Why stainless steel tweezers

Stainless steel tweezers are the best pick over the nickel or alloy ones. This metal is suitable to the skin and guards against any skin infections. It also remains stainless and does not rust. It is also very strong and durable. Get your stainless tweezer now!

How to use tweezers properly

Steps

  1. Begin with prepping your skin.
  2. Prepping the tweezers could help reduce the pain as well.
  3. Then, with a spiral brush gently sweep your brows upwards.
  4. Once done, take a pair of eyebrow scissors and trim the extras.
  5. For the plucking procedure, grab the hair right from the roots in one swift pull.

A little more history

The word tweezer comes from etwee which describes a small case that people would use to carry small objects (such as toothpicks) with them. Etwee takes its origin from French étui "small case" from the Old French verb estuier, "to hold or keep safe." Over time, the object now known as "tweezers" took on this name because the tool was commonly found in these tiny carrying cases. Eventually, the word "tweeze" was accepted as a verb in the English language.

There is even evidence of Roman shipbuilders pulling nails out of construction with plier-type pincers. How interesting is that!

A little history

In honor of black history month, I thought that it would be interesting to take a closer look at the history of tweezers.

When was the tweezer invented?

There are drawings of Egyptian craftsmen holding hot pots over ovens with a double-bow shaped tool. Asiatic tweezers, consisting of two strips of metal brazed together, were commonly used in Mesopotamia and India from about 3000 BC, perhaps for purposes such as catching lice.

They have been used to grab or hold hot objects since the dawn of recorded history. In a scientific or medical context they are normally referred to as forceps.

Next week I’ll cover how it got its name

Manufacturing

I liked this article from decades ago. Elwyn Harp was the manufacturer who got the tweezer business on the market on bigger scale. My grandpa was selling by word of mouth and making the tweezers in his basement. See article for more details and for a picture of Harp!

Don't forget!

Don't forget about the holiday special. It is still going on until the 10th!

HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Every 5 tweezers bought, you get 1 for free!

Remember that upon CHECKOUT the free tweezer WILL NOT SHOW, but worry not! The extra tweezer(s) will be shown on the invoice and in the package!

There is also a BONUS for orders over 20. That would normally be 4 free tweezers, but for every 20 I will add an extra 2 into that order. So if you order twenty, you will receive 26. If you order 40, you will receive 52 and so on! Ends January 10th.

Happy holidays!

Tick Kit

Here is a picture of what our main store offers. It is a tick kit that has all the essentials. Great preventative measure for Lyme Disease which I wrote about last week. Take care!

Lyme Disease

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is an infection caused by being bitten by an infected tick. The first and typical symptom is usually a rash that spreads out from the site of the tick bite. Left untreated, the germs (bacteria) can spread to other areas of the body.

What is Lyme disease and what causes it?

If a tick bites an animal carrying the bacteria that cause Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), the tick can also become infected. The tick can then transfer the bacteria to a human by biting them. Ticks can be found in any areas with deep or overgrown vegetation where they have access to animals to feed on.

What type of bacteria is Borrelia burgdorferi?

Borrelia burgdorferi is a bacterial species of the spirochete class of the genus Borrelia. B. burgdorferi exists in North America and Europe and is the predominant causative agent of Lyme disease. Borrelia species are considered diderm (double-membrane) bacteria rather than gram positive or negative.

How to remove a tick with tweezers:

Use our pin point precision tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.Pull upward with steady, even pressure. ...After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.

Splinter removal

Sterilize tweezers or needles with alcohol. To use tweezers to help remove the splinter, disinfect them with rubbing alcohol. This can remove bacteria that may cause infection to your skin.

  • You can get rubbing alcohol at pharmacies and many medical supply stores. Grocery stores and large retailers also sell rubbing alcohol.

Employ a magnifying glass and good lighting. One thing to consider is using a magnifying glass when removing the splinter. This may help you see the splinter more clearly and reduce the risk of injuring your skin further. In addition, make sure you remove the splinter in a well-lit area to help you see it better.

 Break and lift the skin over the splinter. Using your pin point precision tweezer, break and lift the skin flap that rests over the splinter. This can help you more easily grab the splinter and remove it more quickly.

  • If you have to dig deeply to break the skin or see the splinter, consider going to the hospital or your doctor to reduce your risk of injury.
  • Breaking the skin and lifting the skin should expose the tip of the splinter.

Grasp the splinter with tweezers. Once you’ve exposed the splinter’s tip, grasp it with your tweezers. Gently pull out the splinter.

  • Pull out the splinter at the same angle that it entered your skin.
  • If you have to dig deeply with your tweezers to get at the splinter, you may want to see your doctor to remove it.
  • If the tip of the splinter breaks off, you may need to either see a doctor or try re-grasping it with your tweezers.
  • You can generally remove splinters that entered the skin horizontally and are fully exposed by opening the skin with a sterile needle and flicking it out.

Squeeze the wound gently. When you’ve successfully removed the splinter, gently squeeze it until you see some blood (if it’s deep enough to bleed). This will wash out germs from the wound.

  • Don’t be too vigorous. If the wound doesn’t bleed, you can use other methods to clean out any germs and bacteria, including antibacterial ointment.

Disinfect the area. Wash the area where the splinter was after you’ve taken it out of your skin. This can clean any lingering bacteria and germs in the wound. Afterwards, apply an anti-bacterial ointment.

  • You can use a mild soap and water or an anti-bacterial wash to disinfect the affected area.
  • Pat the area dry with a towel. Don’t rub, which can irritate your skin.
  • Apply an antibiotic ointment. Put an antibacterial ointment on the area g up to twice per day. This can minimize the risk of infection on the affected area.
  • Purchase an antibiotic ointment such as bacitracin, neomycin, or polymyxin B. Many brands will put the three into one product and call it “triple antibiotic ointment.”
  • Cover the area with a bandage if you like.
  • Use the ointment as indicated on the packaging.
  • You can by antibiotic ointments at most pharmacies and some grocery stores.

Watch for signs of infection. If you start to experience any signs of infection from the site on which you removed the splinter, see your doctor immediately. She can prescribe a course of treatment and remove and lingering bits of the splinter that you were not able to see. Signs of an infection include:

  • Drainage from the site
  • Pain
  • Redness or red streaks on the area
  • Fever

Black Oxide

I gave you the letters from Dessert Storm, so I thought that I would show you an article that was in a Hartford newspaper about shipping it there! We sent our black Oxide tweezers, so that they wouldn't reflect the sunlight alerting other soldiers of their whereabouts.

An Uncle Bill Story!

With all these new interesting national celebration days like pirate day and toilet day (yes toilet day), I forgot about national grandparents day back in September. Though my grandparents are gone, I still think of them often. Especially “Uncle Bill!”

I still remember the first time that I saw my grandfather’s work room for the tweezers down in his basement. It was a tiny room behind the stair case and next to the extra freezer. I’d always wondered what was behind that closed door.

As we walked through the door there was so much metal in the room on ever shelf and the small table, yet everything was in order. He let me make my own tweezer that day which, for an eight year old, was the most exciting thing ever! He did the bending of the mental, but I cut the tip with the hacksaw.

At this point, the tweezers were already being produced by El Mar. Co, but my grandfather was very much a part of the production. Once he died in 2000, my parents would travel to Connecticut from California to make sure that things were up to par, while also visiting family.

The business was just a hobby for my grandfather after retirement; he was an engineer who loved the many wonders of life. I think that he would really enjoy seeing how the business has continued on the way it has. We sell all the way to Japan from the US and many countries in between like South Korea, Australia, France, and more. He was an amazing man and I will never forget the fun times we had.

Holiday special

HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Every 5 tweezers bought, you get 1 for free!

Squarespace, the site that I set up my website through is not set up for specials like this, but I still wanted to offer it. So upon checkout the free tweezer will not show, but worry not! The extra tweezer(s) will be shown on the invoice and in the package!

There is also a BONUS for orders over 20. That would normally be 4 free tweezers, but for every 20 I will add an extra 2 into that order. So if you order twenty, toy will receive 26. If you order 40, you will receive 52 and so on! Happy holidays!

Pluck with less pain!

Once you've got your tweezers out, it's time to get busy. But don't start plucking without some preparation. First, you want open pores so hairs can be more easily removed. A warm shower or bath beforehand can help with that to make your skin relaxed and soft. Don’t have a lot of time? That’s fine too. Place a hot washcloth on your face for a few minutes. You should also prepare the tweezers. Some beauty experts recommend placing tweezers in the freezer before you use them. The cold metal numbs the skin as you pluck, reducing pain.

Proper technique is extremely important. Use a spiral brush to shape your brow and get hairs into place. Next, if needed, use brow scissors to trim longer hairs, checking for equal balance and proportion as you work. Now you're ready to start plucking. Grab each hair at the root and pull smoothly in the direction of hair growth. Remember: Don't use tweezers to remove hair over large areas because it can cause ingrown hairs or scarring. And consider applying a soothing cream after tweezing to reduce redness and inflammation.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope that the chocolate hangover isn't too bad! :-) Here is a picture of spooky nail art that you might want to consider for next year. You can use the tweezers to get perfect placement.

House Cleaning With Tweezers

Tweezers are an important staple for any at-home first aid kit. But they have many uses.

Remove cracked eggshells when cooking.
Broken shells fall into the bowl? Use a tweezer to pull it out. It is less messy and tweezers are easy to clean.

 Pull hair and more from the shower drain.
Afraid of the mystery gunk stuck deep inside the drain? With tweezers you don’t have to gu your hands up with whatever buildup is down there. Phew!

 Grab crumbs from under stove burners.
Not only is it safer than using your fingers (ouch!), it keeps your kitchen smoke-free.

Tighten loose screws on your glasses.
Don't have a miniature screwdriver on hand? The point is just small enough to work.

Pluck pesky animal hairs off sweaters and coats.
Unfortunately that lint roller doesn't always get every last strand. Tweezers will help get the ones that won’t budge with a roller alone.

Thread a needle.
Tweezers are really convenient when you have to pull a tricky thread through a needle's eye.

 Help kids improve fine motor skills.
Using tweezers can help increase your little one's hand and finger strength, shoulder and elbow stability, and grasping techniques.

Untangle necklaces.
Sometimes delicate chains are too small to untwist with hands alone. Tweezers can really help.

Other at home uses: Beauty:

Apply false eyelashes.
It’s hard to get the precise application, but with tweezers it makes it easier and you'll avoid sticky fingers from the glue.

 Design a fancy manicure.
Ready to up your nail art game? Use a pair to decorate your tips with rhinestones, striping tape, or studs. You can use the same technique for adding small beads to your crafts, or stickers to your scrapbooks, too.