Thumbsaver

I am utterly fascinated by the ThumbSaver, a magnetic nail setter. Useful or not?

(via destroytoday)

25 Comments leave a comment below

  1. The idea is indeed great! The question is, if the nail is still kept firmly in place through the strong vibrations which might occur when hitting the nail. It might just not be as stable as using a pair of pliers.

    Here’s a demo video i found: http://youtu.be/lRbmjYtoxMU

  2. Another “tool” that will end up being found in the bottom of a toolbox with the question – “what the heck is this?”

  3. People have been pounding nails for centuries. Sometimes you hit your thumb. Anyone who really works with their hands would have the same reaction to this “tool” — “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  4. Clever…but several hammers have integrated “magnetic nail starters” now.
    e.g.: http://www.amazon.com/Stubby-Hammer-Magnetic-Nail-Holder/dp/B005IDLZKI
    http://www.sears.com/shc/s/t_10153_12605?tName=nail-holder-hammer.html

    The device also requires you to use both hand – this limits accuracy of the hammer swing and stability piece being nailed.
    If you need to be very precise or if you have very small nails…just drill small pilot hole or use a light-duty/tack hammer.
    I don’t see how the set of 2 “Thumbsavers” is worth $13.

    –S

  5. Seems like less effort to learn how to use a hammer. And infinitely more productive.

  6. To be more constructive: if the magnetic holder would be placed perpendicular to a flat circle of material so that one hand could hold the “nail holder” *and* the material being nailed – that might be convenient and allow for accurate hammer swings.

  7. @BillWeye If we were all perfect and always hit exactly where we aimed your solution would be perfect. Learning to use a hammer and simple muscle control and physics are at great odds.

    However in the real world, this device while probably doomed by it’s simplicity is a great idea but not original. Also impracticle in confined spaces.

  8. Doing a lot of Habitat for Humanity work a few years back, I found that just cutting a slit in the end of a strip of cardboard, cardstock, or (my favorite) vinyl siding, you can tuck a nail into the slit and use it the same way as this device, for effectively no cost. Bonus: you get a little bit more reach if you want to set a nail just beyond your free hand’s reach, too. Worked like a charm.

  9. I’m with Jake on this one…

  10. There should be NO question, heck yes that’s worth it! Especially when a sore thumb has felt the hammer!

  11. I’m with Jake and Daniel on this one.

  12. yep. cardboard is whats been used for a long time, if you even need that! why complicate things with an extra tool?

  13. I want the adjustable ThumbSaver to hold nails of all sizes.

  14. Anything rigid enough and long, or short enough to poke the nail through is what works for me. From cardboard to shingle scraps, wood shim to vinyl scraps you use what you have. Even a belt loop will work in a pinch (no pun intended). In this case using what you have is better than another tool to care around.

  15. Hold the nail between your index finger and middle finger with your palm faced towards you, all fingers extended.
    By facing your palm towards you, if you do slip, your fingers are not positioned sideways. By keeping your fingers flat they are able to absorb the impact without pain by expanding sideways and cushioning with more flesh and tissue to protect your bones.
    Your thumb is especially vulnerable while sideways with no padding to protect the bone. Stop using your opposable thumb to hold nails! It’s not worth it!
    I love gadgets, but I’ll take good techniques any day.

  16. Idea is great for real small nails and non-professional carpenters :) IKEA already includes a small plastic version of this design in their packages for some of their products.

  17. This might seem like a silly gadget for someone with great hand eye coordination.

    But for people like my father who is 85 and insists on doing his own maintenance….everytime he picks up a hammer its me who is the one on the verge of a coronary.

    I think if I offered it to him he would outwardly scoff, but would silently try it the minute that we head out the door.

  18. use a comb — my granddaddy taught me that

  19. For someone who rarely uses a hammer and just has to spend some extra money on another useless piece of “technology,” this is wonderful.

    For someone who uses a hammer often, this is a joke.

    And for most carpenters, hammers are for hitting chisels, joints, and hand planes, not nails.

  20. Lots of strong opinions on driving nails here.

  21. We’ve featured this article in our blog http://drawatriangle.tumblr.com/

    Have a nice day!

  22. For the less ambitious craftsperson, or the habitual crookdriver: There’s another easy, inexpensive version – packing peanuts!
    http://storageandglee.blogspot.com/2010/03/so-smart.html

  23. i guess it kinda cool but someone who bangs a lot of nails in would probably never use it.

  24. I’m not sure if it will work BUT!…That is one ”good looking” hammer!