Arthritis and tools

[400m]

Now that arthritis is an issue with my dominant hand, I’m starting to think about more ergonomic tools as opposed to the regular Craftsman stuff I’ve been using for years.

I discovered Wiha soft grip screwdrivers the other day and those might be coming soon. I just purchased a TEKTON 12” 3/8 drive ratchet and that should help with projects.

My next search is going to be for more ergonomic pliers. Specifically for diagonal cutters. Has anyone here found a pair you like that might be a little easier on the joints?

 

[dan1554]

Just to add to the screwdriver options - I recently started using this vessel screwdriver and noticed its much easier on my hands, and is now my go-to.

 

[400m]

Oh I’ve got my eye on that too! Thanks.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Hydraulic impact drivers helped me with some of the long days of framing etc.
I'm not aware of anything like those for shop impacts.
My biggest tool is my dang brain. I have to train it to slow my body down once and awhile. Long days of going full bore take me longer to recover. If I slow down a bit and quit earlier, I'm good for the next day.

Good tools help if I get by with less force. Examples are sharp bits and blades. Throw out the worn screwdrivers etc. The extra effort working with dullsville is harder on the body.

 

[PopcornSutton]

I don't think I could nail framing for very long anymore. I put new shingles on a couple sheds a few years ago and invested in a roofing nailer. Saved my bacon. If I had to drive a bunch of nails I would get an air nailer. Got finish nailer too. Hand tools I now wear gloves most all the time, they do add cushion.

 

[DGersic]

My next search is going to be for more ergonomic pliers. Specifically for diagonal cutters. Has anyone here found a pair you like that might be a little easier on the joints?

I have a couple of these.



The soft handles are pretty nice, and I generally dislike soft handles. The compound action works well, allows a lot easier cut. The lock even works well, for a simple mechanism.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Specifically for diagonal cutters. Has anyone here found a pair you like that might be a little easier on the joints?

Knipex high leverage 200mm (8"), or even 250mm (10"). Comfort grip option on the 8" and below.





There are also 180mm (7") models with a clever leverage mechanism - Knipex TwinForce and NWS Fantastico. I've not tried them but the claims say they more than make up for the shorter length.




And a mini bolt cutter (CoBolt is their model) in the same lengths.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

screwdrivers

Hex bolsters may be of interest


The Felo grip is great, quite unlike all others


Or a ratcheting T handle (doesn't need to be fancy, but you have a good excuse)

Hydraulic impact drivers

There's a whole range of screwdriving options underneath too if you have more delicate needs - 3.6V stuff, 7.v stuff, 12v non-impact screwdrivers, Japanese style pen drivers.

 

[driftpin]

I used our son's screwdriver like dan1554 posted, and found it was comfortable to use.

My daily Rx includes a NSAID by prescription, it helps. I also have issues in the lumbar/sacral area, and some days if I'm really hurting, I just say, 'no' to doing anything. Being retired helps.

I do maintenance on several houses, and I am not averse to hiring it out if it's 'in the air.' Being a retired firefighter/paramedic, I'm used to properly using a ladder or being above the first floor. I just got a new roof on a house and I hired it out. They did a good job, and I got "wind mitigation structure improvements," that would be single strap-over fasteners for each truss to the top-of-wall poured concrete tie-beam and a secondary water barrier of adhesive stick-down sheeting. Those improvements, along with impact-rated (Miami-Dade Co. Product Approval) doors and windows are supposed to earn me a big % reduction in my wind-only insurance premium. I didn't do anything but function as a sidewalk superintendent.

One thing I recently got which I believe is helping me daily is a Teeter inversion table. When I get up in the a.m., I put on the coffee and I spend some time like a bat, hanging upside down. I do a bit of sit-ups getting roughly parallel with the floor from my pelvis-up. The amount of time I'm varying my position from normal upright positioning on the table, to parallel with the ground/floor, to being head-down/feet-up is probably < 10 minutes. I change my position frequently, and when I get-off the table, my lumbar/sacral back feels 'looser' and gives me less pain. I've also lost 25 lbs. by dieting, and that also has helped me, that is ongoing, to lose more. We have free weights, a treadmill, a recumbent bicycle and the Teeter inversion table. They only benefit you if you use them, what I tell myself if I am thinking of skipping a day.

More compatible ergonomic-friendly tools can be a part of making things easier to accomplish, thanks to all who post their better ideas for working tools.

 

[400m]

I’m gonna just keep this as a running arthritis help thread.

My Wiha screwdrivers are an absolute joy to put in the hand. I haven’t used them yet but they definitely are easier to grip.

I have three Knipex pliers on the way. The forged wire strippers, the 8” twin grip pliers, and the 10” Cobra pliers all in comfort grip.
Hopefully I’ll have the 10” CoBolt bolt cutters soon.

Last week I pulled old buried cable out of my lawn because I got tired of old snipped ends sticking up. It’s what prompted my Knipex order.

Are the 8” high leverage diagonal pliers large enough to cut old buried cable and coax line without too much joint stress? Or do I really need the 10” diagonals, or do you recommend something else?

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

My Wiha screwdrivers are an absolute joy to put in the hand.

I'd noticed they are of larger diameter than others, perhaps this helps.

Are the 8” high leverage diagonal pliers large enough to cut old buried cable and coax line without too much joint stress? Or do I really need the 10” diagonals, or do you recommend something else?

If this is any domestic electrical cable, 8" will do it easy, and coax TV line will be a doddle.

I considered the 10" a while back and concluded they'd be so cumbersome I wouldn't use them much. This post I found made the point well:

8” gives the best combo of size vs leverage, IMHO, and belive me, ive tried experimenting. Its basically the sweet spot of having handles long enough that will maximize how much your hand will comfortably open and close. If you go bigger, say 10”, youll find you’ll wind up holding the handles in the same spot as an 8” pair. If you go smaller, youll find yourself holding the handles at the very edge, and having to use more strength to cut hard stuff cause you lost some leverage with the shorter handles.

Note that Knipex have a new version of their 10" high leverage with a revised joint design, requiring 20% less hand force. The part numbers are the same, so it might be tricky with online retailers to know which version you're getting.

The high leverage diagonal cutter (at 0:40) 74 series in size 200mm and 250mm (not on the website yet), has been updated with 20% more leverage. I expect the design will trickle down to smaller sizes. https://www.knipex.com/knipex-diagonal-cutter

Below is the old version. Notice the relative proportions of the head vs. handle length. However, leverage is a trade off, so I expect the new ones require more handle movement for the same amount of jaw opening.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Looks like I might have to invest in some new pliers and cutters! Thanks for that!

 

[rust in the eye]

Another guy with sore hands here. I've found that trilobular screwdriver handles are both comfortable and allow good "purchase" for tight fasteners.

 

[400m]

The tri lobed handles feel horrible to me. That’s why I chose the Wiha, they are octagonal. 20 years ago I discovered that the best fitting wood chisel handle shape for me was an octagon. That hasn’t changed. I tried the Wera and several others, they are not comfortable to me.

 

[ecotec]

I changed to the Wera Phillips screwdrivers (ph2 and ph1). They are really great and much more ergonomic in the hand.

I tried the slotted Wera screwdrivers for a while, but I went back to the Klein ones. I am pretty convinced, at this point, that the metric slotted screwdrivers are not ideal for electrical fittings and such.

As far as diagonal cutters, I tried the 10” Knipex ones about 10ish years ago. I went back to the D-2000 Kleins after a very short period. For the last couple weeks, I have been revisiting them. I like them well enough. They are my most used tool on this job, and they are heavier than the Kleins. I will admit to a certain degree of bias. I have been using D-2000’s for the vast majority of the last 32 years. I will probably go back to the Kleins.