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.
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?”
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.
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.
@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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 6:11 am
Another “tool” that will end up being found in the bottom of a toolbox with the question – “what the heck is this?”
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 9:04 am
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?”
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 9:11 am
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
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 9:14 am
Seems like less effort to learn how to use a hammer. And infinitely more productive.
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 10:40 am
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.
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 12:34 pm
@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.
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 1:13 pm
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.
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 1:36 pm
I’m with Jake on this one…
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 2:11 pm
There should be NO question, heck yes that’s worth it! Especially when a sore thumb has felt the hammer!
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 5:28 pm
I’m with Jake and Daniel on this one.
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 8:31 pm
yep. cardboard is whats been used for a long time, if you even need that! why complicate things with an extra tool?
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 10:27 pm
I want the adjustable ThumbSaver to hold nails of all sizes.
Dec 24th, 2011 / 8:06 am
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.
Dec 25th, 2011 / 10:57 am
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.
Dec 26th, 2011 / 2:15 am
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.
Dec 26th, 2011 / 3:22 am
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.
Dec 26th, 2011 / 8:40 am
use a comb — my granddaddy taught me that
Dec 26th, 2011 / 10:36 am
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.
Dec 27th, 2011 / 2:29 pm
Lots of strong opinions on driving nails here.
Dec 27th, 2011 / 2:51 pm
genius.
Dec 27th, 2011 / 3:49 pm
We’ve featured this article in our blog http://drawatriangle.tumblr.com/
Have a nice day!
Dec 29th, 2011 / 9:05 am
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
Dec 29th, 2011 / 5:40 pm
i guess it kinda cool but someone who bangs a lot of nails in would probably never use it.
Dec 30th, 2011 / 11:44 am
I’m not sure if it will work BUT!…That is one ”good looking” hammer!
Jan 3rd, 2012 / 3:58 pm