Cindy Romanski on thu 1 aug 02
Dear Clayarters,
Recently, I have been having problems with my fingernails rubbing off, OUCH! Very painful! Has anyone else had this problem? I have been throwing about six hours a day and my hands get really "pruney". The nails on my middle and ring finger have actually rubbed off at the tip exposing the quick. I have tried nail hardener (peels off after about an hour) and new skin (same problem). I have also tried those little finger condoms but, they decreases sensitivity so much and make it difficult not to put rubber imprints on the clay (especially when pulling handles). I have been taking special vitamins that are supposed to strengthen nails and hair for about two months with no improvement in nail strength. What do I do? Any Suggestions? Is this common or am I just weird?
Thanks in advance,
Cynthia Romanski
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: Click Here
Jonathan Kirkendall on fri 2 aug 02
Cynthia,
You are not weird. This happens to me a lot. However, since having worn
the nails to below the quick several years ago, I became very mindful about
what moves I was doing as I threw that wore down the nails, and adjusted. I
complained once to a teacher who looked at me critically and responded
"That's why they make tools, dear, so you don't have to use your
fingernails..."
Jonathan in DC
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Cindy Romanski
Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 11:19 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Fingernail troubles????
Dear Clayarters,
Recently, I have been having problems with my fingernails rubbing off,
OUCH! Very painful! Has anyone else had this problem? I have been
throwing about six hours a day and my hands get really "pruney". The nails
on my middle and ring finger have actually rubbed off at the tip exposing
the quick. I have tried nail hardener (peels off after about an hour) and
new skin (same problem). I have also tried those little finger condoms but,
they decreases sensitivity so much and make it difficult not to put rubber
imprints on the clay (especially when pulling handles). I have been taking
special vitamins that are supposed to strengthen nails and hair for about
two months with no improvement in nail strength. What do I do? Any
Suggestions? Is this common or am I just weird?
Thanks in advance,
Cynthia Romanski
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: Click Here
____________________________________________________________________________
__ Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org You may look at the archives
for the list or change your subscription settings from
http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/ Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who
may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
william schran on fri 2 aug 02
Cynthia wrote: "I have been throwing about six hours a day and my
hands get really "pruney". The nails on my middle and ring finger
have actually rubbed off at the tip exposing the quick."
The "pruney" can be resolved by using some type of barrier cream on
your hands BEFORE you start throwing. Petroleum jelly being the
simple one, others such as bag balm, utter cream and the like also
have lanolin in them. If allergic to wool don't use them.
As for your nails - if you're wearing away the tips/ends of your
nails them you're pressing them down against the wheelhead/bat, and
as would happen with fingers against a sanding disk, the nails are
being ground away. You need to become more conscience of exactly how
much your fingers are coming into contact with the wheelhead,
especially during the centering process. I've had this occur with
some students, others find the side of their hand becoming raw after
throwing for a while, especially with a heavy grogged clay. I tell my
students that their hands may touch the wheelhead, but never rest or
press down on it. Some don't get the message until pain sets in.
Bill
Megan Ratchford on fri 2 aug 02
Hi Cindy!
You're not weird. The nail of my middle finger of my right hand is =
paper thin. I have paid attention to how I throw and realize that as =
I'm beginning my pull that nail rests against the bat. Think nail file =
at a high speed, not good. I've modified my throwing to try and keep a =
nail on that finger and it works. That is unless I'm tired or throwing =
small things; I go right back to the old habit. See if you can spot =
where the erosion is happening and modify your throwing a bit. Hope =
this helps!
Megan
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Cindy Romanski=20
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=20
Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 10:19 PM
Subject: Fingernail troubles????
Dear Clayarters,
Recently, I have been having problems with my fingernails rubbing off, =
OUCH! Very painful! Has anyone else had this problem? I have been =
throwing about six hours a day and my hands get really "pruney". The =
nails on my middle and ring finger have actually rubbed off at the tip =
exposing the quick. I have tried nail hardener (peels off after about =
an hour) and new skin (same problem). I have also tried those little =
finger condoms but, they decreases sensitivity so much and make it =
difficult not to put rubber imprints on the clay (especially when =
pulling handles). I have been taking special vitamins that are supposed =
to strengthen nails and hair for about two months with no improvement in =
nail strength. What do I do? Any Suggestions? Is this common or am I =
just weird?=20
Thanks in advance,
Cynthia Romanski
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: Click Here
=
_________________________________________________________________________=
_____ Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org You may look at the =
archives for the list or change your subscription settings from =
http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/ Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson =
who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Penni Stoddart on fri 2 aug 02
Cindy,=20
I had the same problem. Although I don't throw for six hours a day on a =
regular basis I did find my nail on my middle finger being worn down. I =
started throwing using a small elephant ear sponge. Took some getting =
used to mind you but now I can't throw without it! Saves the nails too. =
My sponge is small (about 3inches across) and thin (perhaps 1/4 inch) =
works great. On top of the nails beign saved I also throw using less =
water and can get some neat shapes because of it.
Hope this helps,
~~~~
Penni Stoddart of Penelope's Pots
Now acting as PAST President,
Artisans London (Ontario, Canada)
I live in my own little world, but it's ok... they know me here
Glenn Allenspach on fri 2 aug 02
I had the fingernail problem in the past. For me, I found that I was
presssing my fingertip into the wheel head when centering. I backed off on
the downward pressure a little bit; the problem went away.
For pruny hands, try bee balm before you start throwing, and periodically
through the day.
Glenn Allenspach
Working Potter on fri 2 aug 02
You might make sure you do not have a fungal infection.I have known potters
who had that problem and they had to give up clay and it didn't just happen
at the first but when they became competent potters also.Oddly, the ones I
knew threw with white clay,just a coincidence?
Misty
Kris on fri 2 aug 02
Dear Cindy, watch the way you work...are you losing your fingernails on =
the wheel head?? if i'm not careful or not paying attention i lose the =
right side of my right hand ring finger to the wheel head. grind it =
right offf. Oftentimes i don't realize it until i wash up.
so be careful not to lay those fingertips on the wheelhead, use a tool.
good luck,=20
kris in sunny alaska
, OUCH! ". The nails on my middle and ring finger have actually =
rubbed off at the tip exposing the quick.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
Marianne Lombardo on fri 2 aug 02
Hi Cynthia;
Funny you should post this now. I was just sitting down to ask a =
question about protecting fingernails, myself. I'm trying to let mine =
grow for an upcoming social event. The portion growing out is wearing =
very, very thin. I am thinking of buying some of those disposable =
surgical gloves and see if that helps.
Marianne Lombardo
Omemee, Ontario, Canada
mlombardo@nexicom.net
Recently, I have been having problems with my fingernails rubbing off, =
OUCH! Very painful! Has anyone else had this problem? I have been =
throwing about six hours a day and my hands get really "pruney". The =
nails on my middle and ring finger have actually rubbed off at the tip =
exposing the quick. I have tried nail hardener (peels off after about =
an hour) and new skin (same problem). I have also tried those little =
finger condoms but, they decreases sensitivity so much and make it =
difficult not to=20
Martin Howard on fri 2 aug 02
Are you using clay with grog in it?
Would a less abrasive clay be the answer?
Are you fingernails strongly ribbed in line with the length of your fingers.
If so, it means a deficiency of one mineral in your diet.
(I think it is boron, but not sure.)
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
Updated 6th July 2002
Philip Poburka on fri 2 aug 02
...and too, it used to be that 'Knox' Gelatine and similar were promoted and
enjoyed as encouraging firm 'nails' and so on...
But having been inplicated as a vector of nvCJ Disease (new variant
Creutzfeld-Jacob -or otherwise, more or less, Bovine Spongiform
Encephelopathy, aka "BSE", ) transmission, that enjoyment may have tapered
off some...
As with 'Jello'...
Animal 'gelatine' Capsules for Vitamines et all...
Or other...
Phil
Las Vegas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin Howard"
To:
Sent: Friday, August 02, 2002 1:40 PM
Subject: Fingernail troubles????
> Are you using clay with grog in it?
> Would a less abrasive clay be the answer?
> Are you fingernails strongly ribbed in line with the length of your
fingers.
> If so, it means a deficiency of one mineral in your diet.
> (I think it is boron, but not sure.)
>
> Martin Howard
> Webbs Cottage Pottery
> Woolpits Road, Great Saling
> BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
> 01371 850 423
> martin@webbscottage.co.uk
> http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
> Updated 6th July 2002
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Tommy Humphries on fri 2 aug 02
Ahhh, yes, fun fun fun, especially when they get thin and split down the =
middle!
The best advice is to find where you are dragging the nails and work =
your technique to where you do not do it anymore, But that may not be =
feasible, or you may never figure out just where you are dragging. =20
The best stop gap solution, and I do use this when I know I will be =
dragging my nails a bit (making lids, or other flat, low pots) is to use =
press on fake nails. Those things are miracles when your nails are =
thin, and they are not noticeable...especially important if you are a =
fella.
Tommy
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Cindy Romanski=20
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=20
Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 11:19 PM
Subject: Fingernail troubles????
Dear Clayarters,
Recently, I have been having problems with my fingernails rubbing off, =
OUCH! Very painful! Has anyone else had this problem? I have been =
throwing about six hours a day and my hands get really "pruney". The =
nails on my middle and ring finger have actually rubbed off at the tip =
exposing the quick. I have tried nail hardener (peels off after about =
an hour) and new skin (same problem). I have also tried those little =
finger condoms but, they decreases sensitivity so much and make it =
difficult not to put rubber imprints on the clay (especially when =
pulling handles). I have been taking special vitamins that are supposed =
to strengthen nails and hair for about two months with no improvement in =
nail strength. What do I do? Any Suggestions? Is this common or am I =
just weird?=20
Thanks in advance,
Cynthia Romanski
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: Click Here
=
_________________________________________________________________________=
_____ Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org You may look at the =
archives for the list or change your subscription settings from =
http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/ Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson =
who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.=20
| |
|
