Simple and effective: a telescopic magnetic pen.
Available for a few euros at specialist shops, tool shops and a number of our advertisers.
For fishing for that bolt that fell into the crankcase, for picking up small washers from the box that your fingertips are too fat for.
To pick up that nut that has lurked somewhere between the exhaust manifold.
To first smell the bodywork before purchasing a new acquisition, or if it has a thick putty fur ...
Handy!