Office Bricolage 2

60 Second Shiv

Shiv Construction

Step One:
Obtain one No. 1 (large) Ideal Clamp and locate a rough patch of concrete floor slab. Exposed concrete slabs in an office environment can usually be found in mechanical rooms, janitorial closets, and emergency stairwells. Find a portion of the floor that has been previously scratched, or that was improperly finished during construction. The usable patch of concrete slab should look dull and feel rough to the touch, like sandpaper.

Step Two:
Straighten one leg of the Ideal Clamp as shown. The straightened leg should end up roughly perpendicular to the cross piece at the top of the clamp.

Step Three:
Bend the other leg upward, such that the inside bend touches the cross piece at the top. This will form the handle.

Step Four:
Sharpen the point on a rough patch of concrete floor. Hold the point against the slab, with one finger placed about 1/4" from the end. The wire should form a shallow, acute angle with the floor. While firmly pressing down on the tip, drag the wire backwards repeatedly. (This appears to be more effective than dragging the wire side-to-side, or pushing it forward (point-first) across the concrete.) After several strokes, rotate the wire approximately one third of the way around (120 degrees) and repeat. Continue rotating and grinding the end of the wire wire until it is sharp. It is not necessary to create a perfectly rounded point. A sharp, angled edge is sufficient for effective penetration.

Be aware that the sharpening process described above will likely cause slight, but noticable, damage to the finish of the concrete floor slab. The reader is advised to select a location out of common view for practice builds. Or, better yet, don't attempt this project if you are likely to get in trouble for vandalizing office property.

Finished Product

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