Splinter tweezer magnifier

[mklotz]

In a recent thread...

http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/h...029#post121007

the subject of splinter removal tweezers surfaced. One of the most useful additions to these tweezers is magnification of the working area. Commercial tweezers with attached magnifier are available but it's simple to make your own and doing so offers the benefit of picking a magnification tailored to your eyesight.

Find a suitable lens and turn a metal ring to fit it. Glue the lens in place and attach a length of heavy gauge copper wire to the lens holder. On the other end of this wire solder a split brass fitting with a lock screw to allow attachment to the tweezers. Bend the wire until the lens is focused on the tweezer tip.

[rossbotics]

I could used one of those last weekend when I was replacing the boards on my back yard fence, got a splinter I didn't think I was going to get out, I used my old machinist eye loop and finally got it though.
Good idea Marv

Doug

[DIYer]

Thanks mklotz! We've added your Splinter Tweezer Magnifier to our Miscellaneous category,
as well as to your builder page: mklotz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Splinter Tweezer Magnifier by mklotz

tags: magnifier

[ranald]

As always, Marv, good ideas & great presentation. Thanks

[Rorschach]

I had a commercial version of this. The magnification aspect worked great but it was let down by poor tweezers. I now use better tweezers and a jewellers loupe.

[ranald]

good tweezers are like rocking horse poo=very hard to find.

[Manitoba Man]

Genius idea, so obvious that I couldn't think of it.

Bob

[Beserkleyboy]

As Manitoba said...I've spent my life in wood from the family lumber yard in Calif to the plywood business in Sydney AUS, and for the last 15 years as a cabinetmaker...I KNOW splinters...For years I've used 3x reading glasses and a surgical probe thingy, but this is the best! Thanks Marv...I'm off to the chemist to find some high qualty tweezers...cheers
Jim

[ranald]

As Manitoba said...I've spent my life in wood from the family lumber yard in Calif to the plywood business in Sydney AUS, and for the last 15 years as a cabinetmaker...I KNOW splinters...For years I've used 3x reading glasses and a surgical probe thingy, but this is the best! Thanks Marv...I'm off to the chemist to find some high qualty tweezers...cheers
Jim

good luck at the chemist Jim. Probably have more success through your family doctor or a hospital supply co. (you would probably get better results from stamp inspection tweezers than chemist ones)ha ha.LOL

Regards,

Ranald

[tonyfoale]

I got a metal splinter this morning which I could feel (badly) but I couldn't see it even with magnification. I have a solution that I only need to use on those hard to get with tweezers. I use the same tool very often for insect bites.

Click image for full size

As shown on the left I cut the end off a syringe as shown right.
I depress the plunger, press it over the affected area and pull the plunger to the end. This creates a partial vacumn which sucks out whatever the mosquitos leave behind and stops the itch, the bites generally heal quicker. It works best the sooner you do it after the bite. One day in desperation I wondered if it would work to extract splinters. So far it has never removed a splinter completely but in all cases it has pulled the splinter out enough to see it and get tweezers on it.



Mode of use. Depending on the location of the bite or splinter it is sometimes impossible to operate the syringe one handed, I often use my teeth to pull the plunger, but sometimes you need an assistant.