Whether it’s an at-home project or a large commercial job site, molded plastic tool handles appear more often in everyday life than we might realize. These plastic handles, manufactured through injection molding, have become better alternatives to stock designs and other material sources such as wood or metal.
GAIM Plastics highlights the key reasons why custom molded plastic tool handles, specifically for garden and construction products, lead to better quality projects overall.
Why Custom Molded Operations are Better Than Wood or Stock
In many cases, if there’s an option to go the custom route over stock, it’s the better decision as designs and materials can be catered specifically toward your product’s specific application. Molded plastic tool handles for garden or construction applications are no different.
There are two sources of comparison to consider when examining custom molded solutions: stock molds and wooden handles. These two handles have driven the market space because they are easier to make and mass produce, or provide an aesthetically pleasing finish, but not necessarily the long-term support that tools need in demanding environments.
Custom molded handles can be designed, engineered, and manufactured, to match more natural hand positions when operators are using tools. Additionally, the custom route can force vectors for targeted tasks such as digging, prying, hammering, etc. These intentional alignments and creating more natural positions reduces uncomfortable or awkward hand positions and grip force, which over time creates less strain on operators and improved control and quality throughout the project at hand.
While focusing on creating more natural hand and wrist positions by the handle, there’s better and more consistent part geometry and overall part balance. Through injection molding, the handles on plastic tools, even custom, can be nearly identical with tight dimensional control, same shape, wall thickness, and more. When shapes are the same, they become predictable, which is a good quality to have. When tools have predictability, operators and skilled workers don’t have to find their grip going from tool to tool, rather, it’s the same hold every time.
The engineering that goes into a custom molded plastic handle can truly differentiate your product in the market. Garden and construction environments face truly harsh conditions and when proper engineering has been performed, moisture and chemical resistance, dimensional stability, wear and impact resistance, and corrosion-friendly capabilities become possible.
The Importance of Material Selection
GAIM Plastics will never tire stating how critical material selection is for a successful manufacturing program. And for custom molded plastic tool handles, focused on garden and construction applications, material selection has to be selected both carefully and accurately.
A strong starting point is specific grades of nylon as it provides higher tensile and flexural strength, stiffness, and hardness. Additionally, when temperatures spike, the dimensional stability maintains well.
Another option are fiber-reinforced polymers such as carbon fiber reinforced polymers to create long handles where extended service life, lightweight, and metal components are part of the overall build.
Traditional thermoplastics work just as well for custom molded plastic tool handles, but additional additives or protective coatings might be beneficial to promote survival in harsh conditions.
Contain GAIM Plastics for Custom Molded Plastic Tool Handles for All Applications
Since 1989, GAIM Plastics has provided turnkey manufacturing services in custom injection molding solutions for OEMs and other supplier programs. We serve numerous industries including the lawn and garden, and construction markets with our high-quality injection molding operations.
Custom molded plastic tool handles play a vital role in better equipment control, precision, and longer lasting products. As a turnkey manufacturer, we take pride in playing a pivotal part in each aspect of manufacturing. From design inputs and material selection to around-the-clock engineering, our team works tirelessly to ensure your components are ready to serve in their intended application.
Whether it’s molded plastic tool handles or another component, GAIM Plastics’ in-process inspection tracks any potential defects and part variation, ensuring quality every step of the way.
Contact our team today for more information on our custom molded plastic tool handles and how we can serve your next project.