Thanks for this completely useless item?
December 4, 2012 7:58 AM   Subscribe

What is this thing we got from a company we do business with? It's plastic, with a little metal tab in the middle. We got two of them.

I don't think it's a letter opener. The metal tab can move slightly down, towards the black plastic, but it's pretty much inflexible. There is a finger rest on the black.
posted by jeather to Grab Bag (11 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: It's a staple remover.
posted by Madamina at 7:59 AM on December 4, 2012 [5 favorites]


It's a doodad to lift the 'pop-tops' on drink cans. I got a few of these at trade shows back in the day...and always found them more useful as emergency screwdrivers ;)
posted by PlantGoddess at 8:00 AM on December 4, 2012


Madamina has it. Staple remover. Go at the staples with a bit of speed or you'll just mangle the page.
posted by SeedStitch at 8:03 AM on December 4, 2012


Response by poster: Having just tested it, it's a really bad staple remover, but I think that's what it is. Thanks! This has been vaguely puzzling me for weeks.
posted by jeather at 8:06 AM on December 4, 2012


I used one as an incredibly shitty letter opener for almost a year before someone alerted me to its staple remover status.
posted by elizardbits at 8:13 AM on December 4, 2012 [2 favorites]


They might have given you a crappy version of it, but let me assure you, that is the greatest staple remover ever made.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 8:13 AM on December 4, 2012 [13 favorites]


I like my Swingline stapler remover because it doesn't jam up.
posted by JJ86 at 8:31 AM on December 4, 2012


They're actually really great at removing staples. You have to keep your paper flat on the table, wedge the metal part under the staple, and then push up with the remover while holding the staple down. Voila!

They're especially good at getting staples out of vertical surfaces like bulletin boards. My mom is an elementary school teacher, and I helped her set up and strike every bulletin board she ever did for ten years. I think I would have a few murders on my rap sheet by now if it weren't for that staple remover.
posted by phunniemee at 8:49 AM on December 4, 2012 [1 favorite]


It's the best kind of staple remover.
posted by Sara C. at 9:11 AM on December 4, 2012


Response by poster: I now believe that this kind of staple remover is the best of all possible staple remover designs. However, the particular instantiation that I received is not. Also, if I remove one staple in a week it's a busy week for my staple remover.
posted by jeather at 10:08 AM on December 4, 2012 [1 favorite]


Donate it to your local elementary school. They will love you.
posted by CathyG at 10:11 AM on December 4, 2012 [1 favorite]


« Older I am depressed because I lost my girlfriend and I...   |   Beating the crowd at Terminal 5 Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.