Quote Originally Posted by rossbotics View Post
Pretty clever Marv, I like it
If you don't have carpet tape on hand, wind duct tape onto the stick with the sticky side outward. Keeping carpet tape around is a good idea though; I've machined small parts by attaching them to a faceplate with the stuff.

If carpet tape is too aggressive in the nut-holding scenario simply stick a magnet on the tape and hold the nut with the magnet.

Wooden paint stirrers, often given away at paint stores, can substitute for the yardstick if one only needs a shorter reach.