Instant band-aids for boo-boos

[N8RV]

You know how you'll do something and your wife will say, "How did you know how to do that?" The usual response is, "I dunno. I just know." It's a guy thing.

Or, you're futzing with something under the cowling and one of your buddies wanders into your hangar, asks what you're doing and then says, "Wait -- you need a 3/8" snafflewhiffer for that. I have one in my hangar. Be right back ..." How did he know that?

Well, we pick up tidbits of info and tricks throughout life and often can't remember who first told us, but it just sticks. This tip is one of those. For some, the response will be, "Well, duh -- who doesn't know that?" But, for someone else (hopefully), the response will be, "Huh. I didn't know that. Cool!"

For the record, in the 13 years of building Smokey, I never drilled into my finger. Ever. I have managed to injure myself in other ways -- smaller cuts and scratches from un-deburred edges of aluminum and stainless steel (there's still a drop of Danny King's blood on my shop floor), but no drill holes.

This time of year, I seem to suffer from enough dry skin that the ends of my fingers are always splitting open, despite trying to keep lotion on them. It's probably a natural result of the dry air and my constant hand-washing (I'm a dentist). Regardless, when one of those splits occurs, the discomfort is obnoxious and lasts for days till the split heals.

I'd heard years ago that a small drop of cyanoacrylate (super glue) will act as a band-aid on these small cuts, and literally seal the split edges back together, but never tried it until recently. IT WORKS! (it should -- it was used during Vietnam for temporary wound closure and to slow bleeding)

Like I said, some of you have known about this for years. I just recently started doing it and it's a tiny miracle that allows me to go on with my buisness and not be nagged by the discomfort of small cuts.

One caution, however: Be sure to let it dry completely before you go about your business. If not, you're liable to jjjj get stuck jjjjjjjj to ... wait a minute jjjjjjjjjjj ... my finger's stuck jjjjjjjjj to the "J" key ... jjjjjjjjjjjjj jjjjjjjjj jjjjjjjjjj

[Sid Lambert]

hahaha, nice. We need more humor on here.

[ArVeeNiner]

OUCH! I hate those nasty splits! I just sent your advice to my wife since she gets them too.

The things you learn on VAF.

Thanks!!

[pierre smith]

....back together when I saw about a half inch diameter hole under her. I have no idea how she got it but it worked. Later, the vet said that although it was a good job, it would've been better to let it self-heal.

Yep, I glue split fingers too!

Best,

[L.Adamson]

Being a heating and air conditioning person.............I use duct tape.
The more expensive brands, stay on the cuts, longer...

L.Adamson --- RV6A

[airguy]

CA does work wonders on small cuts.

And for the record, yes I have drilled into my own finger! (just once though)

[DCat22]

Great for keeping together minor slice wounds too. The kind that hurt like heck that a band-aid doesn't hold together very well. Or keeping a broken fingernail together until it grows out enough to cut off.

[Russ McCutcheon]

Works well on deep cuts to, the ones that wont stop bleeding, for faster drying follow the CA with a little ?kicker? and you?ll be back to work in short order!

[Greg Arehart]

Some other stuff that works well for small cuts and abrasions is "new-skin" which is an antiseptic liquid bandage that you paint on that cures into a flexible film over a cut or abrasion. It wears off just about the time the area is healed up. Might be the same stuff but with antiseptic, although it doesn't list CA as an ingredient.

greg

[larrynew]

"Super glue" has been used in emergency rooms for years to replace stitches. Had to take my son numerous times when he was in high school (basketball). I think the name was Dermabond.