[neilep (OP)]

Dearest People With degrees in Keratinology,


Take a look at Karen-Tin Cressida The 3rd attempting to cut her toenails.





Awww bless her as she attempts to cut her toenails just moments ago !


Karen is a girly and when I asked why she cut her nails like this she just giggled and looked shy.

At least she is wearing the appropriate PPE !

Why is that toenails zoom off like a ricocheting bullet ?  what is the mechanism that propels them with more force than a clay pigeon thrower ? can one predict the direction the nail will go ?


If ewe could assist me as I have a lecture to give at the annual Toe Nail Cutting Symposium next Tuesday.



Thank ewe


hugs



neil
xxxxxxxxxx


Simply cutting the nail would be fun
If I felt i needn't have to run
The repercussion of a toe nail attack
Is not speculation it's a fact

[Halc]

Why is that toenails zoom off like a ricocheting bullet ?

Same mechanism that shoots off a bolt when you cut it, or that shoots a rubber band when it breaks.
The clipper puts the nail under significant stress, with significant outward force being applied to the part that separates balanced by significant tension holding it back. When it breaks, all that's left is the outward force, however brief, and that is enough to accelerate it outward at high speed.

can one predict the direction the nail will go ?

Usually straight out (if you clip with a side-clipper like a wire cutter), but if you're using a clipper where the clipper is in the way, the high-speed nail will bounce off it and head in a less predictable direction, often stopping inside the clipper.

[evan_au]

The nail polish used by Karen-Tin appears to have a high concentration of iron, judging by the shower of orange sparks it is producing...

Perhaps she did not think that steel-capped boots were sufficiently elegant for a lady, so she replaced them with steel-capped toenail polish?

[alancalverd]

I think it's possibly cast iron, judging by the color and bushiness of the spark stream. Pointless helmet, good googles (though a full mask would be better), but why no gloves?  She would have better control with a 200W grinder - the Matsushita 500 is obviously too big for her left hand. And the foot should be held in a vice.

[Eternal Student]

Hi.
   It's starting to worry me.  If you're going to put pictures like that on your posts please put a warning in the title.
Best wishes.  (Although I've got to stop reading your threads before I sleep).

[neilep (OP)]

Why is that toenails zoom off like a ricocheting bullet ?

Same mechanism that shoots off a bolt when you cut it, or that shoots a rubber band when it breaks.
The clipper puts the nail under significant stress, with significant outward force being applied to the part that separates balanced by significant tension holding it back. When it breaks, all that's left is the outward force, however brief, and that is enough to accelerate it outward at high speed.

can one predict the direction the nail will go ?

Usually straight out (if you clip with a side-clipper like a wire cutter), but if you're using a clipper where the clipper is in the way, the high-speed nail will bounce off it and head in a less predictable direction, often stopping inside the clipper.

Thank ewe for this Halc. I think this may solve the energy crisis if we harness the stored energy in cut toenails !  Yes, I believe there's a paper in this.

[neilep (OP)]

The nail polish used by Karen-Tin appears to have a high concentration of iron, judging by the shower of orange sparks it is producing...

Perhaps she did not think that steel-capped boots were sufficiently elegant for a lady, so she replaced them with steel-capped toenail polish?

She must have got them done at the Nail iron-bar !!

[neilep (OP)]

I think it's possibly cast iron, judging by the color and bushiness of the spark stream. Pointless helmet, good googles (though a full mask would be better), but why no gloves?  She would have better control with a 200W grinder - the Matsushita 500 is obviously too big for her left hand. And the foot should be held in a vice.

 

[neilep (OP)]

Hi.
   It's starting to worry me.  If you're going to put pictures like that on your posts please put a warning in the title.
Best wishes.  (Although I've got to stop reading your threads before I sleep).

I will forewarn of images included so ewe may sleep soundly !   

[evan_au]

please put a warning in the title

...or did you mean a warning like "Don't try this at home!"?