"Gentle" forceps recommendations?

katamari

Arachnopeon
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Nov 3, 2024
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I was hoping I could get some advice on what kind of forceps are best for handling soft feeders like small crickets, mealworms, etc without accidentally crushing them.

I have some issues with strength & fine motor control in my hands at times, and I struggle to maintain the balance between "oh crap I dropped another one" and "oh look it's not moving anymore."

Is there a particular style of grabber that might work well for me? My clumsy self thanks you
 

Brewser

AraneaeRebel
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Maybe You could 'Cup and Pour' the Prey into the Enclosure with more success.
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
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Old medical trick. Slip rubber tubing of varying lengths and varying softness over the ends of the forceps. From ambulances to micro surgery suites they give added control of the crushing force without damaging nerves, blood vessels etc. Many surgeons have their own preferred methods and uses.
And don't forget there are hundreds of different shapes of forceps other than the straight jaw 6 inch Kelly's commonly available to the public. From around 2 inch to about 20 inch in every imaginable curve, bend and where they close.
Slip a short length of surgical tubing over both jaws back near the pivot for spring loaded closing.

A visiting ophthalmic surgeon had me precision bend over 20 forceps in a few degree increments from almost straight to over 90 degrees. Requires a precision torch heated to dull red., bent and then polished. Very fussy fiddly work but he was delighted with them.
 
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katamari

Arachnopeon
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Nov 3, 2024
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Thanks for the suggestions - the trick with the tubing sounds perfect!
 

The Snark

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I am having trouble picturing what you mean (yea, I can be a bit slow....) can you post a picture.
Surgical tubing comes in varying sizes. So snipping off an inch or so of the small tube and slipping over the tip of each of the jaws gives them a soft cushion effect. For spring closing the forceps slip a single length of tubing over both jaws all the way down near or over the pivot so they are spring loaded.

Cushion
1732376634101.png

Spring loaded.
1732376382950.png
 

bwhatch22

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oh yea! that should work for what I need. I could actually extend the tube past the end of the forceps so I am grabbing the roaches with just rubber. I am currently feeding 75 slings 3 times a week and the catch cup and pour method works good but is pretty time consuming. this should be faster.

p.s. to everybody tempted at this point to explain to me I could just kill the roaches and feed the slings.....I know that :) just trying to feed live as much as possible.
 

The Snark

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oh yea! that should work for what I need. I could actually extend the tube past the end of the forceps so I am grabbing the roaches with just rubber.
That's what physicians do. They get really creative with their instruments. They all have their own techniques. Doc Eric, eye surgeon, had me sharpen and bend a couple hundred. Had to hit up the path lab doc for use of his microscope to hone some of them.
And don't get stung on the prices. My Kellys cost $35 from a surgical supply house. But I've seen virtually identical ones for $1.50 each.

Ultra creative. Doc G at the Ralph in San Francisco. Hand specialist, Had BMEs engineer a device that was clamped to his operating table in his office. Put the patient's entire forearm in the device and close it, held ultra rigid. Then he had an array of a couple hundred scalpels. clamps, hooks and you name it, many customized.
All about carpal tunnel release operations where he would make a small incision, patient arm under local anesthetic, reach inside, often behind the tendons, and make micro incisions. He could do a carpal tunnel syndrome release in his office in 10 to 15 minutes saving his patients thousands of $$$.
My middle finger had a blown synovial sheath. Couldn't fully contract or extend it. Clamped my arm, did a nerve block, about five minutes of adept fiddling and I walked out with full use of the finger. No charge, he just wanted to demo his devices.
Well, almost no charge. He had me hot rod his flasher sterilizer. Put in some heating coils that dimmed to lights in his office. I think it was about 8000 watts. 5 minutes to sterilize all his instruments. https://www.mcmaster.com/products/heating-elements/heating-elements-for-electric-water-heaters/
 
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Glorfindel

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Feb 15, 2024
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surgical precision with proper tools is always beneficial to both spider and keeper, good luck.
 
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