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A Typing Aid for Arthritic Hands.

Project by Dick, & Barb Cain posted 369 days ago 626 views 0 times favorited 20 comments Add to Favorites Watch

I posted this in my Blog quite awhile ago,

but I just discovered that I hadn’t posted it as a project.

This tool is used as an extra finger, that won’t get tired, or sore.

I thought it would be nice to show it here, for those who may have missed the blog.


Her Arthritic fingers get painful for her, & she has to type with one finger, & even that gets painful.

One day I told her I’d try to alleviate that problem, so I went out,

& cut a branch the appropriate size, & commenced making her this “typing aid”.

The device has stood up to a great deal of rigorous usage for the past two years, & Barb just loves it.

If she happens to misplace it, it’s like losing the TV remote.

I carved this from a piece of a small Birch tree.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1


20 comments so far

View John Stegall's profile

John Stegall

210 posts in 409 days


posted 369 days ago

Good idea!!! I hope it makes it easier for the user.

-- jstegall

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14161 posts in 1053 days


posted 369 days ago

you inspire me, Dick and Barb. Not only because of the creativity and craftsmanship but also because of your loving partnership.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Karson's profile

Karson

25795 posts in 1293 days


posted 369 days ago

Dick. I remember it as a blog and I’m glad that it gets great use. But I’m not glad that it has to be used.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7602 posts in 1111 days


posted 369 days ago

Can youmake one of those that will help me type without looking? :-)

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7034 posts in 1192 days


posted 369 days ago

Thanks to all of you.

Charlie, I’ll have to pass that idea onto our research & development team. <(:O)#

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

14915 posts in 743 days


posted 369 days ago

Dick, you should patent that one. Obviously it works well if Barb has trouble without it. Great idea.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

View Dominic Vanacora's profile

Dominic Vanacora

504 posts in 762 days


posted 368 days ago

Necessity of the mother of invention.
Creative ideas come from great men….

-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida...Lets be safe out there.

View lightweightladyleftie's profile

lightweightladyleftie

413 posts in 605 days


posted 368 days ago

Dick,

That looks like a great idea. Could you take it a little further and come up with one for me to use to play the piano when my fingers hurt too much? I could use one often for the left hand, middle finger. Got any ideas?

-- "But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 767 days


posted 368 days ago

Very nice Dick. I have to echo what Ms Deb says: it is just great to see an obviously wonderful relationship with you and Barb. You set a fine example.

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7034 posts in 1192 days


posted 368 days ago

Hi everybody, & Thanks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ lightweightladyleftie, When using this tool, you actually have an extra finger,

so you just pretend that the tool is your middle finger.

If you use this on a piano, you may want to put a rubber eraser tip on it, so it won’t slip off the keys.

The computer keys are concave, so it doesn’t seem to slip on them.

I just changed the images so you can see the shape of it better.

If you make one for a lefty, you carve the flat area for your thumb the opposite way.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View jockmike2's profile (online now)

jockmike2

7299 posts in 1139 days


posted 368 days ago

I remember this from before Dick, it was a great idea then and still is. This could be useful to a lot of people. Thanks. My mom had ole arthur so bad she could have used it.

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7034 posts in 1192 days


posted 368 days ago

Thank you Mike,

The reason I posted it now is, because of all the new Jocks may not have seen the Blog.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6438 posts in 875 days


posted 367 days ago

sweet posting and way to use your creativity !

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7034 posts in 1192 days


posted 367 days ago

Thank you Dan!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View Jiri Parkman's profile

Jiri Parkman

604 posts in 705 days


posted 362 days ago

Dick and Barb
That is perect, maybe everybody of us could produce something like that for somebody who needs it.
Thanks.

-- Jiri

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7034 posts in 1192 days


posted 362 days ago

You’re Welcome Jeri!

This is a simple, & cheap solution, to help anyone with this handicap.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View mmh's profile

mmh

1381 posts in 615 days


posted 137 days ago

Hey, I think you’re on to something here! I’ve seen rubber tips used for massage therapy tools that may fit the end of the skinny branch if you need something to prevent slipage. Or, you could find a large pencil eraser that may fit. Great idea.

That’s so sweet of you to make this for her. Smart, talented and thoughtful! I think you’re a “keeper”!

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7034 posts in 1192 days


posted 137 days ago

Thank you mmh!

I tried the eraser, but it didn’t change the operating much.

Here’s a previous answer.

lightweightladyleftie, When using this tool, you actually have an extra finger,

so you just pretend that the tool is your middle finger.

If you use this on a piano, you may want to put a rubber eraser tip on it, so it won’t slip off the keys.

The computer keys are concave, so it doesn’t seem to slip on them.

I just changed the images so you can see the shape of it better.

If you make one for a lefty, you carve the flat area for your thumb the opposite way.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View LouJC's profile

LouJC

12 posts in 100 days


posted 52 days ago

Dick and Barb
Thanks, I will have one of those before the day is done. My hands hurt like heck by then, so generaly I don’t even turn the computer on, maybe I will today :).
Thanks Again
Lou

-- Lou - Maine

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7034 posts in 1192 days


posted 52 days ago

I know you’ll like this tool Lou,

Barb has been using this for almost 3 years now, & it still works great for her.

She can’t seem to wear it out. <(:O}#

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

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