Keychain Pocket Hook

Greetings folks.  This is my first 'ible, but I've read many, so I think I have a handle on how to do it.  Suggestions are welcome!

For quite a while now I've been looking for a solution to the problem of my keys bunching up and tangling at the bottom of my pocket.  I've tried carabiners, but those tend to get caught on the edge of my pocket, and having them jangle outside the pocket on a belt loop would drive me crazy.

There's lots of great pocket clips available online, but shipping costs being what they are I needed a stopgap.  So I went medieval on a coat hanger with some pliers, and after some trial and much error, I came across a simple yet effective solution that doesn't require specialized tools or skills.

Step 1: Tools and Materials

My toolbox is fairly simple, so this can be done by just about anybody. 

Tools:
-Pliers.  You'll need two pair.  I found that it was really handy to have both a regular and a needle-nose.
-Wire cutters.  My pliers have integrated wire cutters.
-File/Sandpaper.  If you don't have, you could use any rough, hard surface you don't mind scratching up.
-Hammer.  Not absolutely necessary, but could come in handy if your wire is particularly thick or hard.

Materials:
-Coat hanger.  That's it.  Any one will do, with any kind of finish.  Mine was old and rusty, yours could be new and shiny, but know that it will probably get a bit scratched by the pliers unless you're really careful.  Edit: My cousin gave me a good idea to wrap the ends of the pliers in electrical tape.  Doing that will avoid scratching, and might make slipping less likely as well.

Safety:
-Safety glasses.  Very important.  You don't want a sharp piece of metal flying into your eye.
-Gloves.  Also very important.  Pinching your skin in pliers could be nasty.

Comments

[Melamont]

Or spray paint it pink and hang it over the side of your purse! (well I meant your mother, sister or wife's purse...) uhem

[Ninzerbean]

Excellent photos. A well thought out and well explained (first!) 'ible. Thank you for sharing.

[carlo$]

i'm liking it!

[ejk00]

Great idea! I might just have to make one myself. In addition to the idea of wrapping the ends with electrical tape, you might also consider heat-shrink tubing (like that used on electronic connections) or Plasti-Dip, used for coating tool handles.

[fostermoody]

Good idea! You could also use Sugru for that.