Stick Thingy-Me-Jig R&D Update...

We’ve had some feedback from Thomas & his cats on our Stick Thingy-Me-Jig so have planned some changes to this new wand toy - having a handle does make the toy easier to use & control but there are a couple of things that we can improve on & some fabrication issues that need to be addressed.

The handle needs to have some material removed around the end so that it’s more comfortable to grip but the big change is with the way the wand connects into the handle - we’ve spent lots of fabrication time trying to add a 2mm thread to the rod & handle to make it interchangeable but we are simply breaking too many dies & taps during this process.

Instead of a threaded rod we are going to simplify things & have one that is glued into the handle with a felt end that can be stripped & replaced when it becomes worn - we’ve done this with our cat toys over the years, which only takes a minute or two to sort &, although customers would need to invest in a glue gun, the replacement cost of felt fingers & the opportunity for customers to add & design their own wand ends makes this the best eco & cost option.

The 500mm long rod feels just about right in terms of flex but we can obviously make pieces that are slightly longer if required - the 100mm long stainless steel handle also feels about right in terms of size but we won’t be able to lengthen the handle as we will be buying in these pieces in cut lengths.

The Stick Thingy-Me-Jig would still come with a choice of felt end designs along with a Thumb design that customers can cut into their own bespoke design - we are thinking of offering a starter kit that includes a 7mm glue gun with black hot melt glue sticks with felt spares for those who want to take their play to the next level.

ProductHicat®10 November 2024