Breaking the needle

[once a writer]

I use 30 gauge syringes. The other day I bent one a bit as I was withdrawing it from the vial. Out of concern that the syringe might break off if I used it for an injection, I returned the contents to the vial.

I had always assumed that the needles were made out of a relatively hard, breakable material that wouldn't tolerate much deflection and would break easily — like a small drill bit.

So I took my suspect syringe into the shop, grabbed the needle with a pair of pliers and began vigorously bending it back and forth through an arc of probably 120 degrees, the way you would do if you were trying to fatigue-break a piece of wire. Bent once, twice, three times . . . Got to 14 before the needle broke.

This suggests to me that I'm highly unlikely to break one off in normal use. But it's only one man's experience. Anybody else have a needle breakage story? Anybody ever actually break one off in the flesh? (And if so, please tell us how it was removed.)

[dg_moore]

I used 30 gauge needles for years (not for penile injections). Over that time, I had a few incidences of bent needles for one reason or another, but I never had one break. I don't think that's very likely to happen.

[JimStars]

Hey once,

It was discussed a long time ago. With almost exactly the same findings as yours.

That is one tough metal!

But I can never get it out of my mind that it WILL break easily.

J

[Andy425]

I always take the needle off with pliers before disposal, and was also surprised the first time at how many times I had to bend it back and forth.

[JimStars]

Andy,

I just finally finished a carton of 500 syringes bot a few years ago
(and that was bought after a few other boxes of 100)...

Man I have a lot of needle removal to do .. have never thrown em away yet. ( 5+ years).

Maybe there is some good use I can put them to.. some kind of Art Sculpture maybe??

Will think about it ...

Jim

[once a writer]

Jim,

Make a display for your honey . . . Here's what I go through to please you, baby.

[BigEyes]

I originally started off with a 28 ga, 1" needle. Very painful. After a lot of trial and error settled on a 31 ga, 5/16" needle and have used many of them. As far as breaking, a thicker (lower ga #) needle might break a little easier than a thinner (higher ga) one, but bending the 31 ga needles a full 90 degrees side to side, none broke before at least 3 bends. If I bent a needle a full 90 degrees, I would discard that syringe.

On a more realistic level, a user would be unlikely to bend the needle a full 90 degrees, but more likely to bend it about 45 degrees or less. Bending about a dozen needles back and forth about 45 degrees each way, none of them broke at less than 12 bends.

I saw a post somewhere, where a guys doc was warning him about all the surgeries he had to perform to remove broken off needles. Perhaps that was a bit of "doom and gloom" or a possible ego trip coming from the doc.

Anyway, regarding length, the goal is to hit the corporous cavernosum chamber on either side. A 1" needle, while fine for insulin shots, is too long for this unless put in at about a 45 degree angle. Straight in, unless you have an extremely thick penis, you might hit miss the target completely making the shot ineffective, or worse hitting the corpus spongiosum, which might cause the glans (head) of the penis to bleed.

[tomas1]

I guess I'm building scar tissue because there are only a couple places I can get my 29 gauge, 1/2" needle through. I hit the hard places, and the needles bend. I have to straighten them and go to the spot, always on the right side, to get through. I don't experience pain, so I wonder if a heavier needle would work better?