Those cables are scary to work on. Had a similar scare last year. Your method with the magnifier sounds smart.

My last linen thread order took so long to arrive that the embroidery project I needed it for became a "someday" project. I got so impatient I tried to use a glue gun instead, which... did not go well. Now I just have a lumpy, crusty tea towel and a new understanding of why people just wait. Ironically, I found the lost spool in a drawer last week, still in its package.

Man, that magnet trick is gold for sorting scrap. I use it all the time when I'm cleaning out my garage. You can instantly tell old steel bolts from aluminum pieces. It saved me a ton of hassle last week sorting through a mixed bin of old cans and hardware. Ever tried this at a scrap yard?

Maybe the play wasn't your real problem?