"Negodki" > wrote in message >...
> If you want it out that badly, take a 4' piece of 3/4" x 1/16" steel, and
> bend it in half around a 3/4" pipe (i.e. round the inside end, rather than
> kinking it). If you can slightly round the two ends (spoon like), it will be
> easier to grip it. That will give you a nice pair of spring-loaded tongs
> (better than chopsticks unless you have a very strong thumb). Steel is oiled
> before storage, so clean it with ammonia, and then rinse it well before
> putting it in your wine. [Even then, it will probably do more flavour damage
> than plastic.]
>
> Scrap that idea. Get a couple of 2' pieces of 1" x 1/8" hardwood, and put a
> hinge on one end (or just wire the two pieces together). Insert a spring a
> few inches below the hinge/wire. If you can't grip the rod properly, you can
> soak the ends, and bend them slightly to form the "fingers". The hardwood
> will do zero damage to your wine.
>
You know as well as I do that the very first thing that will happen is
I will drop in whatever I'm using to fish out the lees stirrer. I'll
fret about it this week and take your inspiration, go to the hardware
store and assemble a lees stirrer remover. Tom, I'll ship it off to
you when I'm done.