oh no I've broken a nail !

Taxi Dad · **on:** July 23, 2013, 11:17:59 AM

yesterday while doing some 'odd jobs' for the muver-in-law, I cracked the thumb nail on my right hand (I'm not one of those weird 'lefties' BTW) after giving myself a swift manly manicure with my trusty swisschamp I carried on with my tasks, including mending a washing line and fitting an outside tap + hose (amongst others) I am once again 'the favourite son-in-law' (although there isn't much competition to be honest

)
The only tools I needed all day I had in my pocket apart from some hedge loppers and a hammer. but today I find I've cut the nail so short I am having trouble accessing tools

we must have some 'nail biters' out there, how do you manage ?

I shall be EDCing my wave for a while I think !

Eciton82 · **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2013, 03:23:21 PM

Well, it's a girly thing to discuss, but honestly — I pretty much don't carry a larger SAK or any traditional nail-nick penknife precisely because I bite my nails and can't open the blade! I need a Spydiehole, thumbstud, flipper or pinch-grip to open a knife, or on a multitool to dig tools out of the handle. I can manage with a 58mm SAK but anything with a strong backspring and no grip I'm completely buggered.

tt_mt6 · **Reply #2 on:** July 24, 2013, 01:22:52 AM

Sounds like you need a manicure... JK....

That's something I've wondered, when it's cold and wet and a SAK's the only tool around, it'll be a bugger to get the tools out. Especially the Awl on the back side of a 91mm SAK.
Plan B, carry an extra one hand tool along with a SAK, that should be a perfect combo.

In my case it's a Cybertool 41 and a Charge TTi with modified rebar head.

Lynn LeFey · **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2013, 02:39:36 AM

I am a habitual nail biter, but I usually seem to have enough nail on SOME finger to get the tools out. Also, I have a ton of hang nails, and the more-than-occasional infected nail, and...

Maybe I need to look into a Swiss Clipper MT.

Bensasupertool · **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2013, 04:17:37 AM

Big time nail biter.Ive managed to keep my right thumb nail since I got the Farmer. That nail is lookin big and meaty now

J Mackrel Jones · **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2013, 03:26:09 PM

"Grandmother Hilda: As her knife was getting old and stiff (or was it her fingers?) she always carried a penny in her pocket to open the blades." The SAK Owner's Manual

neillcurrie · **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2013, 04:06:55 PM

From about the age of 13 to 15 I bit my nails badly (raging hormones??), then applied the nasty bitter-tasting stuff to them, and stopped abruptly.
Nails have been good and strong ever since.
Side note: The nails on my right hand grow faster than on my left, Toenails grow equally on each foot. That may be too much information

Anyway, as a mostly righty, I'd prefer the left hand nails to grow fastest as that's my opening hand. What to do

Taxi Dad · **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2013, 04:20:07 PM

Quote from: neillcurrie on July 24, 2013, 04:06:55 PM

From about the age of 13 to 15 I bit my nails badly (raging hormones??), then applied the nasty bitter-tasting stuff to them, and stopped abruptly.
Nails have been good and strong ever since.
Side note: The nails on my right hand grow faster than on my left, Toenails grow equally on each foot. That may be too much information Anyway, as a mostly righty, I'd prefer the left hand nails to grow fastest as that's my opening hand. What to do

that's an interesting point (maybe another topic ?) which hand do people use to open SAKs ? i'm ~~normal~~right-handed yet I open mostly using my right hand ! hold the tool in my left, open then swap hand

never really gave it much thought, it's just the way I've always done it. what do others do ?

ducttapetech · **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2013, 04:29:39 PM

Pull the tool out with my right hand, then use my left to open.

sent from Ducttapetech's mobile device

J Mackrel Jones · **Reply #9 on:** July 25, 2013, 04:05:44 PM

I used to always open my SAK with my good (right) hand, holding it in my left, then switching the knife to my right, until I began reading on MultiTool about ways of opening knives. So now I often open it with my left hand. Sort of like keeping the fork in the left hand when eating steak. More efficient.

radiotecha1234 · **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2013, 07:01:38 PM

I hold mine in my left hand and use my Skeletool bit driver to get the implement I want.

nate j · **Reply #11 on:** July 26, 2013, 01:23:02 AM

How about just using your left thumb nail until the right grows back in?

If you simply can't stop biting your nails or you have some other condition that results in weak fingernails, I think your only options are OH tools or something like this:

http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-steel-thumbnail-black-rucarta/p/RUL-OP1BR/