Tension Test

I lined up my scavenged hardware along the smooth border where rug meets hardwood. Wedging the thick rubber washer into the clothespin's notched jaws, I slotted the hex nut right in front as a payload. Holding the wooden base down firmly with one hand, I drew the spring back with my thumb and released. The clothespin snapped shut with a sharp crack, launching the metal nut spinning across the polished floorboards until it gently tapped the baseboard. A deep, amused growl rolled up from my chest. My field-tested contraption works better than expected.