Christmas Lighting Pole Hook

I am sharing this Instructable for the sake of the Build a Tool Contest.

Vote if you feel worthy.

I would imagine many DIYers often invent or rig together some type of a "tool" at some time in their life. This is one of my many stories.

In 1998 I bought my first home. With every first home comes a first for everything in that home. This tool stems from the first Christmas Tree I had in my home. That first Christmas Tree started off as a 2 ft. live ball tree that sat on a milk crate in my living room. If I recall correctly, one string of lights and about 7 ornaments was all it took to decorate this beauty. After Christmas, that tree was then planted in the center of my front yard as a focal point to my first house. Every year since, I have decorated that planted tree. With time came more strings of lights and more time to decorate. Also came growth of the tree.

Let's jump to 2013 Christmas and it is time to decorate the tree again. It has finally happened! The tree has grown to a point that I could no longer reach the top with a step ladder to decorate with lights. I was not going to let Mother Nature beat me! How was I going to get lights on this tree that was now 18-20 ft. tall?

Read on to find out. And please Vote!

Continuing on with my story...

It did not take long before I knew my extension painters pole would be needed to solve this problem.

After all, the extension pole would immediately give me 8-10 foot of more reach. That would definitely help me out for the next few years.

Okay, so now I am thinking and looking for things to attach to the pole. Keep in mind the pole has a threaded end. Hmmm....

How about a painter roller handle? BINGO!

Here is all I needed to build this tool in less than 10 minutes.

1. Extension Pole with threaded end.
2. 4" roller handle for painting with threaded female end.
3. Vice to hold the roller handle.
4. Some muscle to force 2 bends into the roller.

The image shows a before and after of a typical 4" paint roller that can be used to make this hook.

Since I actually built this tool with the red handle back in 2013, I thought you should see the original shape with the blue handle before bending. Just in case you have not seen or used a 4" paint roller.

This type of roller will cost you $4-$6 at your local painter or DIY store.

Before you start bending, be sure the handle will thread onto your extension pole.

All you need is two good bends and you are done.

Now... I was not about to bend this perfectly good roller because I already have a hook made. Images are here just to show where to make the bends.

• Make a bend near the handle toward the upper part of the roller.
• Squeeze the roller closed to a size you think will work for the job you need to do.

Screw your new hook onto your pole.

That's about it folks. Nothing too fancy or difficult about this. Just a great idea to solve a common problem during the Holiday Season!

Don't want to bend up your old paint roller that you paid a about $5.

Then go to Amazon.com or the big box DIY stores during the holidays and pay $10-$15 for a lesser quality tool.

Feel free to leave comments on how you think this contraption could have made your life easier if you had one.

Please vote for the Idea and the Simplicity.

Happy Hanging!