I spent years using the Department of Energy's giant X-ray generators, and foil wrappings are extremely common at the experimental endstations. My favorite how

I spent years using the Department of Energy's giant X-ray generators, and foil wrappings are extremely common at the experimental endstations. My favorite however was the scientist who custom-built a robotic arm that for many years used wooden pencils as part of the gripping hand. (I'm still not sure why he used pencils, except they were exactly the right size and physical properties. The robot worked, anyway.)