[CAUT] Winter

[Fred Sturm]

I'm sure the masking tape works fine. I have a little different take  
on the problem. First, about hand creams, they can work, but only if  
you use them right. They need to get to those spots at the corners of  
the fingers, right next to the ends of the nails, where dry skin/ 
calluses build up this time of year. I apply some to just those areas,  
a dab on each, and leave it there for several minutes to soak in. Then  
I rub fingertips together to work it in more. I keep the cream in my  
car and do this while I am driving (well, I put it on when I am  
stopped, and leave it on when I am driving <G>), as it is a time when  
I can leave those dabs on the fingers and not get them on keytops or  
wherever else my fingers are moving. On the steering wheel, the  
fingertips can stay out of contact.
	When splits happen, I use bandage tape. First I put a dab of hand  
cream on the area, then the tape to cover it (there are several kinds,  
thicknesses, colors). I'm sure masking tape works just as well, but  
bandage tape is far less likely to get strange looks from customers  
<G>, and feels better to me. But the key is that you are keeping the  
natural moisture in your fingers, allowing it to build up from within  
faster than it evaporates out.
	Prevention: rubber/latex/whatever gloves for any work that puts your  
hands in water or solvents.
	This has been a real problem for me as a pianist. Those splits hurt  
when playing.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu



On Dec 12, 2008, at 12:18 PM, Ron Nossaman wrote:

>
> 'Tis the season for the reminder. Tired of leaving blood on the keys  
> wherever you go from last month through March and beyond?
>
> Hand creams are for the most part a waste of time. If they work for  
> you, it's because you don't have a real problem. They don't work for  
> me, and feel creepy. So what does work? There are two kinds of  
> people, those who don't believe this, and those who have tried it.
>
> Masking tape, the cheap garden variety stuff. Just tape, nothing  
> else. Tape holds the split together, halting it's propagation  
> immediately. It holds in blood well enough too, until the finger  
> stops bleeding. Then it holds in the natural moisture of the skin,  
> softening the edges of the split until it can heal up. It's also a  
> good buffer, so you can go back to beating on those keys immediately  
> after taping a new split, without discomfort. Change the tape when  
> it looks too ratty, but leave some on for a couple of days. When you  
> finally take it off, the finger is healed enough to abuse further  
> without taking any unnecessary precautions with it. If you tape up  
> abused fingers before starting, it will prevent the split in the  
> first place, otherwise it's an after the fact fix that gets you back  
> to work immediately.
>
> For occasional radical therapy, make hamburger patties. Nothing  
> soothes hurt meat like dead meat. Rinse off afterward, but no soap.  
> Let it soak in for a couple of hours as you digest your burger, and  
> don't play with the ferret.
>
> Tip #2:
> Stepping out on an icy porch in nice warm shoes is a really good way  
> to initiate a quick and memorable study in piano tuner ballistics.  
> Stand there for a few seconds until the soles of your shoes chill  
> down and it won't be nearly as slippery.
>
> We now return to our regularly scheduled whatever.
> Ron N
>