Tools for tired hands
- Thread starter MarkJ
- Start date
wildebus
Forum Member
I know the longer handles should make it easier (principle of levers,etc) but TBH I weirdly have not found that the case for both Crimpers and Rivnut tools
I use this Ratchet crimper and find it good - https://amzn.to/3dKwEjG . I've actually bought that 3 times so far (do a lot of crimping and they wear out after a while).
A technique I use sometimes since damaging my right hand at the end of 2016 and loosing quite a bit of strength for a fair while (and still not 100%) is instead of just holding the crimpers and squeezing is to have the bottom handle resting on a bench when squeezing - that makes a significant difference to the effort needed and worth giving a go
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
There is a dangerous downside in buying tools that make life easier. I got fat.
Millie Master
Forum Member
I have quite badly arthritic hands and I find that wearing a good, well fitting pair of gloves greatly improves matters for me as is also keeping them warm and even having tools that have warmed handles.
As for getting fat.... Apart from the arthritis, I also have a crumbling spine, cages over some of the vertebrae and now also suffer from some quite bad cardiological and respiratory problems which are restricting my levels of physical exercise, however despite the pain and despite my general inability to do so, I still force myself to do 2 x 4 miles walks each day as well as also trying to do some time on my turbo trainer mounted bike. It hurts, it often leaves me feeling totally washed out, but it is keeping me going, it is also, along with a very healthy diet keeping my weight very much under control.
At the age of 71 in addition to the 9 different medications I am on these days and on a daily basis I always have my first alcoholic drinks at 1600 hrs. with this normally being a 500 or 750 mil beer and a large whisky chaser, we almost always eat at close to 1800 hrs. when we will always have at least one bottle of wine. Now when living over in France where they even serve wine with your meals in hospital they expect everyone to drink and now over here, finally my GP and the consultants I am under all agree my disgusting habit isn't doing me any harm whatsoever
Whenever I am prescribed a different type of medication, I always look my amazing GP straight in the eyes, she then checks the details of the drug before saying "and yes Philip you can take them with a drink" !!
As for getting fat.... Apart from the arthritis, I also have a crumbling spine, cages over some of the vertebrae and now also suffer from some quite bad cardiological and respiratory problems which are restricting my levels of physical exercise, however despite the pain and despite my general inability to do so, I still force myself to do 2 x 4 miles walks each day as well as also trying to do some time on my turbo trainer mounted bike. It hurts, it often leaves me feeling totally washed out, but it is keeping me going, it is also, along with a very healthy diet keeping my weight very much under control.
At the age of 71 in addition to the 9 different medications I am on these days and on a daily basis I always have my first alcoholic drinks at 1600 hrs. with this normally being a 500 or 750 mil beer and a large whisky chaser, we almost always eat at close to 1800 hrs. when we will always have at least one bottle of wine. Now when living over in France where they even serve wine with your meals in hospital they expect everyone to drink and now over here, finally my GP and the consultants I am under all agree my disgusting habit isn't doing me any harm whatsoever
Whenever I am prescribed a different type of medication, I always look my amazing GP straight in the eyes, she then checks the details of the drug before saying "and yes Philip you can take them with a drink" !!
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SquirrellCook
Forum Member
Somethings I found made a big difference.
Having a steel bench with a heater under it. The bench helps to spread the heat. Also so any tools left on it get warmed as well as what you are working on.
Where I'm from is often cold and damp, Wiltshire! I discovered that wearing thermals for half of the year improved my mobility and stopped me collapsing if I had to walk some distance.
Having a building big enough and of good quality to keep a motorhome warm would be the ultimate luxury
Having a steel bench with a heater under it. The bench helps to spread the heat. Also so any tools left on it get warmed as well as what you are working on.
Where I'm from is often cold and damp, Wiltshire! I discovered that wearing thermals for half of the year improved my mobility and stopped me collapsing if I had to walk some distance.
Having a building big enough and of good quality to keep a motorhome warm would be the ultimate luxury
MarkJ
Forum Member
Oh, if only!
Nabsim
Forum Member
Ha ha I thought the same, I had to pack up as I couldn’t work outside any more
Nabsim
Forum Member
Mark have you looked at the disability/mobility shops to see if they have anything.
The one I used online for a scooter has household tools for arthritis but not mechanical. What they do though are handles to bulk out what you fit them to. Doing something like that may help on some things. Electric drill/screwdriver with bendy extension for others. A lot I would think you would need to make or modify though.
Have you tried contacting any of the organisations set up for info?
The one I used online for a scooter has household tools for arthritis but not mechanical. What they do though are handles to bulk out what you fit them to. Doing something like that may help on some things. Electric drill/screwdriver with bendy extension for others. A lot I would think you would need to make or modify though.
Have you tried contacting any of the organisations set up for info?
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
Thanks for your concern, I'm very self conscious about it. My problems developed as a child and I spent many months in hospital with any successful outcome. I'd just have to learn to live with it. At school you daren't let anyone know you had anything wrong with you. The weak get bullied! Its odd how it affects me. If I do to much I suffer, if I don't do enough I suffer. I have learnt that I can do what ever I want if I'm prepared to pay the price.
If you can call it a plus, I have a very high pain tolerance. The fact I raced motocross for years hasn't helped in the in the long term. Without the crashes it does improve my mobility. But I've broken a lot of bones too
What I'd really like is to get it diagnosed.MarkJ
Forum Member
That's a good idea. I'll experiment a bit. Thanks!
MarkJ
Forum Member
Now I'm not one to give medical advice, but a few years ago I looked at the base research that underpinned the Gov't reduction in daily units and found several interesting things. Understandably the health people distilled the research down (joke) to one simple message, but the picture was actually quite complicated: for example, one graph showed that when (if) you reached 70 then the amount of alcohol you drank had no difference on your life expectancy. Which isn't the same as saying you can drink more, but that if you've always drank x units per day then carrying on with x per day wouldn't shorten your life even if it was more than the guidance figure. Interesting stats!
As I say, don't take this as medical advice!
Nabsim
Forum Member
@SquirrellCook when I was recovering after my big bike accident the physio’s told me they see far better recovery from bikers than other people. She said she thought it was down to our general pig headed attitude that we WILL do what we want lol
That isn’t based on any medical facts or figures but was the opinion of the physio team at Devonshire Hospital in Buxton before it shut down. I know it applies or applied to me lol I have given up on certain things now I am older, just decided an hour or two working outside wasn’t worth being laid up on max dose for two or three days. As it happened this was around the same time I discovered I liked being in a van so not really missed anything
That isn’t based on any medical facts or figures but was the opinion of the physio team at Devonshire Hospital in Buxton before it shut down. I know it applies or applied to me lol I have given up on certain things now I am older, just decided an hour or two working outside wasn’t worth being laid up on max dose for two or three days. As it happened this was around the same time I discovered I liked being in a van so not really missed anything
Millie Master
Forum Member
I have several friends who used to be high speed traffic cops and they talk about high speed bikers as being organ donors!!
Phil
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
What I do is a bit more sedate. Sadly I’m only good for pet food. Even my blood is no good.
Nabsim
Forum Member
The ones who are just high speed don’t tend to live long. Unless you ride bikes it’s hard to get a perception of how safe some things that may look dangerous can be. I was a lifelong biker (not biker as in gangs) and while I would speed it was where I considered it safe to do so, I did the same in a car.
I see some people on bikes and wonder how they are still riding though, I don’t condone reckless riding or driving anywhere. Then again I see boy racers of all ages in cars, vans and lorry’s as well.