Sounds funny, I know. But one of our most frustrating “tools” on the boat has been nail clippers and emery boards.
We have had clippers rust at an alarming rate, going through at least one pair and generally two a year. It’s bad enough when rust is on the handle, but when the cutting blades rust, the clippers are pretty much useless. We’ve tried keeping them wrapped in an oily rag, in a plastic bag, with desiccant and numerous other things. Dave has tried sharpening them to keep the blade part rust-free. Nothing has really worked.
Emery boards quickly succumb to humid air with several problems: they get soft and turn black with mold. Admittedly, it’s not expensive to buy a 6-pack, but frustrating to need one and not have a decent one. Plus, I hate waste.
A little over a year ago I decided to see if there were better products out there . . . without spending a fortune.
Guess what? There are. Stainless finger- and toenail clippers. A glass (of all things) nail file that is holding up beautifully (I am careful not to drop it and to wedge it between other items for storage so it won’t get broken underway, but no chips or breaking so far). We’ve used them over a year, full-time, on the boat. And they’re working much, much better than anything else we’ve tried in 10+ years of living aboard.
So I had to share . . . Available on Amazon at reasonable prices — far less than I’ve spent on multiples that I had to throw out:
- Tweezerman Stainless Steel Fingernail Clippers
- Tweezerman Stainless Steel Toenail Clippers
- Czech Glass Nail File
For the record — no, I don’t have manicured nails on the boat. But that doesn’t mean I don’t need nail care tools!
Here’s your “Quick Start” to everything you need to know when living on a boat:
And check out our other courses and products
Tracy Mazzeo says
I’ve had one of these glass files for many years, and it has held up beautifully! I think it works much better than an Emory board too. Seeing this post reminded me I wanted to purchase another one just in case!
The Boat Galley says
I’m loving mine!
Sue says
I just got some of these nail clipper. They are life changing. Incredibly sharp and stainless.
Green Bell
Green Bell G-1008 Nail Clipper (Takumi No Waza) http://amzn.to/2pwtA4g
Rosalind Franks says
I’ve had tweezerman clippers on the boat for 3 years and they still look brand new. Definitely worth a few extra bucks! The link you posted to Amazon is a much better deal than what I paid for them at the local store
Trish Vitaz says
I have had my glass nail files for years!! It’s the only thing I’ll ever use again. Unlike other files, you can “seesaw” file your nails with them without damaging your nails. I even bought them as gifts for everyone attending our daughter’s wedding. But, watch out, the quality varies.