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What to use to prevent stepping on nails

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man...@toolshed.com

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Sep 23, 2013, 4:11:46 AM9/23/13
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It's been years since I stepped on a nail, but it happened again. When
I'm working on a project, I never leave boards laying around with nails
sticking up. I either remove them, bend them over, or at least stick
them in the ground for a brief time. If I have a pile of used naily
boards that I intend to reuse, I stuck them out of the way, where I know
they wont get under foot, and still try to point the nails downward.

But the problem is that other people leave them in dangerous places. I
was recently salvaging some lumber from a demolition. The house had
been crushed, and was piled next to a garage which I had permission to
salvage the garage lumber. In many places I had to literally walk on
the debris from the crushed house, and was very careful to watch my
steps for nails. I've done this many times and never stepped on one.
But someone had left a board with spikes laying on the lawn, which had
not been mowed in months. It could not be seen, and one of those damn
spikes went right in my foot, which lead to a severe puncture wound as
well as a sprained ankle, because when the nail went in, I fell down.

The foot is healing, although slowly. That's after several visits to
the doctor antibiotics, pain pills and an ankle splint, plus several
days lost from work and having to use crutches for a few days, not to
mention the pain.

I keep thinking that this will be the last time I step on a nail, but
I've come to the conclusion that no person can be careful enough,
particularly when working away from home where some other idiot left a
naily board under lawn grass or a tarp or a million other hidden places.

This got me thinking and asking if there is any sort of shoe insert
manufactured that will prevent a nail from going into the foot? I do
not know of any shoe or boot sole that is strong enough to prevent a
nail from going thru. I guess a sturdy leather is better than tennis
shoes or some plastic sole, but still, a nail can and will go thru.
Steel toed shoes only protect the toes, and actually a nail in the toe
area is far less painful than in the mid-foot or heel. Plus the nail
might go between the toes (I was lucky enough to do that once).

Anyhow, unless there is a special shoe made for this purpose which I am
not aware of, do they make some sort of steel inserts to put inside of
shoes? I'm thinking of cutting some from some heavy gauge steel,
putting them in my shoes, and putting a foam pad over them. This is not
that difficult to do, but before I "reinvent the wheel", I thought I'd
ask if there is something already made for this purpose.

Thanks

notbob

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Sep 23, 2013, 7:36:58 AM9/23/13
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On 2013-09-23, man...@toolshed.com <man...@toolshed.com> wrote:

>
> Anyhow, unless there is a special shoe made for this purpose which I am
> not aware......

Usta be, you could buy army surplus Vietnam jungle boots, the one's
with the canvas upper. Since there was an ever present danger of
simple nails-in-a-board cong booby traps, they started making those
boots with a metal plate in the bottom. At least that's how I
remember it. Whether or not those surplus jungle boots are still
being made with said metal plate, --or even at ally-- I cannot say,
but it may be worth exploring.

nb

notbob

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Sep 23, 2013, 7:43:02 AM9/23/13
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> being made with said metal plate, --or even at all-- I cannot say,
> but it may be worth exploring.

Well, whattya know, first web search reveals:

http://www.armysurpluswarehouse.com/clothing/footwear/jungle-boot.html

Note the "Spike Protective" in the description.

nb --king of the web! ;)

CRNG

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Sep 23, 2013, 7:55:40 AM9/23/13
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On Mon, 23 Sep 2013 03:11:46 -0500, man...@toolshed.com wrote in
<knsv39h3mg4k0p8qb...@4ax.com> Re What to use to prevent
stepping on nails:

>This got me thinking and asking if there is any sort of shoe insert
>manufactured that will prevent a nail from going into the foot?

Found some insoles here http://unequal.com/foot but it says
"fortified" with Kevlar. What does "fortified" really mean: 1%
Kevlar?
I wouldn't trust it much.

OTOH, here is a wholesaler of inserts:
http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/kevlar-insole.html
so someone must be using them. Note the above are Chinese wholesalers
so maybe you can get info about retailers from them by email.
--
Web based forums are like subscribing to 10 different newspapers
and having to visit 10 different news stands to pickup each one.
Email list-server groups and USENET are like having all of those
newspapers delivered to your door every morning.

Frank

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Sep 23, 2013, 8:13:07 AM9/23/13
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On 9/23/2013 7:55 AM, CRNG wrote:
> On Mon, 23 Sep 2013 03:11:46 -0500, man...@toolshed.com wrote in
> <knsv39h3mg4k0p8qb...@4ax.com> Re What to use to prevent
> stepping on nails:
>
>> This got me thinking and asking if there is any sort of shoe insert
>> manufactured that will prevent a nail from going into the foot?
>
> Found some insoles here http://unequal.com/foot but it says
> "fortified" with Kevlar. What does "fortified" really mean: 1%
> Kevlar?
> I wouldn't trust it much.
>
> OTOH, here is a wholesaler of inserts:
> http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/kevlar-insole.html
> so someone must be using them. Note the above are Chinese wholesalers
> so maybe you can get info about retailers from them by email.
>

Have not researched it but I would go with safety shoes designed to be
puncture resistant:

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2006/07/punctureresistant-footwear-arch-nemesis-of-the-rusty-nail.aspx

Kevlar can increase cut resistance but you could drive a nail through a
Kevlar bullet proof vest.

Stormin Mormon

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Sep 23, 2013, 8:29:56 AM9/23/13
to
That sounds miserable. I think the term you're seeking is "steel shank
boot".
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_steel_shank_on_work_boots
What is the steel shank on work boots?
In: Clothing [Edit categories]
Answer:
What is a steel shank and when is it used?
This is a metal plate in the sole of the boot that makes it more
comfortable for a worker to stand for a long time on a narrow peg. It
provides extra support for the foot, and is used for climbing.

It can also serve a purpose for safety in that if you step on something
sharp that would normally puncture the book the steel shank stops it
from entering your foot

.
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

CRNG

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Sep 23, 2013, 8:49:14 AM9/23/13
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On 23 Sep 2013 11:43:02 GMT, notbob <not...@nothome.com> wrote in
<slrnl40ag9...@nbleet.hcc.net> Re Re: What to use to prevent
stepping on nails:
Well, the OP was looking for an "insert"; but IMO the above boot is a
better solution given the price. I wouldn't be surprised if inserts,
if you can find them, are around the price of the above boots.

Tony Hwang

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Sep 23, 2013, 9:00:00 AM9/23/13
to
Hi,
Sorry to hear that. Hope wound is healing, not infected.
There is no 110% safety measure, I am safety freak. Industrial work
boots or 'Nam era Jungle boots(maybe from surplus store?) which all has
steel sole plate embedded.

If there is loose nails in work area, I sweep with big magnet to collect
them. But it won't pick up Aluminum nails.

Tony Hwang

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Sep 23, 2013, 9:04:06 AM9/23/13
to
Stormin Mormon wrote:
> That sounds miserable. I think the term you're seeking is "steel shank
> boot".

Hi,
Any good quality shoes has shank. It does not cover whole bottom. It is
like a shaft to support sole. It is like back bone in our body.

willshak

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Sep 23, 2013, 9:09:01 AM9/23/13
to
Hope he had a tetanus shot recently or got one after the injury.

> There is no 110% safety measure, I am safety freak. Industrial work
> boots or 'Nam era Jungle boots(maybe from surplus store?) which all has
> steel sole plate embedded.
>
> If there is loose nails in work area, I sweep with big magnet to collect
> them. But it won't pick up Aluminum nails.


--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeros after @

dpb

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Sep 23, 2013, 9:37:13 AM9/23/13
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On 9/23/2013 3:11 AM, man...@toolshed.com wrote:
...

> was recently salvaging some lumber from a demolition. ...
...
> ... a board with spikes ... could not be seen, and one of those damn
> spikes went right in my foot, which lead to a severe puncture wound ...

...

I'm curious what you _were_ wearing for footgear (and other protection
as well, perhaps, during this expedition)?

--

Nate Nagel

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Sep 23, 2013, 10:32:44 AM9/23/13
to
Problem with "jungle boots" is that the soles wear out very quickly if
you walk a lot on rough concrete, brick, etc. Had a pair in college and
the soles were smooth in maybe 18 mos. I'm sure I got them at some army
surplus or other.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

The Daring Dufas

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Sep 23, 2013, 11:04:45 AM9/23/13
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When I read the OP's post, the picture of the "new" jungle boot popped
into my mind from the Popular Science magazine I read back during The
Vietnam War. ^_^

TDD

nestork

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Sep 23, 2013, 11:13:54 AM9/23/13
to

Any place that sells work boots will sell both steel toed, steel soled
as well as work boots with both a steel toe and steel sole.

My understanding of a "steel shank" in a work boot is that it's a short
narrow plate of steel that makes it more comfortable if you have to
stand on a steel ladder or steel pegs (such as those on a telephone
pole) for long periods of time. However, if they can put a steel shank
in the sole of a work boot, they can make that shank larger and call it
a steel sole work boot to protect the foot from stepping on something
sharp.

You should also be aware that people that work in meat packing plants
that use knives to cut up meat will wear gloves made of fine chain mail
to prevent cutting their hands. It may be possible to buy that chain
mail material from the manufacturer and cutting into the size and shape
of an insole. You could then use double sided tape to stick that chain
male insole to the bottom of an ordinary insole, and slip that into your
regular shoes.




--
nestork

Don Phillipson

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Sep 23, 2013, 2:23:39 PM9/23/13
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<man...@toolshed.com> wrote in message
news:knsv39h3mg4k0p8qb...@4ax.com...

> . . . someone had left a board with spikes laying on the lawn, which had
> not been mowed in months. It could not be seen, and one of those damn
> spikes went right in my foot, which lead to a severe puncture wound as
> well as a sprained ankle, because when the nail went in, I fell down.
>
> The foot is healing, although slowly.

Rx. bush worker boots, e.g. Forest brand by Acton (Quebec.)
They cost $150 to $200 and last about 10 years.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)


Stormin Mormon

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Sep 23, 2013, 6:36:55 PM9/23/13
to
Kevlar in boots are for newbies of a CCW.

.
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
.


"CRNG" <noe...@atthisdomain.gov> wrote in message
news:0aa049pn3to0fdoat...@4ax.com...

bob haller

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Sep 23, 2013, 7:14:23 PM9/23/13
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given the risks of stepping on a nail is it really worth it? at least as i get older i try to be more careful, at 56 i heal slower

Dean Hoffman

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Sep 23, 2013, 7:49:27 PM9/23/13
to
On 9/23/13 3:11 AM, man...@toolshed.com wrote:
> It's been years since I stepped on a nail, but it happened again. When
> I'm working on a project, I never leave boards laying around with nails
> sticking up. I either remove them, bend them over, or at least stick
> them in the ground for a brief time. If I have a pile of used naily
> boards that I intend to reuse, I stuck them out of the way, where I know
> they wont get under foot, and still try to point the nails downward.
>

Some cut.

> Anyhow, unless there is a special shoe made for this purpose which I am
> not aware of, do they make some sort of steel inserts to put inside of
> shoes? I'm thinking of cutting some from some heavy gauge steel,
> putting them in my shoes, and putting a foam pad over them. This is not
> that difficult to do, but before I "reinvent the wheel", I thought I'd
> ask if there is something already made for this purpose.
>
> Thanks
>

Not what you asked but might be worth a try. I guess workers who
stand on blacktop a lot during summer will fasten small pieces of wood
to their work boots. It would give you an excuse to use duct tape.

Stormin Mormon

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Sep 23, 2013, 9:46:26 PM9/23/13
to
It's like breakfast cereal. Means they added it, but
it doesn't do much.

.
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

>
> "CRNG" <noe...@atthisdomain.gov> wrote in message

Stormin Mormon

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Sep 23, 2013, 9:47:22 PM9/23/13
to
Yeah, leave it to the kids. Know what
you mean about old. Just passed 50.

.
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

Stormin Mormon

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Sep 23, 2013, 9:48:13 PM9/23/13
to
Now, that's a terrific idea. Love it. Summer asphalt
really can cook ones feetsies.

.
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

man...@toolshed.com

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Sep 24, 2013, 12:30:05 AM9/24/13
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On Mon, 23 Sep 2013 16:14:23 -0700 (PDT), bob haller <hal...@aol.com>
wrote:

>given the risks of stepping on a nail is it really worth it? at least as
>i get older i try to be more careful, at 56 i heal slower

I'm older than you and I am extremely careful. I heal slower too. But
when a naily board has grass growing over it, and cant be seen, it will
getcha. That's what happened to me. I just had on some cheap plastic
soled canvas shoes too. I tend to stay away from thick leather shoes in
hot weather, because they overheat my whole body. But if I ever do
another job where there may be a hidden nail, I will wear whatever
protects my feet. Nails in the foot are very painful. But the doctor
said it's healing, even though I still cant step on that part of the
foot.

dpb

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Sep 24, 2013, 8:30:53 AM9/24/13
to
On 9/23/2013 11:30 PM, man...@toolshed.com wrote:
...

> ... I just had on some cheap plastic soled canvas shoes too. ...

That's kinda' what I figured and why I asked -- too late now,
unfortunately, but just a really bad decision to not wear appropriate
footgear for the job...

Glad to hear it didn't turn out any worse than it did...

--

Harry K

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Sep 24, 2013, 11:43:21 AM9/24/13
to
Go to any decent shoe store and ask for a pair of safety work boots with a metal plate to prevent punctures as well as steel toe caps. I have a pair in my closet now.

Harry K

Tekkie®

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Oct 7, 2013, 9:04:17 PM10/7/13
to
nestork posted for all of us...

And I know how to SNIP
>
> You should also be aware that people that work in meat packing plants
> that use knives to cut up meat will wear gloves made of fine chain mail
> to prevent cutting their hands. It may be possible to buy that chain
> mail material from the manufacturer and cutting into the size and shape
> of an insole. You could then use double sided tape to stick that chain
> male insole to the bottom of an ordinary insole, and slip that into your
> regular shoes.

I would think the nails would pass through the
chain mail. Anyway I am not volunteering to test.

The original poster certainly got nailed...

--
Tekkie

cl...@snyder.on.ca

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Oct 7, 2013, 9:34:12 PM10/7/13
to
Steel shank boots
Chain mail works for cuts from knives, but almost torally ineffective
against nails. Kevlar fiber might work HKS uses it in their "nail
proof" shoes.

Higgs Boson

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Oct 7, 2013, 10:35:40 PM10/7/13
to
On Monday, September 23, 2013 1:11:46 AM UTC-7, man...@toolshed.com wrote:
> It's been years since I stepped on a nail, but it happened again. When
>
> I'm working on a project, I never leave boards laying around with nails
>
> sticking up. I either remove them, bend them over, or at least stick
>
> them in the ground for a brief time. If I have a pile of used naily
>
> boards that I intend to reuse, I stuck them out of the way, where I know
>
> they wont get under foot, and still try to point the nails downward.

>[...snip...]
> This is not that difficult to do, but before I "reinvent the wheel", I thought I'd ask if there is something already made for this purpose.

****Not that I know anything about the subject <g> but what about using shoes that are elevated over 4 "cleats" in each corner of the sole. IOW, you're walking on very low "stilts".

HB

Tekkie®

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Oct 9, 2013, 7:49:29 PM10/9/13
to

I just saw in a McFeelys catalog has insoles for
this.
--
Tekkie

nwel...@gmail.com

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Jun 8, 2017, 9:42:11 PM6/8/17
to
On Monday, September 23, 2013 at 3:11:46 AM UTC-5, man...@toolshed.com wrote:
> It's been years since I stepped on a nail, but it happened again. When
> I'm working on a project, I never leave boards laying around with nails
> sticking up. I either remove them, bend them over, or at least stick
> them in the ground for a brief time. If I have a pile of used naily
> boards that I intend to reuse, I stuck them out of the way, where I know
> they wont get under foot, and still try to point the nails downward.
>
> putting them in my shoes, and putting a foam pad over them. This is not
> that difficult to do, but before I "reinvent the wheel", I thought I'd
> ask if there is something already made for this purpose.
>
> Thanks


Hi, you might want to think about some sturdy work boots that are insulated (to keep you cool) with a steel shank, and maybe think about ANSI cut rated kevlar hockey socks. people think kevlar might work, and those socks are the real deal, but make sure it is rated at least 4, probably 5.

DerbyDad03

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Jun 8, 2017, 9:51:09 PM6/8/17
to
It's a good thing that you offered him that option. The OP hasn't taken a
step in 4 years due to his fear of stepping on nails. He can finally walk
again. Hallelujah!

songbird

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Jun 8, 2017, 11:26:56 PM6/8/17
to
DerbyDad03 wrote:
...
> It's a good thing that you offered him that option. The OP hasn't taken a
> step in 4 years due to his fear of stepping on nails. He can finally walk
> again. Hallelujah!

i jumped off the backend of a truck and landed on
a large nail once.

cut the board off and left the spike in my foot
with the piece of board on it and went to the docs.
got some good looks and conversations out of that in
the waiting room.

wasn't much blood and it healed up without
complications. the workboot they cut off my foot
didn't fare so well...


songbird

nwel...@gmail.com

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Jun 9, 2017, 9:57:37 PM6/9/17
to
Sorry I forgot about this before mentioning the kevlar socks, but get redwing boots with their puncture-resistant feature. other companies may have the same thing, and this is literally its purpose, to protect against sharp hazards underfoot.

nwel...@gmail.com

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Jun 9, 2017, 9:58:56 PM6/9/17
to

Bob F

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Jun 9, 2017, 11:13:05 PM6/9/17
to
On 6/8/2017 6:42 PM, nwel...@gmail.com wrote:

I saw a guy once step on a board as he walked over a pile of them in a
weird parking situation. The end he stepped on went down, the other end
came up, and a nail in the far end stuck solidly into his forehead.
Fortunately, a hospital was only 2 blocks away.
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