How to Separate Paper Clips

Paper clips can be linked together, which requires you to be able to separate them to use them to hold paper together.

Paper clips are designed to allow you to hold sheets of paper together without piercing a hole in them like you would if you were to use a staple. Sometimes children like to link the paper clips together to make chains, necklaces or bracelets. Once paper clips are together, you must separate them to be able to use them for their intended purpose.

Instructions

1. Hold one of the linked paper clips in one hand. This paper clip will be referred to as the inside paper clip.

2. Grasp the other paper clip in the other hand. This will be the outside paper clip.

3. Move the inside paper clip toward the first place where an end of the wire of the outside paper clip is up against another part of the wire. Push the inside paper clip against the place where the end of the wire is pressed against another part of the wire. You should be able to force the inside paper clip through this location as it opens from the pressure. Wedge a fingernail in between the end of the wire and the other part of the wire if the pressure alone won't separate them. Move the inside paper clip through the opening.

4. Keep moving the inside paper clip down toward the big loop of the outside paper clip. Follow the loop down around and back up until you come to another part of the outside paper clip where an end of the wire is pressed up against another part of the wire. Press the inside paper clip into this space, forcing the wires apart. These wires should give way more easily than the first ones did. Again, you can use a fingernail to split the wires apart if necessary.

5. Keep moving the inside paper clip in this same direction until the two paper clips are free of each other.