Metal Splinters?

go mike

go mike

Joined
Dec 5, 2008
Messages
1,597
I just got a metal splinter the other day, and was wondering, what do you all do with metal (or wood) splinters to get them out?
 
First I pray and then thank the Lord its not a fibreglass splinter like I usually get (try to dig something out of a finger that's TRANSPARENT...)

I then just use a needle to follow the original path it took in and kind of break the surface dead skin, pick it out. I'm a caveman, i know.
 
tweezers and a pin, just like Mom used to. The good part about metal splinters is that they tend to not disintegrate like wood ones with you grab them.

that said, if you get a sliver in your eye DO NOT REMOVE IT. Metal grindings tend to have a "hooked" end. Improper removal of one of these from they eye can lead to very bad things. Go to the ER for those...

-d
 
If you're as lucky as I am, you stop by your dad's doctor's office, and snatch a handful of syringe needles, and throw them in the drawer by your bathroom sink. Then you just dig them out.

Or, if I can't wait, I take my pocket knife and dig them out.
 
What sucks about this right now, is that it's in my right hand, and I'm right handed! I just had a tetanus shot today, so that wouldn't be an issue, and the doctor said that those are best to leave alone (unless they are too deep) because if it's small enough, it won't cause any harm.

@jsmithknives: Do magnets really work like that?
 
I too employ a number of caveman tactics for removing splinters, but I tried something a few weeks ago and it worked well. I have a number of strong neodymium magnets from kjmagnetcs (these are just handy to have around anyway). A few passes over the steel "splinter" and it came out (YMMV). It's kinda painfull while it squirming around in your finger before it comes out, but not as bad as leaving it in. Of course, this won't work with some stainless steels. If it's small enough, your blood will break it down after a while.

-Mark
 
If you can't get a hold of them easily, just let them sit for a few days. When they fester up, they are really easy to dig out.
 
sometimes if you drag some coarse sand paper the oppostie way it went in, it will come out, if that doesn't work i dig it out with pointy paperclips and dial calipers.
 
I use calipers instead of tweezers. They are precision ground, and you have the advantage of being able to measure the splinter when you're done getting it out.
 
If its the real fine splinters that are a bear to see sometimes you can just drag a sharp blade over it and it will pull it out. If its not stainless they will rust out eventually if you can't get it.
 
when i can i dig them out at work, under a 250 power microscope, using an exacto knife, and precision ground tweezers!:D
if i am at home i use the exacto and some tweezers i have sharpened and a magnifying visor! with good light it works like a champ with a minimal hole left over;)
 
@raymond richard, do you know how long it takes to rust out? The piece that I have in my finger is orange already, and it's fairly deep. I keep soaking it in water, if that speeds up anything. Also, does hydrogen peroxide speed up rusting?
 
If there is a portion above the skin or you can get to a tip of it, you can use duct tape or gorilla tape. Just smooth it on and whip it off like you're pulling off a band aid.
 
This metallurgist has picked splinters out with a fine pointed pocket knife for many years ! AGRussell sells a small tweezer which is excellent .I perfected that with careful honing with a very fine stone. Between knife and tweezer that will take care of all your splinters.
 
++ thumbs up for just cutting it out with exacto knife or old pocket knife i carry. usually they dont penetrate to far into the callaused skin (?? not sure how to spell that??).

andrew
 
go mike said:
@raymond richard, do you know how long it takes to rust out? The piece that I have in my finger is orange already, and it's fairly deep. I keep soaking it in water, if that speeds up anything. Also, does hydrogen peroxide speed up rusting?
Click to expand...

I never have timed them. Soaking in salt water may speed things up. After awhile you just get use to them. Good luck!
 
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