Shocking Pink

[Woodwould]

Q. What's hard and pink and sticks out of your pyjamas in the morning?
A. Your head, of course.

Q. What's soft and pink and protects your fingers?
A. This stuff:



Adhesive-free, self-adhering bandage.

One of our dogs went to the vet's a while ago with a sore paw and came home sporting a dressing which was secured with this self-adhering latex-impregnated crêpe bandage. I must have played with it for a full five minutes; unwinding it and reapplying it and there was no evidence of it losing its grip. Of course the poor dog thought all the attention was directed towards him and lay there wagging his tail while I amused myself.

So, dog bandages/woodwork, woodwork/dog bandages? "Where's the connection?" I hear you moan. Well it struck me that I could use this stuff (technical name, co-adhesive bandage) in place of the time-honoured-but-hideously-messy-to-remove masking tape when sanding intricate mouldings and during some hand planing operations. The stuff winds on and the stuff winds off! You can even wash it and re-use it a few times before having to cut a fresh piece off the roll.

A quick Google search and I discovered quite a few varieties and trade names such as Flexx-Rap and Co-Flex, available globally from vet's suppliers, farm stores and manicurist's suppliers (coincidently, something to do with holding nail files all day long).

The bandages come in widths of 1" up to 5" and normally about 5 yards to the roll. They're offered in an assortment of colours including black, blue, flesh, green, purple, and red, but I chose fluorescent pink because any detritus will be easily spotted and can be brushed away before being included in the finish.

It certainly protected my fingers and prevented the nails being worn back to the quick when sanding some cross-grained Ash mouldings recently.



Preserving my fingerprints in the event the police may request them.

[jmk89]

Great find WW. The effect on fingers is one of the things that keeps me from a couple of restoration projects that have been hanging around for a while - this might get me into SWMBO's good books!

[orraloon]

Ron an the boys will be well impressed with that stuff. Next job there's gonna be a couple a rolls of that in the bag and no mistake. Leavin messy dabs all over the ---- woodwork, well that's just aggravation and nobody needs that. Know wot I mean.

[Woodwould]

Ron an the boys will be well impressed with that stuff. Next job there's gonna be a couple a rolls of that in the bag and no mistake. Leavin messy dabs all over the ---- woodwork, well that's just aggravation and nobody needs that. Know wot I mean.

Know wot you mean Guv. Blind 'orse an' all that!

[RedShirtGuy]

Ooh. Very nice idea. And the hot pink will go with my lipstick...erm...

[KevM]

Also called Flexx-Rap™ Tape from Lee Valley.

[Woodwould]

Also called Flexx-Rap™ Tape from Lee Valley.

Well there you go! Great minds think alike - or should that be 'mediochre minds seldom differ'?

[Woodwould]

Where did my pictures go?

[DavidG]

Where did my pictures go?

Gremlins

[underfoot]

geez fellas, pink fingy tape
and there's another thread with "how do I chase spiders out of my shed"
there's people watching you'se guys. ....what will they think

[rhancock]

Apparently swmbo sells the stuff! The things you don't know about the person sharing your bed. I now have a lifetime supply. Its not pink though...

[rsser]

er, my head is not pink. Am I missing out on something?

Good tip WW.

I have used Thimblettes to protect the pinkies - rubber finger caps with pimples for extra sanding pleasure.

Esselte makes a mixed size pack that the local newsagent stocked.

OfficeSmart: View Product Details

Also good for grip when lapping plane irons, tho only with water lube. Gives no pleasure with oil.

[Woodwould]

er, my head is not pink. Am I missing out on something?

Well the end of your nose certainly is!

[rsser]

LOL.

If I keep up with the current method of self-administered analgaesia for the wrist it'll be purple & bulbous before long.