Drilled the large steel spring found in a window shade into my thumb one afternoon. I tried to pull it out but it was really stuck. Took myself to the local ER where I generated a steady stream of hospital personnel through my cubby as I waited to see the ER doc. I guess I was the most unusual case that afternoon . The ER doc decided on a course of action and he finally returned with a pair of wire cutters and some pliers. He tried the wire cutters first - I told them they would not work given it was tempered steel but he had to give them a go and discover for himself that they woudl not cut the spring. Next, he had a male nurse pin my hand down, he grabbed the spring with a large pair of pliers and gave it a quick and forecfully jerk. The spring came out, no damage to my hand/thumb and I was sent home.