Broken thumbnail

[stevec]

I've just torn my right hand thumb nail and need some advice on what to make a false nail from. I suffer from psoriasis which sometimes makes my nails ridge and spoon, especially my thumbnails. So I don't have a nice smooth surface on which to glue anything. Any ideas? I've only just got back into playing again and I don't need this kind of setback.

[Vesavekkuli]

There are nail-repair kits on the market, but I just don't remember their names - someone will probably know and advice you. I broke my right hand thumpnail - badly - a couple of week ago - I glued it with superglue on top of which I put a thick layer of epox. I should have used some silk or anything with the clue, but I could play though. Anyway, last weekend we went balling (is that the word when you try to hit the "bottles" with a ball with holes where you put three fingers?) Anyway, don't go to do this sports if you are a guitarist! Of course I had too much fun and came home with totally ruined thumpnail!

[robin loops]

viewtopic.php?f=87&t=67742

[Pete Morrison]

Nightmare scenario. Took me nearly three weeks to grow my thumbnail back after breaking it doing some gardening work. I was tempted to take the opportunity to just cut all my nails down and try with skin for a while Think i will do that next time it happens.

[robin loops]

And an advantage of cutting them down and starting from scratch is that as they grow you can experiment with minor variations in the shape and as they get longer you'll find the exact length that works best. Once in a while when I feel I'm not getting the most out of my nail shape and length I cut them very short and do this.

Also, about shortening a damaged nail: it's tempting to try and salvage as much nail as possible, often leaving a small portion of damaged nail intact. Problem is that this causes a weak point in the nail and it is more susceptible to cracking, breaking, splitting etc. The best thing to do is remove every bit of damage and then a tiny bit more to insure the nail grows out strong and healthy, as quickly as possible.

[stevec]

Unfortunately I was not able to retain the broken off part of the nail so I need to manufacture a new nail end. I guess for this time I'll wait for the nail to grow back but have some repair material at hand for when it happens again.

[Pete Morrison]

Ive read somewhere that pingpong ball material is an ideal nail substitute. Sounds very plausible. I wonder if anyone else here has heard/tried that?

[stevec]

Ping pong balls acquired and substitute nail now on. I just put a crescent moon shaped piece of plastic under what little nail I had left (about 1mm) and then laid over some tissue and superglue (I don't have any nail silk). Left it for half an hour and filed it down. I'm most impressed.

[Pete Morrison]

Excellent
Glad the advice was useful. Let us know how you get on with it.

[-Theanimal-]

Out of curiosity, has anybody tried using pingpong ball material to replace the other broken nails? I tend to break my i and a nails because of work ever so often..

[LVR]

Theanimal, can I suggest you do a search for ping pong ball delcamp? You will find many many discussions of this technique.

[LizNicks]

"I've just torn my right hand thumb nail and need some advice on what to make a false nail from. I suffer from psoriasis which sometimes makes my nails ridge and spoon, especially my thumbnails. So I don't have a nice smooth surface on which to glue anything. Any ideas? I've only just got back into playing again and I don't need this kind of setback."

Steve, I smashed my right thumb nail several months ago and like you - suffer from psoriasis and other autoimmune issues that, in my case, dramatically affects the my nails. I'm still without a thumbnail (the white nail part I mean , the base finally grew back over the winter). I bought Alaskan Pics - and each and every time I play, I tape on the Pic with 3M medical tape - as long as I tape the Pic at the correct angle - the solution works very well and sounds just as loud as a good thumbnail.

[stevec]

Hi Liz,
Nice to hear from a fellow psoriasis sufferer (psoriatic arthritis in my case). The ping pong ball section under the nail was partially successful. It is very prone to impact damage and coming off again. I'm still waiting for my nail to get a decent length and I've had to glue the section back twice already and need to do it again today. There's so little surface under the nail to glue to.

Do you find that your nails hook downwards on occasion? What do you do in that instance. Currently my fingernails are in comparitively good condition. They are thin but at least they are straight. Thumb nails not so good but the better one is on the right hand fortunately. I wish I knew what caused this spooning and ridging.

I hope your thumb recovers soon. It's surprising what we subject out hands to. We only realise it when it's crucial to something we do.

[AsturiasFan]

Sounds like you are a good candidate for Rico Nails, which shouldn't damage your nails any further. On of my guitar heroes Douglas Niedt recommends them. There's also Guitar Player Nails. However, since GPN uses an industrial strength super glue if it breaks off your nails are in worse shape, but supposedly its strong enough not to. Then there's acrylics but a lot of people say it ruins their nails.

[Lovemyguitar]

Anyway, last weekend we went balling (is that the word when you try to hit the "bottles" with a ball with holes where you put three fingers?)

The English word is "bowling." Glad you had fun!