I had a couple of bad splinters this year, so bad that my Uncle Bill’s Sliver Grippers were complete ineffective. My wife has pointy (but too delicate) tweezers that do a good job when some excavation is required (which of course isn’t recommended), but I’ve successfully used Tweezerman tweezers for most splinter-removal tasks.
I spent $16 on one back in June 2017, and at the time the red-colored tweezers were the best price. Now, there are more colors available from Amazon and fulfilled-by-Amazon vendors. The blue-colored tweezers are currently available for under $13.
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I used to have cheap Revlon tweezers, which were purchased for a couple of dollars at the drugstore, and they were practically useless.
The slanted tips on these Tweezerman tweezers are smooth, but a little textured (due to grinding?), making them grippy.
Although they’re designed for plucking facial hair, they worked well at grabbing and pulling out thin and thick splinters, without crushing them, and without breaking off fragments. That has at least been my experience.
Sorry, I can’t talk about this much more. Thinking about my last few splinters gives me the heebie jeebies. Most were easily removed to the point of being forgettable, but there were two problematic ones. One was long, pointy, and driven in at an angle, and the other was shorter but thicker, and also deep and broken off beneath the surface.
These tweezers are almost perfect. I say *almost* because they do require some care and attention to use, and aren’t automatic splinter magnets. But, I suppose they’re the best tweezers I have ever used for splinter removal so far.
Price: $13-16
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What can you recommend for splinter removal?
EJ
I used the “Miracle Point Splinter Expert Tweezer” on amazon and it’s amazing. Like many reviewers said there’s a burr at the tip so it grabs onto the splinter really well.
Scott K
I really like Tweezerman’s pointy version. Not cheap, but durable and effective. Excavation tends to be necessary if not dealt with quickly and the sharp tip works well for that.
DHCrocks
I have a blue speckled one. it is by far the best most precise tweezers I have ever used. Once you get a grip on something its coming out, no slipping . The tips match up perfectly and the finish does have some grinding marks like you mentioned which provides excellent grip.
you mentioned needing care… what exactly do you mean by this?
Dustin Wright
A shaving razor works really good as well
John
“they worked well at grabbing and pulling out thin and thick tweezers…”
When I get *tweezers* lodged under my skin, I use *VISE-GRIPS* to remove them!
ktash
The Magnifier Head Strap With Lights from Harbor Freight has revolutionized splinter removal for me. Though the tweezers are important, I find these make all the difference. For under $5.
Toolfreak
You can sometimes find the higher-quaity “pro” tweezers at beauty supply and medical supply stores, often at similar prices to the national-brand stuff at a drugstore, sometimes less if it’s just bulk packaged.
They also have loop-handle (like scissors) type pullers for when you need more force to grip something.
Like forceps, these have plenty of uses in the shop as well, so it can be worth it to get some quality pieces, both for the toolbox and the first aid kit.
Of course, I do have some cheap dollar-store tweezers as well, both in a “tool” tweezer set and the regular ones you find in the beauty section. Nice to have cheap ones to use where they’ll get the job done to save the precision ones for when they’re really necessary.
Andy Hong
I love my various Tweezerman tweezers (which I use for scale modeling). For some splinters, the tweezers are just what I need. For other splinters (especially very thin ones), disposable MEDIpoint Blood Lancets ($6.99 for a box of 200 on Amazon) are far better. (The exact same Blood Lancets are also sold under the name “Splinter Out” for $3.79 for a box of 10. Not a very good deal.)
Brian
PocketWeez are the ones for me. I love the grind on them. I have tried many. I have just got their new Pocket Weez2, they are great but their first version were a little better in my opinion.
fred
Splinter forceps work for me – mine are 20 years old – made in USA with serrated tips that include a longitudinal groove. I see these and others on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Splinter-Forceps-Surgical-Veterinary-Instruments/dp/B07CRRSXF8/
firefly
Thanks fred! After reading all the comments and recommendation I have decided on getting this one. I have also learned what a forceps is 🙂
JoeM
I prefer to use Neoprene gloves when working on anything that can splinter. Microflex MidKnight Full Textured Gloves. Durable, but get caught on anything that may splinter, so you know to fix the surface a little before it rips the gloves.
Stuart
I now try to wear gloves when moving certain wood or wood product materials, but it’s not always feasible or practical.
RKA
I keep multiple pairs around the garage and shop/basement as well as the car if I know I’ll be transporting unfinished lumber. They are cheap and I hate the time wasted dealing with silly things like this. These days metal slivers are a bigger problem when handling poorly finished goods. I need to get better at using the gloves since this are impossible to see, but you can clearly feel them!
Toolfreak
I’ve found slip-on gloves like the Mechanix FastFit to be perfect for general protection when handling wood/metal. Of course they’re great for auto/shop/etc. work too, but they’re easy enough to keep handy and slip on when you’re handing stuff and take off when you want.
Of course, the cheap gray leather work gloves are a good option too, even easier to slip on and off but kind of bulky, but they are thicker and do offer plenty of protection from splinters and cuts and the like.
Lyle
They’re good for pulling out thin and thick tweezers? Ouch!
Stuart
So far.
MT_Noob
I’m sure he meant they are good at pulling out “splinters”.
: )
“they worked well at grabbing and pulling out thin and thick tweezers,”
He is probably mentally blocking the word splinter to avoid thinking about the pain…
Stuart
Whoops, fixed it!
Yep, the post really did bring back fresh memories of some horrible splinters.
Vards Uzvards
TweezerGuru – as good as Tweezerman, and significantly cheaper.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RNN5EO/
MT_Noob
Has anyone tried the elmer’s glue or wood glue trick to remove splinters? I have seen that “hack” mentioned somewhere, but I have never tried using it. Apparently you put a little glue on your hand, wait for it to dry and when you peel it away the splinter is supposed to come out with it. Has anyone actually tried this?
Toolfreak
it works, but only in cases where there’s enough of the splinter sticking out for the glue to adhere to and where it’s not hung up, both cases where it’d probably be just as easy to get out with tweezers or scraping with a knife. You’d also have to wait for the glue to fully dry to have a chance at it actually pulling it out, so it’s actually better to use just a tiny amount of glue that will dry faster, then pull on that and hopefully it’s got a hold on the splinter to pull it out.
I’d say it’s worth a shot if you have a splinter and only have wood glue and no tweezers or knife or anything else, but if it’s a splinter where tweezers can’t get a grip on it, glue isn’t likely to do what tweezers can’t.
Ben
I was driving my car this year and as I grabbed a piece of wood to stop it scratching the dashboard I got a splinter underneath my nail. Oh man did that hurt and I had 10 minutes of driving before so could grab tweezers!
Adam
If they do become dull,. Tweezerman will sharpen their tweezers for you. My mom will send in several at a time. Can take a while sometimes though.
https://www.tweezerman.com/free-sharpening
Ron
I have used this splinter removable kit for years.
https://www.amazon.com/Vantage-Splinter-Removal-Kit/dp/B006CTI032
processwrench
I’ve used a bunch of tweezers over the years including surgical types. I find the little tweezers that come on victorinox swiss army knives or leatherman cs tools work the best for me. especially on metal splinters. It probably has something to do with the flexibility of the arms. I’ve also tried the tape trick when i couldn’t exactly find the splinter, actually its usually the nettle off of some plant, sometimes it works, sometimes not.
Joe
Surgical hemostats…$5 nothing better ,never failed to get a splinter.or any object out….we carry a few in the first aid box
firefly
There are a bunch of negative review about a possible knockoffs product on the amazon page for Tweezerman. It’s ship and sold by amazon with a no return policy.
So I find that a bit alarming. I wonder if those problem are isolated to Amazon fulfillment or is Tweezerman quality has declined over the year. Most of the negative review mentioned the fact that they have been very happy with Tweezerman product before.
Has anyone purchase one from Amazon recently?
Stuart
Those *might* be from 3rd party sellers; some are still sold directly by Amazon.
They’re “no return” due to the personal hygiene nature. Let’s say they arrive and are blatant counterfeits, or are broken in half. In my experience, Amazon will usually make exceptions to set things right.
Rich
FYI Tweezerman offers lifetime sharpening if you mail them the tweezers, info is on their website. Turn around isn’t the quickest though took a couple weeks.
Frank D
Lodged splinters of some substance typically means getting out the swiss army knife small blade or the leatherman multitool and making a small incision … which makes removing / grabbing the item easier … and then makes it easier to disenfect the wound and give it a dab of antibiotic ointment.
garrett
I’ve never needed anything except a sharp, pointed knife for removing wood splinters, metal shavings, sea-urchin spines, you name it. My tweezers are just for electrical work.