A simple tool for Arthritic Hands

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Jul 18, 2018, 12:48 AM
philipUsesWood&Brass

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A simple tool for Arthritic Hands

I am finally getting my tools unpacked, and wanted to show a simple Hex Driver or Tool Holder for use by those with Arthritic Hands.

I have made various tools, to FIT my hands when they get "curled up" with Arthritis.

This one is super simple, and comfortable. Using a Cheap 3 Jaw Chuck that was itself a 1/4" Hex Driver, I drilled a hole in a Large Scrolling Ball from a MS Mouse. J-B Weld Epoxy.

I use it for both sizes of hex drivers (small, I think 5/32 & 1/4 inch) as well as a handle for Jewellery files & 1/8" diamond Burrs.

That Ball is comfortable to my Palm and my fingers Are "Already curled" around it!

Attachment 24815

the Bit in the driver is a Small hex Flat 1/8" tip.

philip,
From the great Pacific NorthWET.
Jul 18, 2018, 01:29 AM
Frank S

Philip one wouldn't have to have arthritis to find a tool handle like that comfortable and very useful. I have a couple of palm handle tools that I often use in lew of the conventional screwdriver type handles . I can see and old 8 ball gearshift knob becoming one of these if I can find the knob
Jul 18, 2018, 02:41 AM
philipUsesWood&Brass

Frank, that is the TRUTH! I have One Billiard Ball for another handle, When I unpack whichever Box it is in! ! !

But I have had Arthritis in Both Hands, for 20 years (I am Ambi-Dexterous, and even though I "favor" my Right hand like for writing, My Left Hand actually has MORE Arthritis in it!

I have a dedicated Large X-Acto Handle, that is Epoxied into what "was" a section of a tree branch with Multiple Limbs: It is the exact Opposite of a Glove, for my hand slips INTO Position, and stays "THERE" while I use my miniature .020 thick Zona "Gentleman's Saw", otherwise known as a "Back Saw" only Micro size! 60 Teeth Per Inch and the blade is One inch to its "Backbone" Very Rigid for a blade only .020 inches. Each Limb has been shaped to FIT my Fingers, and One for my Thumb, PERFECT Alignment to do Detailed Work!

It is Perfect for dovetailing into 1/8th inch Baltic Birch to make Tiny Boxes!!!

philip
The Great Pacific NorthWET is dry right now, wait Five minutes, it will change!
Jul 18, 2018, 08:07 AM
Frank S

While I do not have arthritis, tennis elbow or corporal tunnel, or any other debilitating symptoms. I do have a limited range of dexterity in my hands. Grip strength has never been a problem but holding on to the small cylinder shapes of things like the exacto knives are so I find that any thing smaller than a box knife a real pain to control.I really like your idea of the multi limb tree branch handle
Jul 18, 2018, 09:49 AM
Jon

Also not an arthritis guy (yet!), but the photo of that driver makes me want to pick it up off of my computer screen and start confirming switchplate mounting screw torques all over my house.

There is a LONG and beneficial discussion to be had about the shape of driver handles. What are our main driver handle contributions in about 10,000 years of human civilization? The standard cylinder-like handle with occasional modifications, plus the T-shaped handle?
Jul 18, 2018, 11:21 AM
mklotz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon

Also not an arthritis guy (yet!), but the photo of that driver makes me want to pick it up off of my computer screen and start confirming switchplate mounting screw torques all over my house.

There is a LONG and beneficial discussion to be had about the shape of driver handles. What are our main driver handle contributions in about 10,000 years of human civilization? The standard cylinder-like handle with occasional modifications, plus the T-shaped handle?

There are types of modeling clay that can be formed normally but dry hard when exposed to air (or is it heat?).

A core with a wrapping of such clay could be grasped firmly in the hand, forcing it to conform to the hand and finger details. Once hard, it may lack resilience but perhaps a dip covering of a softer plastic material would fix that.

If nothing else, it might be worth a try.

OTOH, a handle that perfectly fits one's grip may not be such a good idea. It would make reorienting your grip to either vary the stroke or prevent overuse of a particular set of muscles/tendons uncomfortable.
Jul 18, 2018, 11:40 AM
Jon

Interesting. I wonder if some sort of adjustable multi-handle is viable. And, is it reasonable to flute or knurl a sphere?

I am reminded of the time I wondered if I could dip my finger in glue, and then in sand, and use it for fine detail sanding. Perhaps not my single greatest idea, but it did lead me to this unusual item (gimmickiness as yet unknown):

https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net/sanding_glove.jpg
Jul 18, 2018, 12:01 PM
mklotz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon

Interesting. I wonder if some sort of adjustable multi-handle is viable. And, is it reasonable to flute or knurl a sphere?

I am reminded of the time I wondered if I could dip my finger in glue, and then in sand, and use it for fine detail sanding. Perhaps not my single greatest idea, but it did lead me to this unusual item (gimmickiness as yet unknown):

I would think that some form of indexing, at least for certain types of tools, would be useful for orienting the working face of the tool.

Knife handles are often judged by how well they index the knife edge to the location where the user expects it to be located. Same for a file or scraper. Probably not needed for a screwdriver which is typically indexed visually.

The sandpaper gloves look useful although unthinkingly scratching certain parts of the anatomy might prove painful :-)

Shouldn't be hard to fabricate a test glove.
Jul 18, 2018, 03:05 PM
Rorschach

Very handy mod. Having smaller hands I find golf balls to be very useful for making handles. I have several on use on files. They are especially good on files I use on the lathe as I feel much safer and more in control. Best thing is that second hand golf balls can usually be picked up at the local charity shops for 10-20 for £1.
Jul 19, 2018, 06:38 AM
DIYer


Thanks philipUsesWood&Brass! We've added your Tool Holder to our Miscellaneous category,
as well as to your builder page: philipUsesWood&Brass's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-tool-holder-8"> <img src="/uploads/216146/homemade-tool-holder-8.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-tool-holder-8">Tool Holder</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/philipUsesWood%26Brass">philipUsesWood&Brass</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/tool-holder'>tool holder</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
Jul 19, 2018, 10:34 AM
bruce.desertrat

The 'tree branch' saw handle you describe reminds me of my old fencing foil grip. In this context it allows the user to grip the foil securely, but quite loosely to allow for more rapid movement and reduce the force you need to apply to the foil to move it. Now you have me thinking of marrying that to a dovetail saw...
Aug 20, 2020, 06:47 PM
SculptyWorks

Quote:

Originally Posted by philipUsesWood&Brass

I am finally getting my tools unpacked, and wanted to show a simple Hex Driver or Tool Holder for use by those with Arthritic Hands.

I have made various tools, to FIT my hands when they get "curled up" with Arthritis.

This one is super simple, and comfortable. Using a Cheap 3 Jaw Chuck that was itself a 1/4" Hex Driver, I drilled a hole in a Large Scrolling Ball from a MS Mouse. J-B Weld Epoxy.

I use it for both sizes of hex drivers (small, I think 5/32 & 1/4 inch) as well as a handle for Jewellery files & 1/8" diamond Burrs.

That Ball is comfortable to my Palm and my fingers Are "Already curled" around it!

Attachment 24815

the Bit in the driver is a Small hex Flat 1/8" tip.

philip,
From the great Pacific NorthWET.

I love it! Great use for the trackball! <3
Feb 24, 2022, 08:05 AM
NeiljohnUK

A friend and fellow engineer lives next to a golf course and has a surfeit of golf balls that have passed over the courses high safety net fence, we've used some of the cheaper ones of them in similar ways, he e-bays the better quality balls in batches to pay for his broken green house sheet glass... He was considering making a scaled down compressed air 'spud-canon' to shoot them back, until I pointed out the illegality of making it (UK Firearms laws), so he built a 'probably legal' return machine, a golf ball trebuchet.
Feb 24, 2022, 02:43 PM
Elizabeth Greene

I recognize that ball! It's a logitech trackball! :)
Feb 24, 2022, 07:42 PM
WmRMeyers

Quote:

Originally Posted by philipUsesWood&Brass

I am finally getting my tools unpacked, and wanted to show a simple Hex Driver or Tool Holder for use by those with Arthritic Hands.

I have made various tools, to FIT my hands when they get "curled up" with Arthritis.

This one is super simple, and comfortable. Using a Cheap 3 Jaw Chuck that was itself a 1/4" Hex Driver, I drilled a hole in a Large Scrolling Ball from a MS Mouse. J-B Weld Epoxy.

I use it for both sizes of hex drivers (small, I think 5/32 & 1/4 inch) as well as a handle for Jewellery files & 1/8" diamond Burrs.

That Ball is comfortable to my Palm and my fingers Are "Already curled" around it!

Attachment 24815

the Bit in the driver is a Small hex Flat 1/8" tip.

philip,
From the great Pacific NorthWET.

Golf balls work well too. Especially for file handles. You have to drill a small hole in them so you don't want the ones that explode when you do that. ;)

Bill
Aug 4, 2024, 08:50 AM
tlnixon

Having a multitude of different types, and sizes of files and living next to a golf course, I have gone to using found golf balls for file handles. They just feel good in the palm of the hand, and they hang-up so neatly in a rack on the wall or behind the workbench. I drill an undersized hole and warm up the tang of the file before applying the ball. If it comes off, a bit of epoxy or even cyanoacrylate glue will keep it on.
Mar 26, 2026, 09:14 PM
Nick79

I agree with Rorschach, Golf balls make great handles for all sorts of tools, and I have golfing friends who are more than happy to provide used balls if I need them.