Removing file ings from fingertips

[Guest]

I have managed to get both bronze and stainless filings in my fingertips and can't seem to get the buggers out. Any tips would be gratefully appreciated.

Plus, my glasses mist up when using safety glasses and masks. Is it because I am using cheapo gear ?

Many thanks to anybody who may respond.

 

[jimmie]

I dig 'em out using a swiss army knife .. blade to dig & tweezers to pull. Have you ever had a black nail where the nail was pierced with a hot needle? I'd do it again just for that wonderful sensation when the pressure on the nail is eased!

 

[Rabbie]

Vic. As a small boy I remember my Uncle Harry, who worked in a foundry, sitting for hours stroking his fingers with a strong bar magnet and it always amazed us how much filings appeared!. True.

 

[LORDNELSON]

With regard to misting I had the same problem until I used a 3M airlite respirator which has a powered air supply to the inside of the visor. Obtainable from Axminster Power Tool Centre (Tel: 01297 33656 - ask them for a catalogue) Only snag is the price - £219.95 for the Airlite Superpack - but it really has made working in a mask a pleasure and as such is a great safety device

 

[Guest]

Blimey Jimmie !

Hot needles ! Digging em out with knives ?

Ok for you double hard bastards but I'am a woofter Southener !

I was expecting try super sucking Swarfega or something of the like, although I did go for Acupunture when all else failed.

Now come on ! Keep thinking ! I serenade the wife on the pianoforte on Monday's Wednesday's and Friday's and there's been no performance for a week now.

 

[Guest]

As it is not 1st April Rabbie I must believe you.

But I think bronze and stainless steel are not attracted by magnets.

By the way, did Uncle Harry allways point north ?

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the tip. A bit pricey perhaps but what price health ?

I am begining to think that safety gear is not my bag. I've caused myself more damage by wearing the stuff because I can't see properly than my usual irresponsible personality trait.

 

[Guest]

I've also suffered with splinters of metal or wood or GRP etc etc, I don't suppose many of us practical boat owners can say they haven't. Pesky and painful.
If the fragments have worked themselves in deep then I'm afraid there's little you can do (safely) yourself. Eventually any foreign body will be eaten away by the white corpuscles who will attack any foreign object not just microscopic bacteria etc. Certainly wood will eventually disapear but metal may not. This process obviously takes a long time and of course there is always a risk of infection from the splinter in the mean time. I would reccomend medical attention.
If the splinter is very near the surface of the skin or indeed still proud of the skin surface then you can attempt to remove the splinter yourself with tweezers etc. I have successfuly used at various times impliments such as electronics pin nose pliers, side cutters and even a pair of nail clippers. (Any cutting tool will need to be handled with great care to prevent just snipping the splinter and leaving the burried part behind.) If the splinter is just below the surface it is sometimes possible to tease or squeeze the thing (pinch either side of the plinter) so that enough of the splinter is brought back out to enable your tweezers to grab hold. Then just carefully and cleanly pull out the splinter without twisting it.
There have been occassions when I have used a sharp needle to gingerly pierce and abrade the surrounding entry point and perhaps in the direction of the splinter if it lies at a shallow angle to the skin surface. Just the top 1mm layer mark you. (Its surprisingly painless.) This is to reveal enough of the splinter for the tweezers to grab a hold.
A good antiseptic clean of the area afterwards is reccomended and a plaster (band aid in the US) if you're continuing to work in a dirty environment.

As regard the misting up of safety glasses etc, I've heard about some tips to prevent fogging by using various fluids that need to be wiped on the inner surface of the lenses. These include old fashioned spit (divers do it to their face masks) or washing up liquid. Give it a try it can't do any harm. Also make sure your face mask is sealed against your face properly, especially at the top of the mask around the nose and cheeks. Moist air from your breath blowing up between the mask and your skin will be directed streight into your safety glasses.

Hope your wife isn't missing the concerts too much.

 

[BrianJ]

Wear gloves
get rid of those "girlie" photos in the workshop
do a Dr David Lewis... cut ya bloody finger off .
BrianJ

 

[mtb]

Long hot bath with hands immersed so as to try and soften skin
Then a fine needle to dig away at em ,use a magnifying glass to get a good view.
This is the only way and no not a fetish, some of the others sound like they enjoy it !!!!!
Get a good quality respirator one that has renewable cartridges with the safety kite mark .
These you can get with a single or double cartridge fitted,they also have good strong straps so that they are held properly in place .
I quite often get splinters and have to dig the blighters out !!.
Mick

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v/cheap or swap for tug

 

[romany123]

Vic
take no notice of that lot...they are all whimps,stick your finger in a vice and just keep turning untill the little buggers pop out....No charge for my exelent advice feel free to call me on any more medical matters from piles to brain surgery....im your man. As to the fogging up goggles, get yourself one of those old fashiond diving suites the ones with the screw on brass helmets....you can get them dead cheap now the new fangled stuff as come in, and the bonus is they are almost soundproof so you wont be able to hear your fellow yachties laughing.


Dave

 

[jimi]

Think that advice is to do with pile removal! You just forgot to add that when they've popped out stick wee rubber bands around them. You can also use the same technique for self castration!

 

[romany123]

Jimi
A big vice is like a big hammer with just those two items you can do almost anything medical or otherwise....Off to sort out the cats leg now..the wife thinks there is nothing wrong with it.....I know better.....wonder where it went,was here a minute ago

Dave

 

[Guest]

I think you've had enough good advice with the filings! J
ust done a job that needed goggles so I wore a Strimmers helmet,In case you havent strimmed , it consists of a large perplex visor that covers the face and a couple of bands to keep it on your head. Since its open faced, no misting up.
regards spits

 

[LORDNELSON]

Yes, I agree, the price of good lungs or eyes is difficult to estimate, especially if, like me, you have rather dicky lungs to start with!

 

[Rabbie]

Re:Re: Removing file ings from fingertips

Vic. I wasn't sure about S/S being non-attractive (bit like Uncle Harry!),
but its a nice memory. His magnetic properties were more than complicated by
the amount of McEwans Ale he used to consume, making any navigation
completely unreliable. Cheers. Rab.

 

[Guest]

Re: Blimey Jimmie !

While on holiday in Kenya the Doctors used pawpaw fruit to get sea enemies spines out of feet. It worked as a poultice to draw the spines out . you may be able to get something from the chemist to do the same thing.

Good luck Happy Sailing Paul.

 

[LORDNELSON]

Re: Blimey Jimmie !

Buy a small pot of Magnesium Sulphate BP from your chemist (about 90p) Place some over affected area; bandage (elastopast) leave for a day. Then remove bandage. Filings should be on bandage or nearer surface of skin

 

[Guest]

Re: Blimey Jimmie !

This stuff does work but DO NOT put it on then stick a plaster over the top and ignore it for a week. Was used on me once in childhood to get a splinter out - left a hole in my leg!

But it proves it works, at least. Hope this useful titbit is helpful.

"El manana es nuestro, companero..."

 

[jimmie]

Serious answer

I've just discovered a new way (necessity being the mother of invention) gently cover the area with a pair of nail clippers. Did the trick for me last night (so to speak!).