Got a crazy splinter out with a trick from a 90-year-old retired framer

Last week I got a piece of oak about an inch deep under my thumbnail, the kind that makes you see stars... I was ready to go to urgent care. My neighbor, Frank, who used to frame houses back in the 50s, saw me and just said 'go get the white glue.' I slathered a thick layer of Elmer's over it, let it dry completely for maybe 20 minutes, and when I peeled it off, the splinter came right out stuck in the glue. Has anyone else heard of this one, or have a better fix for the really deep ones?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavin_allen482mo ago

Ever wonder if the glue trick works on those tiny fiberglass splinters from insulation? My dad was a drywall guy and he'd get those things all over his arms. Tried the glue once on a really stubborn one stuck in his forearm, but the fibers were so fine they just broke off. Ended up using duct tape instead, the really sticky kind, pressed hard and ripped it off fast. That got the little pieces out when nothing else would.

nathan_barnes2mo ago

@gavin_allen48 duct tape is the real fix for those things.

the_robin13d ago

Hold on @gavin_allen48, I'm going to disagree with you here. The glue trick works way better than duct tape if you do it right, the issue is most people don't let it dry long enough before peeling. You need a thick layer of white glue, like Elmer's, spread it on thick and wait until it's completely clear and dry, sometimes even 20 minutes depending on humidity. Those fiberglass splinters are so fine that the glue actually seeps down into the skin pores around them and creates a solid cast, whereas duct tape just rips off the top layer of skin along with the broken fibers. Tape leaves a bunch of little pieces still stuck in there that then get irritated again when you move your arm. Your dad probably ripped the glue too early or used too thin a coat, because I've pulled out dozens of those micro splinters from my own hands doing attic work and the glue method gets every single one out in one go.

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