Thread: an old wives tale

Taint an old wives tale, I have many a time cut the skin to let the blood blister out and the pain goes almost at once.

Al

A drill bit? Yer a gamer bloke than I am... too much potential for disaster there.

I have done the same thing on more than one occasion (having had a variety of jobs where squished fingers are occupational hazards) 'cept I've always used a hot needle, which drills through fingernails surprisingly well. Apart from a slight jab in the nail-bed when it breaks through, it's so much safer than a [shudder] drill bit.

Matters of method aside, you're right about it being instant pain relief and I'm sure it's saved me losing the nail a couple of times.

Next time use a paper clip, just unfold it and heat one end till it's red then poke a hole thru your nail and it won't get infected because you have sterilised the paperclip by heating it.

Saw a doctor do something similar with a 25 gauge needle once and it provided almost instant relif for the patient. We then bandaged the finger an off tjhey went no dramas.

Mong, my brother swears by that method too.

Mind you, he's shyte scared of needles so he's been known to stitch up cuts before rather than go to the quack...

Stops the immediate throbbing pain but if the nail has already lifted because of the inrush of blood you still have the three week time problem. You know the one where you are tentativley waiting to catch the lifted nail on something that will rip it right off

Pushed a needle under this nail to relieve the pain as it was nearly right the way to the end of my finger anyway, it bled and wept for a week after, but felt much better

..... there is a proper medical procedure........ but thats for sissies

My neibour droped a large post on his unguarded big toe. .... he's a thong wearer... ...many interesting adjectives and bitten lips....... toenail came up all black & red....... he drilled his with a battery drill...... he reconed it couldnt hurt any more than it was


It would probaly be a good idea to sterilise the drill bit some how.

boiling watter, alcahol....... not much survives in gp thinners.


I agree that a drill press is probaly a more suitable tool for the operation

cheers

Have used both , the drill bit and the paper clip, the paper clip is the way to go but get to it quick and don't sharpen the end to a point as you tend to go too far and then the finger gets infected.

I saw a guy once do this with one of those little drills that look like a pen until you take the lid off.

The pressure relief was so great that he just about fainted. I personally wouldn't feel real keen about using a drill press though.

The theory is sound though.

Cheers

Rod

Only ever had to do it a couple of times but - Hot needle is the go - but have never used the pointed end - use the eyehole end. Hot needle melts through the nail, hits the blood build up which instantly cools the needle - pure relief.

I've done it with a drill bit but used one of the old fashioned hand drills. Never any infection as the blood rushes out and cleans the hole at the same time.

Peter.

You get the smallest bit you've got, place the tip on your nail and put one of the fingers or thumb on the same hand against the top of the bit so you're holding it in place. Then you rotate it back and forth with the thumb and forefinger of your other hand. No worries about drilling a hole through your thumb if someone startles you...

Originally Posted by silentC

You get the smallest bit you've got, place the tip on your nail and put one of the fingers or thumb on the same hand against the top of the bit so you're holding it in place. Then you rotate it back and forth with the thumb and forefinger of your other hand. No worries about drilling a hole through your thumb if someone startles you...

I've been a paramedic for 25 years and I've had to do this to patients and myself more times than I can remember. SilentC's sugestion is one of the best and safest ways to do this, I've seen a number of people drill though their finger using power drills. I personally prefer the point of a scalpel or a 21 or 19 gauge syringe needle, hospitals usually have a special tool for doing this, it is a small heated wire similar to the hand peice used in Pyrography. After relieving the presure sometimes the hole can clot and may need to be reopened several times before the blood stops buiding up under the nail, also use antceptic and a bandaid to stop infection.

Now while a battery drill will do the job and a drill press gives a more controlled feed into the work.... probaly the best tool for the job would be a pin vice... it sort of like a tiny chuck with a handle & a swiveling top.
jewlers use them I we used to use them for drilling out PCB's for repair.

now the serious question is



what is the correct grinding angle for a drill bit for drilling fingernail and is a conventional twist bit best or would a bradpoint give a better finish

cheers