I once was at a vendor booth at Paducah where they were selling the metal tools used for cleaning teeth. Recently, I asked my dentist if he ever had any discards. Turns out they can only be sharpened for dental use a few times. He gave me a handful and they are plenty sharp for sewing/craft use! (I even have to dull the one I use as a stylus with a whetstone.)

Next time you have your teeth cleaned, consider asking for some. They are great for picking out threads and handy around the house for miscellaneous needs. (Just be sure to store them safely.)

Great idea. With what dental work cost is would nice to get gift from the dentist.

Great tip!! Thank you :D:D:D

I have some old hemostats that are great for pulling needles thru seam allowances, reaching things in tight places, pulling cords thru sewn tubes. Also have old suture cutting scissors that have a little hook on one blade that are great for snipping threads. I also buy exam table paper (thicker that tissue paper) for tracing patterns and for paper piecing.
If you can't get used ones, try a Medical Supply store--they're not that expensive surprisingly.

i also got a red plastic they use when making forms used it to set doll eyes liked it better than the sticky brace coverup if you have something sticking you

the tip on the exam table paper is something I never would have thought!! Love it!! I will have to find a medical supply place somewhere and look into it. At this time,I only use freezer paper.

I used to be a dental assistant. Nowadays they may not be able to give you the tools. The HEPA rules are quite stringent now. Also the one dentist used to send his tools out to be resharpened; they are so expensive.

i got the dental tools at a place called Zefferhils swap meet car show and car auction and my DML was a nurse so she had some wnen she passed i got them and love them all kind of uses

I worked in Oral Surgery up until 2 years ago, HEPA only applies to patient information privacy, it has nothing to to with medical/ dental tools.

Yes, I'm sorry. I meant OSHA. I was the OSHA person in our office; but this was 15 years ago. I know times have changed a lot since then.

Well, I got lucky with some surgery tools. My son just started his OB-GYN practice and I had read about a tool that surgeons use (can't remember name of it now). I asked him what kind of instruments he had and I ended up with about a dozen. They are great for all sorts of things! I especially like the long bent end tweezer things!! LOL

If you are ever getting stitches out, ask them what they do with the tools. I was told they throw them away, I said, throw them my way!! Got a great pair of sharp pointy scissors and a hemostat.

When we lived on a large pond, I was walking around it one day and found a pair of the long bent-end tweezers on the ground. Evidently a fisherman dropped them. I kept them and kept an eye out for anyone fishing again to see if they owned them, but never saw anyone there again. They are handy for reaching difficult to get at places. Just ask your son!!!!

LOL, you are soooo rght!!

Amazing the way we can repurpose items.