Counterbalance Lock

Targeted the articulated desk lamp to establish an elevated scan post over the room. Scrambled up the base plate and grabbed the lower parallel strut. Immediate issue: my weight pulled the tension spring taut, sagging the whole arm flat against the desk mat. Zero vertical hold. Quick pivot. I grabbed a steel hex key off the magnetic tray, wedged the short L-bend straight between the scissor pivot brackets, and torqued it forty-five degrees. The metal locked into the hinge gap, halting the downward swing instantly. Braced my boots, hauled up the rigid struts, and reached the dome shade. Arm locked solid under load. Airspace secured.