I just thought I would fill ya’ll in on a discovery of mine.
Recently I was doing some work for a nurse-anesthetist when I got a pretty good splinter. I asked him if he had a needle or safety pin so I could expose it enough to grasp it with my tweezers. He went to his truck and brought me a hypodermic needle. It was a real heavy gauge needle, the kind they use for I-V’s. It’s spoonlike shape was perfect for working on the splinter. It’s not just sharp at the point, it has cutting edges down the sides too. Plus, it is the epitome of sharpness. You have to be carefull not to push to hard. It also has a nice little cap that snaps on and off to keep it clean and prevent any accidents.
If you know anybody in the medical field that can get their hands on a couple for you, I would get them. I keep mine in my truck with my tweezers and with the two of them I feel like I can remove all but the nastiest splinters.
Sam
Replies
I normally just use a stanley knife!
that's my method too ...
if the tip is exposed ... try to catch the new of a brand new blade into the splinter from underneath ...
if it's sunk .... locate it ... then just dive in.
cut down thru the skin so the tip of the blade rides on the splinter itself.
usually lots more painless than it sounds ... especially the big tree trunks that sometimes happen .... the skin about is so stretched it's just about dead anyways.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
My technique is to smear yellow glue on the splinter, let it dry.; You'd be amazed at the number and size of splinters I can remove painlessly that way.; It works best on those tiny little pain-in-the-azz ones. but also has removed a couple of big nasty onesI couldn't get a tweezer on.. (at least pulled them out far enough that they were an easy job for the tweezers)
Was the IV needle used?
I use a needle, pin, tack, whatever to dig it out. Of course I sterilize it first with alcohol and a flame
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"Have you seen my baseball?"
"""Of course I sterilize it first with alcohol and a flame"""I normally sterilise things by licking them!!!
Anyone have a good way to track down a steel slpinter?
Steel splinters.
Nasty man.
I've tried tweezers, tape, rough little bugers to get out and hurt bad.
Best thing is to use caution before you get them.
be steely, Dan. "Live Free, not Die"
On the job; my utility knife, sterilized by my cigarette lighter. At home; nail clippers,hydrogen peroxide, single edge razor blades,etc.
I didn't do it....the buck does NOT stop here.
Do you actually sterilize your knife of do you just 'sterilize' it(wipe it on your pants):p For wood splinters I find nailclippers work good, If I have to get rid of it right away, I'll use my knife or a nail. Sometimes I do enjoy finding a splinter I din't know about, there is a very great feeling taking it out. Even it didn't bother me before it just feels so much better when it's out. I've got a splinter in my head right now. I can't find it, but occasionally I'll feel it. I can't wait to get rid of it!!!
Make sure it doesn't sproing out and shatter the mirror when you do find and release it. ;)
Nail clippers are my choice, or wait till the next day and squeeze it till it pops out.
Coming to you from beautiful Richmond, Va.
It was probably an angiocath.
My favorite splinter remover:
http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=2&p=10435&cat=2,43288,42183
Needle-like points and the magnifying glass doesn't hurt either ;)
jt8
The reason so many people never get anywhere in life is because when opportunity knocks, they are out in the backyard looking for four-leaf clovers. -- Walter Percy Chrysler
My splinter kit is a couple of needles, hypodermic needles used by insulin injectors are ideal as they are sterile, tiny and sharp but a sewing needle works almost as well, a sharp pointed X-acto blade and the best tweezers ever made, 'Uncle Bill's Silver Gripper'. All go into a medicine bottle.
A few pre-pack alcohol swabs, a lighter to sterilize the needle, and Neosporin packs and plasters, electrical tape if your patching an electrician, helps prevent infections and keeps them from bleeding on the $400 a square yard white wool carpet.
Tease the splinter to the top and grab or, if its buried, dig down to it. prep the area with some betadine if it looks like it is going to involve much digging. The alcohol is fine for most of them. A quick patch and swift kick in the rear finishes the job.
So the employer asks the apprentice to stop off at the homeowner's house on the way home to hang a paddle fan. Apprentice grabs ladder off my truck[after I've gone home], drives to homeowner's castle, sets up ladder on white wool carpet, installs fan, removes ladder to view four evenly placed grease spots because I had spent the day working in a compressor room.....I carry one of those little magnets on a flexible shaft in the tool bag. No it's not any good on grease but...
I have removed metal splinters with it and a few foreign -objects -in- eye, you just have to get close and it will pop onto the magnet. A huge disclaimer now follows about self removing anything from eyes,ears, nose,rectums blah blah blah
LOL.Over time I have developed a deep hatred and loathing of white carpets.At one time I used to carry a small sack of clean, but holy, gym socks. The socks always wore out in the heel first. These were but to use as booties for ladders, sleeves for greasy hammer drills and covers for work boots.
The best splinter remover I have is my wife, I go to her sniffing that I have a boo boo she slaps me silly tells me to be a man. I get all embarrassed run out grab the Olfa and gouge the sucker out as fast as I can. Works every time.
Another vote for a medical tool, I like a curved dental pick...but what's up with all this sissy sterilizing? LOL! Don't worry, we can fix that later!
Here is a current thread on splinters at Knots. Four different docs weighed in with advice on avoiding infection, and which tools (needles, etc.) they recommend for splinter removal.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-knots/messages?msg=21739.1
Edited 2/15/2005 7:36 pm ET by nikkiwood
Those fiberglas ones on the back of a shower are nasty. No see ums.
I didn't do it....the buck does NOT stop here.
I like Uncle Bill's Tweezers. They are small with a tight point yet very sharp that allows you to easily dig out those small and large wood splinter and those nasty metal splinters.
Clark
Yeesh... Buncha pansys on here.I have never in my life sterilized a needle, knife, or tweezers when digging for splinters.I used to do all the splinters for all the kids in the neighborhood, when my kids were small.They couldn't believe it didn't hurt. I use a brand new x-acto blade to cut down to the splinter. Cut very slowly, a tiny bit at a time, and the vict, er I mean, the patient only feels pressure. Seriously, even down deep. Get enough exposed to grab, then pull it.Spit some neosporin on there, and stick some tape or a bandaid over.Or... just go back to work, ya pansy...
The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow
I have never in my life sterilized a needle, knife, or tweezers when digging for splinters.
and look what happen to you...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Ut ohhhh....
The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow
You mean you're supposed to take splinters out??!!
What the HECK was I thinking?
like as in to the movies or to dinner...
don't think so...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Mostly I don't sterilize much if I'm the patient. Maybe flame the needle if I use one as I usually have a lighter on hand. A bit more with other people. Depends on how deep, big it is and what the conditions are. Minor splinter from clean dry wood inside a new home site and I yank it out with the tip of a knife blade and get to work.Deep splinter from pressure treated wood at a sewage lift station and the cleaning and sterilizing becomes much more involved. Everything else falls in between. Not all splinters or work sites are created equal. I like to have what I need on hand. A tiny splinter kit in a medicine bottle. More supplies in a first-aid kit.Been in some locations that were so funky that when I get a minor wound I considered amputation of the finger. Lets see. That would be alcohol rinsed cable cutters and cauterizing the stump with the propane torch. That's why we start with ten of them. Right?So far I can still count to ten. At least on a good day.
ROFLOLJust don't ever straddle a fence in any of those locations...
The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow
plop down on a bunk of PT at lunch time...
you'll need help with that splinter that went straight in... right away...
and yes straddleing can cause difficulties..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
I had a buddy in Pa. who decided to slide/ride down the top chord of a SYP truss...got a serious impalement in his butt..he was actually snagged..when he tried to unsnag the splinter broke.After the stop at the booze store for some Jack Daniels , it was ER time. They renoved a 6" long hunk of pine about the same size as a carpy pencil from his butt cheek..Man that hadda hurt..very little blood loss, but he was almost in tears.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Restoring, Remodeling, Reclaiming The Quality..
Ouch !I don't even want to know.: )
The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow
I once had to quit working abruptly when I got a tiny shard of metal in my eyeball. Couldn't see it, but I knew it was there. After a few gentle attempts I knew I couldn't get it out with what was at hand. I jumped in the truck and drove like popeye to the local ACE, which happens to have the best selection of Magnets around....I got some wierd looks, I'm sure, but I got it out.
Wear Goggles,
Saul
This is what you should've had! The magnet end for your eye, and the fishing loop to "fish" out anything floating 'round your eyeball. These things are great when you need 'em, Rodhttp://www.zeemedical.comgo to First Aid & Medical Productsgo to Instrumentsgo to Eye Magnet & Nylon Loop
Edited 2/16/2005 5:09 pm ET by master of none 2
Always pays to have the right tool for the job. I have seen that device on sale. Had it used on me once. Very handy.Every few years I get a wild hair to assemble, restock, prepare my first-aid kit. I keep thinking it would be great to have such a tool. Never got around to chasing it down and buying one.
Where were you guys when I got a splinter in my finger from reaching up into an old clothes shute???? :)
Went under the nail and I tried everything......Finally went to an orthopedic surgeon who removed it to the tune of $2100.....But, I still have my finger.....<G>
Edit: BTW, my husband says that mahogany was always his worse.....
Edited 2/16/2005 5:39 pm ET by Pi
I dont get it with the sterilising. I mean, the splinter that went in wasnt, right?
Everything, 100% of it, depends on how you look at it.
DW
Thats like washing your hands before lunch.lol
I didn't do it....the buck does NOT stop here.
I guess you all are young folks...my biggest complaint about splinters anymore is the fact that I have to leave 'em in all day until I can get home to where my READING glasses are....
Then, with a lot of light, any ol' semi-sharp instrument will do!What the HECK was I thinking?
Whaaa? yer not bifocular yet? Man, I gotta wait to come back home and get 'em under the magnifying lamp...feels so good when you get one out<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!