Scaling object along axis

[smallfavor]

I've a cylinder that I want to scale in one direction along its axis.  I need the object shown in the vid to be lengthened to the end of the finger and the knuckle sphere.

When I try to do this with the scale tool I'm presented with a triad that is angled away from the axis and hence of no use.  How can I simply scale an object along it's axis - what's the minimum necessary to get the task done?

[Anonymous]

I created a construction point at the centre of the sphere, selected that construction point as the scaling point and then the non-uniform scaling function can be used to scale the object.