# I don't know why I cannot do this **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 6, 2025, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-why-i-cannot-do-this/1025441 "2025-12-06T00:19:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-why-i-cannot-do-this/1025441/1 "2025-12-06T00:19:53Z")
I was digging in a drawer and found a metal clip. It’s a flat folded over piece of metal with a decorative thingy on front. A money clip. Now, I don’t carry much cash, ever. A few dollars, at most. I cannot get the bills to slide in the clip either singly or in groups. Is there a secret? Or is my clip a piece of junk? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-why-i-cannot-do-this/1025441/2 "2025-12-06T00:32:36Z")
Some of them are very very tight. So tight it’s hard to slide a bill in there. Some use or some _gentle_ prying can loosen up the clamping force. ---
**Author:** ![vbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vbob/32/4439_2.png) [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-why-i-cannot-do-this/1025441/3 "2025-12-06T00:39:38Z")
It’s clearly intended for a tightwad. Once you get a bill or two in there, it’ll STAY there. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-why-i-cannot-do-this/1025441/4 "2025-12-06T00:45:08Z")
Very 😁 funny! ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-why-i-cannot-do-this/1025441/5 "2025-12-06T00:50:21Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Is there a secret? > **[Hydraulic rescue tool](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_rescue_tool)** > > Hydraulic rescue tools, also known as jaws of life, are used by emergency rescue personnel to assist in the extrication of victims involved in vehicle accidents or railway accidents and cutting large-sized debris of mild metal structures into smaller pieces for extraction of injured/dead victims out from building rubble in earthquake-raged areas, as well as other rescues in small spaces. These tools include cutters, spreaders, and rams. Such devices were first used in 1963 as a tool to free race ... [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Spreizer_schlossoeffnung.jpg/500px-Spreizer_schlossoeffnung.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Spreizer_schlossoeffnung.jpg/500px-Spreizer_schlossoeffnung.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-why-i-cannot-do-this/1025441/6 "2025-12-06T00:55:50Z")
Yep. That would do it. I’m now concerned if I get money in, will it come out, in one piece. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-why-i-cannot-do-this/1025441/7 "2025-12-06T01:08:01Z")
It is his money clip: [![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sZcpEDky8xfPXaaaz75JEg-600-80.jpg) ](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sZcpEDky8xfPXaaaz75JEg-600-80.jpg) Find yourself some gamma radiation and you should be sorted with this. ETA: > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I’m now concerned if I get money in, will it come out, in one piece. It’s still money. I saw a documentary that showed some treasury group putting money back together from fires and whatnot and giving people their money back if they could figure it out. So, while a hassle, you could still probably get your damaged money replaced. Try it with $1 first though…see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-why-i-cannot-do-this/1025441/8 "2025-12-06T02:31:51Z")
You could jam an expired credit card in there. Leave it for a few days. Then jam another in. Gently springing open the metal clip may do the trick. I’ve got a clip that was a gift from the LAPD after I trained some of their folks. Had it for more than 30 years. Periodically I need to squeeze the steel clip tighter, or it slides off of less than…about 5 folded over bills. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-why-i-cannot-do-this/1025441/9 "2025-12-06T06:14:58Z")
I will try this. Thx ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-why-i-cannot-do-this/1025441/10 "2025-12-06T12:48:01Z")
If you don’t have any old CCs, a small flat-head screwdriver works too. Slide it in there end-on, with the screwdriver blade point aimed towards the fold of the clip. Leave it awhile then shove it in a little farther. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-why-i-cannot-do-this/1025441/11 "2025-12-06T19:13:43Z")
Hey, this is working. Thank you