Not the best way to remove a stray booklet behind a booklet maker ...

**blackcat4866** · 12-20-2014

... on a FS-532 finisher.

I could see the paper. I could almost reach the paper. All I had to do is reach just a lit-tle further. So I pushed just a little further and twisted, until voila! I got my arm inside! I grabbed the paper! Then I discovered I had a problem. I could not get my arm back out. I had pressed past the elbow, and it wouldn't come back out the way it went in.

By coincidence, I was accompanied by a salesman today, who was sitting on a stool nearby. Our conversation went something like this:
me: Um Bob ... I have a little problem.
Bob: What sort of a problem?
me: My arm is stuck.
Bob: Hah! Funny!
me: Not so funny. I'm really stuck ... and it's starting to go numb.
Bob: What can I do?

Well, we soon discovered that any movement of the stapling tray or the booklet maker cut off my circulation completely. I took quite a bit of wiggling to find a position that I could still feel my fingers. My first thought was that if we could get the finisher disconnected from the machine, we could get the back cover off ... then I don't know what. I directed Bob to the screws that attach the finisher. After about 20 minutes the finisher was still attached, there was a pile of screws on the floor, and I couldn't feel two of my fingers. Bob wanted to call 911. I countered that if we called in fireman, they wouldn't be kind to the finisher. It would get chopped up, probably a total loss. Instead we called the boss. The nearest tech was 75 minutes away, and turned around to head our way.

It's surprisingly difficult to picture the workings of a finisher when your fingers are tingling. Then I had another idea. If Bob could find the screws that secure the booklet maker to the rails, maybe we could make some additional room for my arm. Another pile of screws on the floor, then 5 minutes later the booklet maker dropped about an inch, when he found the right screws. Oh, the relief! My arm slid right out! Two phone calls later we re-directed the tech back to his regularly scheduled call.

I give Bob a lot of credit for sticking with me, and trying every one of my stupid ideas. Most of the time, I'm the only one on this site. I did have my phone and screwdriver on my hip, but it could have been a long time until help arrived.

Thanks Bob! (substituted fictitious name).
How did you spend last Thursday? =^..^=

**fixthecopier** · 12-20-2014

Well you certainly win first place for best recovery. I bet Bob has a little more respect for what it take to take a machine apart. Good work Bob.

**ZOOTECH** · 12-20-2014

Originally Posted by blackcat4866

... on a FS-532 finisher.

I could see the paper. I could almost reach the paper. All I had to do is reach just a lit-tle further. So I pushed just a little further and twisted, until voila! I got my arm inside! I grabbed the paper! Then I discovered I had a problem. I could not get my arm back out. I had pressed past the elbow, and it wouldn't come back out the way it went in.

By coincidence, I was accompanied by a salesman today, who was sitting on a stool nearby. Our conversation went something like this:
me: Um Bob ... I have a little problem.
Bob: What sort of a problem?
me: My arm is stuck.
Bob: Hah! Funny!
me: Not so funny. I'm really stuck ... and it's starting to go numb.
Bob: What can I do?

Well, we soon discovered that any movement of the stapling tray or the booklet maker cut off my circulation completely. I took quite a bit of wiggling to find a position that I could still feel my fingers. My first thought was that if we could get the finisher disconnected from the machine, we could get the back cover off ... then I don't know what. I directed Bob to the screws that attach the finisher. After about 20 minutes the finisher was still attached, there was a pile of screws on the floor, and I couldn't feel two of my fingers. Bob wanted to call 911. I countered that if we called in fireman, they wouldn't be kind to the finisher. It would get chopped up, probably a total loss. Instead we called the boss. The nearest tech was 75 minutes away, and turned around to head our way.

It's surprisingly difficult to picture the workings of a finisher when your fingers are tingling. Then I had another idea. If Bob could find the screws that secure the booklet maker to the rails, maybe we could make some additional room for my arm. Another pile of screws on the floor, then 5 minutes later the booklet maker dropped about an inch, when he found the right screws. Oh, the relief! My arm slid right out! Two phone calls later we re-directed the tech back to his regularly scheduled call.

I give Bob a lot of credit for sticking with me, and trying every one of my stupid ideas. Most of the time, I'm the only one on this site. I did have my phone and screwdriver on my hip, but it could have been a long time until help arrived.

Thanks Bob! (substituted fictitious name).
How did you spend last Thursday? =^..^=

Damn, David, I'm really surprised you didn't have a super long needle nose pliers (you manufactured) to get that reach you needed

. I'm glad it turned out OK, but that salesman is going to have a long ride with this story!

**blackcat4866** · 12-20-2014

Originally Posted by ZOOTECH

Damn, David, I'm really surprised you didn't have a super long needle nose pliers (you manufactured) to get that reach you needed

. I'm glad it turned out OK, but that salesman is going to have a long ride with this story!

Actually, I'm working on an idea for the 28" long needle nose ... =^..^=

**JR2ALTA** · 12-20-2014

Originally Posted by blackcat4866

Actually, I'm working on an idea for the 28" long needle nose ... =^..^=

harbor freight has footlongs

12" Locking Clamp

**NeoMatrix** · 12-20-2014

Good to see the partner help you out of that sticky situation Dave.
Would have been a proper situation if the fire dept wrecked the machine.
Thought I would pass on a new state-of-the- art tool for next time your book gets stuck...

My boys litterally had a ball with each other using these things. Talking about getting someones undivided attention.

6139a49PlQL._SY355_.jpg

**slimslob** · 12-20-2014

Originally Posted by ZOOTECH

Damn, David, I'm really surprised you didn't have a super long needle nose pliers (you manufactured) to get that reach you needed

. I'm glad it turned out OK, but that salesman is going to have a long ride with this story!

Originally Posted by blackcat4866

Actually, I'm working on an idea for the 28" long needle nose ... =^..^=

A long forceps would probably be better. There are also the devices that people use to pick up litter without having to bend over.

**Tonerbomb** · 12-20-2014

WOW , Bob actually could run a screw driver??? Amazing!!!!!!!!!

**blackcat4866** · 12-20-2014

Originally Posted by Tonerbomb

WOW , Bob actually could run a screw driver??? Amazing!!!!!!!!!

It's a good thing, too, because I am not ambidextrous. The left hand is mainly for heavy lifting and to balance out the other side so I don't tip over. No precision there at all.

The ribbing has started already. It took me a few minutes to respond to a tech support call. What did he say? "I just figured that you were stuck in a machine again." =^..^=

**Lagonda** · 12-21-2014

If it had been one of our salesmen he would have left you there and tried to charge the customer extra for the finisher having an in-built service tech.