What are nail pullers made of?
Content
One of the main requirements for the materials used for the manufacture of nail pullers is their strength and durability. This is because the tool is subjected to quite a lot of impact when it comes into place over the head of the nail, and also needs to have the force to push the nail out.
Usually nail pullers are made of ductile iron, steel or steel alloy. These are all alloys of iron and carbon and materials known for their strength.
Nail puller parts must be painted, lacquered, coated, or treated to prevent wear and corrosion of the tool, since iron and steel are susceptible to corrosion.Flip jaws
The jaws are usually made of wrought iron or steel. Iron is usually stronger than steel, but slightly more brittle. . In the case of a nail puller, this helps to sharpen the jaws so they can bite into the wood and remove the nails effectively.
You will also find that, as a rule, the sponges are heat treated to further strengthen the material. Heat treatment gives the sponges the strength they need to penetrate the wood and the strength they need to hold tension.Point of support
The pivot or fulcrum is part of one of the jaws, so it will be made from the same material as the jaws, usually iron or steel.sliding handle
If the nail puller has a movable or sliding handle, it works like a built-in hammer, often referred to as an integral hammer or rammer. The handle is usually made of steel or ductile iron, which are strong and rigid.impact zone
Handleless nail pullers have a strong flat end. They are usually made from hardened steel so they can withstand hammer blows and often have an anti-corrosion treatment.
This impact area will have two pieces that can be used with a hammer. They will either be forged on a part of the square, or they will be steel pins.What is the difference between ductile iron and steel?
Cast iron and steel are iron alloys, which are iron mixed with carbon and possibly other substances such as sulfur or manganese. The main chemical difference is that malleable iron will contain about 2.0-2.9% carbon, while steels will have a carbon content of less than 2.1%. The higher the carbon content, the stronger the material, but also the more brittle.
Both steel and iron are often used for hand tools. Depending on the application and quality of the tool, different grades of these alloys will be used. Tools that use higher grade alloys tend to cost more. Both have advantages and disadvantages, so which is better will depend on its application and the budget of the user.
Ductile cast iron
It has high strength, heat resistance, toughness, and also has some ductility, so it can be molded quite easily without breaking. This gives it a wider use than other types of iron and means it is sometimes used in place of carbon steel.
Ductile iron has a limit on the size of the part it can produce, so it is usually used for small castings that need to be strong but have some flexibility, such as with hand tools, electrical fittings, and machine parts. You will find that the handles of some nail pullers are made of malleable iron, as these are fairly thin pieces that need to be strong and have a little bit of flexibility when the jaws hit the wood.
Ductile iron has better casting characteristics than cast steel, so you may find that the handle may be cast iron but the jaws may be forged steel. Forging parts provide more precision than casting.
The production process of malleable iron is quite complicated, so production is more expensive than the production of ordinary gray iron or cast steel.
Steel
Today, steel is generally the more popular choice for tools, although you will find differences in the types of steel used. Typically, nail puller parts are made from alloy or hardened steel because they are strong, tough, and versatile.
However, compared to ductile iron, cast steel has less wear resistance and ductility and cannot be formed in the casting process as accurately as ductile iron. – forging has become more expensive than its casting.
alloy steel
Alloy steel refers to steel that also contains carbon and other elements in varying amounts. This will change its mechanical properties, this change will be controlled to make sure it is suitable for its particular purpose.
For nailers, the alloy must be strong and tough with a little bit of flexibility so it can withstand the force of a blow to wood.
Since the chemical composition of steel can be controlled and adapted for different purposes, it offers great variability and flexibility for different designs. Small and large parts weighing up to hundreds of tons can be cast from steel.
Hardened steel
Hardened steel generally refers to high or medium carbon steel that has been specially hardened. The higher the carbon content of steel, the harder and stronger it becomes, however, this reduces its ability to deform easily and makes it more brittle. The jaws of nail pullers are usually made of hardened steel, so they are strong enough to cut through wood.
To further strengthen steel, it can be subjected to heat treatment, a process in which it is heated to a certain temperature and then rapidly cooled with water, oil, or an inert gas. This is known as tempering and tempering.
Which is better?
The quality of various steels and cast irons is difficult to assess easily - metals with different properties are obtained from different alloys. A good indicator of the quality of a metal is usually the reputation of the brand that made it and the value of the tool.
Iron can be forged into smaller and therefore more precise shapes, is very strong but can be brittle, and is usually slightly more expensive than standard tool steels. Wrought steel is likely to be cheaper and nearly as strong as iron, but won't produce fine parts as accurately as iron. Alloyed and hardened steels will gain more strength than standard steels, making them stronger than iron, but they will become more brittle and more expensive.
