Mechanic Retrieves Lost Screw from Engine with Clever Magnet-and-Glove Trick

A mechanic shared a handy trick on TikTok: when a screw accidentally falls deep into the engine, he inserts a small magnet into the fingertip of a glove, then reaches into tight spaces—the magnet attracts the steel screw through the glove, allowing him to retrieve it easily. This clever method solves the common problem of traditional magnetic pickup tools being unable to reach confined areas. However, it only works with ferrous (iron-based) screws; it won’t work on aluminum, stainless steel, or copper ones. Online reactions were mixed—some praised the ingenuity, while others joked that “the screw has already fallen into another dimension.” Experts warn that if dropped screws aren’t promptly retrieved, they could lodge into the oil pump or timing chain, causing serious engine damage.