This is what I do 99% of the time. I hardly ever pick knots haha
I’m not opposed to unscrewing yo-yos like some, heck, I used to always unscrew yo-yos to change strings and did that for like 14 years. there are absolutely some knots that require unscrewing, but 9 times out of 10 using a knot pick like the Airetic nylon needle is just faster than unscrewing the YoYo for me.
I try not to unscrew it unless I need to, but I won’t hesitate if it isn’t easily fixed. Lots of good options on here that I want to try. There’s more than one way to skin a gerbil.
I was an unscrewer to remove knots and have been that way for decades. But now… I’m a picker.
Thanks @Kray!
My most favorite tool for undoing knots is simple metal paperclip. It is always useful to keep one of them in wallet.
The little plastic things they stick in the hole on top of your coffee cup at Starbucks. I trimmed them.
Hey that’s a good idea !!! Maybe next time you hit Starbucks ask the cashier “hey can I have 5 more of those”
I actually took them where they were by the napkins out front!
Haha even better
I’m selling them for $5.00 each. Just kidding.
EDIT: I guess, like most of you, since I have yoyo on my brain I am always looking for something to repurpose to serve my hobby.
Someone recommended this earlier in this topic. Finally had to get one after breaking the little plastic sword toothpicks I had and the kebab skewer got repurposed for something or other.
Fly fishing bodkin
If I’m at home yarn needles or a small crochet hook are my go to options. Away from home I always keep a paddle pick in my bags. I inevitably lose or misplace paddle picks but I always know where my hooks and needles are.
DenTek Comfort Clean toothpick / flosser unused.
The plastic pick is strong enough yet flexible to get in very tight knots and will not scratch what does not need scratching.
Lol I have also been using an unused floss pick since I misplaced my Airetic/plastic yarn needle.
Dental pick. My late Father was a camera repair tech for about 65 years, and had an amazing array of unique tools he fashioned for specific tasks. He had several dental picks, and I have them now. They’re sharp - you need to be careful - but they work great. They’re not pocketable, though - that titanium toothpick is looking pretty good.
If I’m too lazy to unscrew the yoyo, the tail of a zip tie comes in handy. No scratches, and depending on how the ziptie was cut, can use the sharp angle to dig into a tight snag inside the yoyo.
Runner up could be using the flat philips head on my Leatherman Squirt if the walls are low enough to get the tip in there.