Small/pocket tools for coping with fine motor skill decline?

    • cer100
      October 12, 2017 at 8:33 pm

      As my treatment becomes less effective and motor skills are declining, I’ve reverted to many techniques from ages ago…zipper pulls, key turn aids, etc.

      My go to tools around home for jars, bottles, packages, bags, etc are knives, scissors, rubber jar grippers, maybe a screwdriver, slip joint pliers and groove joint pliers. But, I’m trying to find smaller pocket/belt pouch versions for when I’m out and about.

      A pocket knife and Swiss Army tool offers scissors and such including small slip joint pliers getting most things done. Opening water bottles is still a big issue though.

      Can’t find any small groove joint pliers and I can’t find any pocket multi tools that open jaws wide enough to open water bottle caps.

      Open to suggestions on something else to use or where to look.

    • GH
      October 13, 2017 at 12:19 am

      How about a Leatherman tool?

      Oh, you mean kike this:

      https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/crescent-4-in-groove-joint-pliers

    • GH
      October 13, 2017 at 12:55 am

      Strap wrenches work well also. Here’s a small one:

      http://www.truevalue.com/product/Mini-Strap-Wrench/7947.uts

    • cer100
      October 13, 2017 at 9:00 am

      That tractor supply one is the smallest Ive seen. Too bad it shows no shipping available and closest store in stock is 75 miles away.

      I have had a Leatherman for ages, long before ever hearing of CIDP. At least on the one I have, the jaws do not open enough to grip for turning leverage. Looked at SOG and Gerber, but possible models looked discontinued.

      A mini strap wrench…hmm, I’ll take a closer look at those.

      Thanks

    • GH
      October 13, 2017 at 1:05 pm

      Home Depot sells that Crescent tongue and groove plier:

      http://www.homedepot.com/p/Crescent-4-5-in-Tongue-and-Groove-Plier-RT24CVS/206738172

    • cer100
      October 13, 2017 at 8:18 pm

      Thanks GH. I’ll take a swing by and see how small they are and if they grip my typical water bottles. 3/4″ may be too small.

      By the time this CIDP is done with me, Im going to be wearing a Batman utility belt! LOL

    • GH
      October 13, 2017 at 9:46 pm

      This might be good just for bottles with screw lids:

    • jk
      October 16, 2017 at 6:15 pm

      I’ve had success asking people for help when I’m out and about. At home I use a tool such as: https://www.amazon.com/Rubber-Strap-Wrench-6-in/dp/B0002H338C/ref=sr_1_6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1508191810&sr=1-6&keywords=small+strap+wrench

      I added pulls to all my zippers, used a key turning aid and and have looked at the Sammons Preston medical supply catalog. Expensive, I thought,.

    • cer100
      October 16, 2017 at 7:28 pm

      Thamks

      I’m stubbornly independent altho maybe not as much as when this started! 😉

      Agree the one medical supply catalog I saw was pretty pricey on products. I’ve started looking at arthritis aid products as they seem to fall into the same niche as what I need.

      As for my original tool request, I cut up a rubber gripper into a smaller size that goes in my pocket/wallet and for now until I decline more, I can get the water bottle twist off caps open.