stewblack Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 (edited) I'm interested in anyone who has actual first hand experience - I've already heard lots of rumours!! This weekend I've got two gigs with different bands on the same day, and last week I gashed my finger. Middle finger left hand. It's pretty well healed now, dressings off for a few days but the skin is peeling, soft and sore. No actual open wound, but I've lost my carefully built callous completely. I know it'll be extremely painful long before the end of the second set so... I've had recommended: A ) Gaffa tape (well, of course) B ) Nail varnish C ) New skin spray on liquid 'plaster' D ) Super glue I of course keep my strings squeaky clean as I know this helps reduce friction too. Any help very gratefully received. Edited July 5, 2011 by stewblack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=90264&hl"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=90264&hl[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Super glue. Makes your fingers silky smooth which helps with slides too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 [quote name='silddx' post='1293105' date='Jul 5 2011, 09:43 AM'][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=90264&hl"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=90264&hl[/url][/quote] Don't think I've time to order gloves nor the panache to carry them off, but thanks. Any other votes for super glue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 I vote superglue!!! (And yes, I did jokingly change my mind on this on Clarky's double bass related thread). I nearly lost the tip of my left hand middle finger when I leant up against the corner of a fire door as it was closing, splitting my fingertip from one side of the nail to the other. I could pop it up to see the nice stump of my finger bone. Nice. Had a weekend of gigs a few days later. Girlfriend at the time bandaged it up with plenty of antiseptic. This was in 1998 - as far as I remember I just played everything, minus using my middle finger, as best I could. I vaguely recall my middle finger was bandaged to my third finger to stop it flailing about. So my vote is superglue, and try to avoid using your middle finger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 [quote name='Gareth Hughes' post='1293194' date='Jul 5 2011, 11:24 AM']So my vote is superglue, and try to avoid using your middle finger.[/quote] Thanks Gareth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Maybe a set of Elixirs to cut down on friction from the string too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 [quote name='Doctor J' post='1293222' date='Jul 5 2011, 11:48 AM']Maybe a set of Elixirs to cut down on friction from the string too.[/quote] Thanks, but I've left it a bit late - unless Stringbusters still deliver as fast as they used to. It was about 5 minutes before you placed the order in the old days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Soak the hands in a salt solution and play cleanly. I'd have a plaster on if it was the part I fretted with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Superglue for me; I've used it on serious cuts many times. Also had it used once in hospital too. It's what it was originally intended for IIRC, though not the same as the over-the-counter stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 No direct experience here but didn't people use 'surgical spirit' to harden-up the skin on their feet? Ha! Just thought I'd check that and found this at: [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol[/url] "[i]Isopropyl rubbing alcohol can also be supplied in a 99% concentration. This product can also be used to harden skin, such as in the case of the feet of novice hikers, [b]or the fingertips of guitarists[/b]. Care should always be taken, and the label should be read carefully[/i]" I've got an old bottle of the stuff somewhere that I bought from a chemist many years ago - reckon I should dig it out and dip my fingers in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 [quote name='JTUK' post='1293235' date='Jul 5 2011, 11:57 AM']Soak the hands in a salt solution and play cleanly. I'd have a plaster on if it was the part I fretted with[/quote] [quote name='Big_Stu' post='1293317' date='Jul 5 2011, 12:57 PM']Superglue for me; I've used it on serious cuts many times. Also had it used once in hospital too. It's what it was originally intended for IIRC, though not the same as the over-the-counter stuff.[/quote] Thanks both. I shall soak and glue. Also have ordered Elixirs. Still not convinced about the gloves.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 [quote name='flyfisher' post='1293342' date='Jul 5 2011, 01:11 PM']No direct experience here but didn't people use 'surgical spirit' to harden-up the skin on their feet? Ha! Just thought I'd check that and found this at: [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol[/url] "[i]Isopropyl rubbing alcohol can also be supplied in a 99% concentration. This product can also be used to harden skin, such as in the case of the feet of novice hikers, [b]or the fingertips of guitarists[/b]. Care should always be taken, and the label should be read carefully[/i]" I've got an old bottle of the stuff somewhere that I bought from a chemist many years ago - reckon I should dig it out and dip my fingers in it. [/quote] I'm in recovery so avoid strong spirits, but thanks for the tip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Well, I wouldn't recommend drinking the stuff, but it seems a well-established method for toughening up skin, which superglue won't do at all of course. [url="http://www.guitarfact.com/painful-calluses-solutions-and-information"]http://www.guitarfact.com/painful-calluses...and-information[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 [quote name='flyfisher' post='1293368' date='Jul 5 2011, 01:30 PM']Well, I wouldn't recommend drinking the stuff, but it seems a well-established method for toughening up skin, which superglue won't do at all of course. [url="http://www.guitarfact.com/painful-calluses-solutions-and-information"]http://www.guitarfact.com/painful-calluses...and-information[/url][/quote] Thanks - sorry for my flippancy, I do appreciate the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 [quote name='Big_Stu' post='1293317' date='Jul 5 2011, 12:57 PM']Superglue for me; I've used it on serious cuts many times. Also had it used once in hospital too. It's what it was originally intended for IIRC, though not the same as the over-the-counter stuff.[/quote] Christ mate, you seem completely accident prone, I'd look at your activities rather than the treatments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Cycle lots (without gloves!) and get a job entailing manual labour. That'll render your hands pretty tough. Otherwise, superglue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 I'd just avoid using your middle finger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 [quote name='stewblack' post='1293089' date='Jul 5 2011, 09:31 AM']I'm interested in anyone who has actual first hand experience - I've already heard lots of rumours!! This weekend I've got two gigs with different bands on the same day, and last week I gashed my finger. Middle finger left hand. It's pretty well healed now, dressings off for a few days but the skin is peeling, soft and sore. No actual open wound, but I've lost my carefully built callous completely. I know it'll be extremely painful long before the end of the second set so... I've had recommended: A ) Gaffa tape (well, of course) B ) Nail varnish C ) New skin spray on liquid 'plaster' D ) Super glue I of course keep my strings squeaky clean as I know this helps reduce friction too. Any help very gratefully received.[/quote] I've used superglue for mild cuts... worked great everytime. I buy the one that comes with a small applying brush. Lives in my bass case. I don't need it often, but it's been a life saver for me and my guitarist on separate occasions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 [quote name='mcnach' post='1293747' date='Jul 5 2011, 06:56 PM']I've used superglue for mild cuts... worked great everytime. I buy the one that comes with a small applying brush. Lives in my bass case. I don't need it often, but it's been a life saver for me and my guitarist on separate occasions.[/quote] Yes that's exactly the situation I'm in. I don't usually need it but I've damaged one important digit. I'll look out for the brush on type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 [quote name='silddx' post='1293439' date='Jul 5 2011, 02:16 PM']Christ mate, you seem completely accident prone, I'd look at your activities rather than the treatments [/quote] I was old-school graphic design; you'll remember that? Scalpels & rush job didn't mix well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 [quote name='Big_Stu' post='1294480' date='Jul 6 2011, 11:02 AM']I was old-school graphic design; you'll remember that? Scalpels & rush job didn't mix well.[/quote] I certainly do All that glue down yer troosers aswell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Superglue your fingertips to your inner forearm, then rip them off... takes a thin layer of skin off the arm to cover the wound. It sounds brutal, but it doesn't hurt at all (you're only taking dead skin). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 [quote name='dlloyd' post='1294597' date='Jul 6 2011, 12:16 PM']... takes a thin layer of skin off the arm to cover the wound.[/quote] . . . if you're lucky, or takes a thin layer of skin off your fingers if you're unlucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 [quote name='dlloyd' post='1294597' date='Jul 6 2011, 12:16 PM']Superglue your fingertips to your inner forearm, then rip them off... takes a thin layer of skin off the arm to cover the wound. It sounds brutal, but it doesn't hurt at all (you're only taking dead skin).[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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