Ask A Specialist...about coat hangers

In our "Ask A Specialist" column, readers from all over write in to ask our featured advice columnist pressing questions about a very specialized field. Whether they hope to resolve a dilemma or find a way out of their quandaries and quagmires, they get their answers here. Today we are proud to feature Ian Nelson, a Las Vegas, Nevada, resident specializing in coat hangers.

Dear Ian,

The other day I was walking along and someone came up to me and offered to sell me a “bushel of coat hangers” for $10. Is this a good deal?

-Sam Paulson
Elk Grove, IL

Dear Sam,

There are a lot of shady types out there offering what they call “great deals” on coat hangers. Sometimes coat hangers may be bought for cheap on the black market, but one must be wary--especially when it comes to bushels. In the past, bushels have been packed in strict accordance with the standards set forth by the Coat Hanger Bushel Packing Association (CHBPA), of which I am a lifetime member. This work was done by bushel-packing experts, and is not a task to be attempted by the faint of heart. Unless you know the person selling the bushel, and have examined his or her credentials, it is quite possible that you will end up with a bushel of rather second-rate coat hangers, which in some cases, won’t even hang.

Dear Ian,

I only have one coat hanger, but I own several hundred articles of clothing. Approximately how many garments can be hung on one coat hanger before it breaks?

-Joanna Willard
Cranford, NJ

Dear Joanna, I will admit that back in my college days, I frequently found myself more than one coat hanger short. In my fraternity house, my frat brothers would constantly be pilfering my coat hangers, and at one point, I think I had 2/3 of all my shirts on one hanger. Of course, I only owned 3 shirts, but it still made the situation a little hairy at times, especially when I was in a hurry and had to rummage through my closet to find a good shirt to wear.

Dear Ian, A few years ago, just for grins, I stuck a feather in my hat and called it macaroni. Can this be done with a coat hanger?

-Peter Yee
Dallas, TX

Dear Peter,

It depends on what kind of a hat you wear. For example, a beret might not be strong enough to support an entire coat hanger. But a ballcap or top hat would probably work. Consider also the material the coat hanger is made of. A wire hanger would probably produce the best results, whereas a wooden hanger might cause people to stare.

Dear Ian,

My husband was hanging up some clothes the other day and when I asked him what he was doing, he replied, “oh, just hanging around.” Should I put up with this type of humor?

-Madeline Summer
Cody, WY

Dear Madeline,

Let it go this once, but never again.

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Add this to your blog! <a href="http://www.teaspoontimes.com/stories?ssn=li973g75bwj2360j">Coat hangers: How much is too much?</a>