magnet might not work.

It will be ok to use it for a few days.

bertsmom

I'm in South Galway so I'll go into Wellpark tomorrow and can see what both Woodies and Maplin have.
If I can't find anything in the shops that might work I'm going to try the tongs with the string.
Thanks

Doctors room ghost

They have the litter pick up things in pound shop don’t get robbed buying a dear one.deals or pound world

RiseToMe

bertsmom wrote: »

I'm in South Galway so I'll go into Wellpark tomorrow and can see what both Woodies and Maplin have.
If I can't find anything in the shops that might work I'm going to try the tongs with the string.
Thanks

Ah if we're closer I'd have come and tried to get it out using a few things I have here. Grab a litter picker if you can, I'd say it'd work

bloodless_coup

bbbaldy wrote: »

Work away. You can use the heating. Don't leave it in there for more than a few days though.

Finally someone answered the real question. Was driving me mad reading the replies.

iamwhoiam

doylefe wrote: »

Finally someone answered the real question. Was driving me mad reading the replies.

Really ? People were being helpful then regardless of whether the heat can be used at some stage it has to come out

bertsmom

Risetome your very good to have thought that, your grand I'm sure I'm find something tomorrow and I'm let ye know what works should anyone ever be this daft again lol.

twowheelsonly

Long piece of string or light rope and a length of pipe (even a hollow brush handle)

Double the string over and feed it through the pipe so that a loop comes out the other end. Use the loop to hook over the handle in the tank and pull the two strands of string coning out the other end of the pipe so the loop closes tight and jams the handle against the end of the pipe.

You could also feed the string, with a hangmans knot at the lower end and use the same technique but you've already said that you're not sure about a hangmans knot. Any loop will do it.

BTW, using the heating is no problem, there won't be any damage done in a few days - not even in a few weeks IMO.

agusta

bertsmom wrote: »

I was trying to measure the oil left (plenty) and I'm after dropping the plastic mop handle into the tank. I can see it clearly as it's floating but I can't retrieve it until I get a grabby thing on Monday from town. Is this dangerous and can I turn on my heat in the meantime? Any advice appreciated

Another option,You could fill the tank too and then take it out with your hand

bertsmom

Well I just retrieved the handle from the tank. The litter picker for fifteen euro from woodies did the job. Big thanks to everyone for the advice really appreciated.