Let's talk splinters.

James Peach · 7 Oct 2021 at 13:42

Let's get down to brass tacks here. it's time to tackle something that I've seen gone unsaid on these forums ever since I joined - probs six months ago. Let's not avoid it anymore. Let's open up and talk about splinters.

I'm here trying to wrestle one out and I have very clear memories of hating my mother taking them out as a child. I can''t remember how she did it. The squeeze the last bit of toothpaste method, maybe.

Then I was at my friend Rob's house one day and he had a splinter and his mother told him to find a needle and I was all like what's the needle for and then it turned out she was going to cut open the skin where the splinter was and basically perform an operation that really should have been left to a professional right in from of me. And Rob, knowing what this was going to be used for WENT AND GOT the needle. I'm really hoping Rob's mum was an outlier here.

Anyway. I'm now sort of using the needle technique and feeling quite brave. But it's hard to know when they're out. And then I sort of do that thing which I also did as a child which is put a plaster on it and hope that by the time I take the plaster off the splinter will be no more. Either by being somehow sucked out (though god knows how) by the plaster or - and guys this is worrisome - by getting "absorbed" by the "body." I don't even think this is a thing.

Anyway. Splinters, amiright?
What's your method? Drop a link in the comments and like and subscribe.

Doobedoo · 7 Oct 2021 at 13:47

Wow what ever next.

^JP^ · 7 Oct 2021 at 13:50

Soak hand in a sink full of the hottest water you can manage until it goes all wrinkly then it seems to come right out with needle/tweezers to assist.

bazzabear · 7 Oct 2021 at 13:56

If it's not protruding enough to grab the end with a pair of tweezers, just widen the hole with said tweezers or similar until you can get it. That still results in a tiny wound, we're talking splinters here, not shrapnel.

When I was a kid I reached under a wooden armchair for a ball once, and the face of my thumb was rubbing along the underside of the chair - which resulted in an inch long splinter going right under the nail. That one hurt! Pulled that out with my teeth.

James Peach · 7 Oct 2021 at 13:58

Awesome advice. Keep em coming.

Gav_r26 · 7 Oct 2021 at 14:09

Vernier/digital caliper. The hardened, precision ground anvils can grab onto any splinter, nice point as well for the awkward to reach ones and a thumb wheel to make sure you can get enough pressure. Job done! Working in engineering has some uses!

Also has this any link to this thread!

tonys · 7 Oct 2021 at 14:50

A women posted on Facebook or twitter she uses the syringe for the calpol bottles to suck them out
Me personally I use anything sharp to dig them out. I was a metal worker so lots of little ones mostly in the thumb.

Blackjack Davy · 7 Oct 2021 at 15:07

Needle. Square up to it and get digging! Little bit of blood and pain job done. Better than leaving it in where it'll likely become septic and hurt everytime it moves around.

montymint · 7 Oct 2021 at 15:11

another needle user here

DXP55 · 7 Oct 2021 at 15:16

Lidl did a Home hobby box with a handle and all sorts of fine very sharp blades - just pick one and slice it open.

It's a good job the young today don't have to go to war.

pepp77 · 7 Oct 2021 at 15:23

I still have a very small 2mmx1mm piece of pencil graphite in the palm of my hand from primary school (over 30 years ago), can just see it when I look at that part of my hand.

Semple · 7 Oct 2021 at 15:23

montymint said:
another needle user here

Same if they can't be pulled out with a tweezer, then i'll use a needle.

It's actually pretty easy, the skin is made of lots of layers, and most time the splinter only gets under the surface, so just lightly poke away at the top of the skin to cut it out.

ttaskmaster · 7 Oct 2021 at 16:49

Well, we're not talking about naval splinters that were 3' long and skewered men amidst the cannon-fire, here...

Grab yer Swiss Army knife and hoik it out with the tweezers, pliers, straight pin or the pen blade, then get on with your day.

gc123 · 7 Oct 2021 at 18:17

needle and scalpel incase i have to make a incision

Diagro · 7 Oct 2021 at 21:02

I use needle point tweezers.

Stab in, squeeze, yank it out with some flesh.

watercooledman · 7 Oct 2021 at 21:06

Soak in acid only way to be sure

bainbridge · 7 Oct 2021 at 21:25

I had a deep splinter in the side of a finger which I couldn't get at and the area became red and swollen. I went to the minor injury hospital and a nurse got the splinter out:

She began squeezing my finger really hard and said I might feel some popping, which I did. With really hard squeezing, the top of the splinter emerged, she grabbed it with the tweezers and pulled it out.

Job done!

EdwardTeach · 7 Oct 2021 at 21:27

I have always used the needle method. My parents used to do it when I was a child (they were both doctors!).

throwaway4372 · 7 Oct 2021 at 21:28

sterilise a needle, dig the splinter out, clean the area, job done

SimonR · 7 Oct 2021 at 21:44

Swann Morton Scalpel. Just cut skin away until its exposed then remove with tweezers.

Let's talk splinters.

Pet Northerner