Tweezers and Cutters

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is an industrially-manufactured compound formulated with special blends of fluoropolymers and other high-performance resins to improve toughness and abrasion resistance with melting point of over 600 K, which makes it extremely resilient to common heat. Ever since PTFE was first manufactured, it has been widely used to coat tweezers, kitchen products and various tools and machinery.

Over the past few years, Teflon® -coated tweezers have been making headlines, for all the right reasons. Unlike their steel counterparts, PTFE tweezers are fairly resistant to rust and corrosion. If you’re planning to buy a pair of PTFE-coated tweezers, consider the following suggestions:

1. Find Out About the Supplier

 

There are hundreds of companies that manufacture PTFE tweezers.

And while some companies have a proven track record of success, others

don’t. Before buying PTFE-coated tweezers, it’s best that you do some

research on the company you want to engage with and where the tweezers

were made. The best tweezer manufacturers are located in Switzerland.

 

Find out how long the supplier has been in business. Read some of the online

reviews about the supplier. Talk to some of the supplier’s clients and obtain honest

reviews. Typically, a good supplier will have years of experience in the business and

are members of organizations such as the LPA (Laboratory Product Association). 

 

2. Price

Teflon® -coated tweezers have widespread industrial applications. These tweezers are often used in industries such as Medical Device and manufacturers of wafers and chips. As such, the cost of a single pair of tweezers could range anywhere from $50 to $200.

 

When preparing your material budget, understand how much you’re willing to pay for a PTFE tweezer. Ask for quotations and bulk discounts to stay within budget. Some companies offer free shipment on bulk purchases. However, don’t compromise on quality. 

High-priced Teflon®  tweezers that comply with quality control standards are better than cheaper disposable tweezers that lack quality.

3. Consider PTFE Thickness

Most PTFE tweezers suppliers offer a wide variety of PTFE-coated tweezers. These products vary considerably in size, shape, and PTFE thickness. For instance, a company may be offering tweezers that are fully coated in PTFE as well as partially coated products.

 Teflon® thickness is extremely important. Standard PTFE-coated tweezers have a coating that is around 1.5mm thick. However, you can also find tweezers with a 3mm or 5mm layer of PTFE coating. Similarly, the coating may be applied to the tips of the tweezers or to their entire frames. Find out what type of tweezers you need before placing an order.

4. Figure Out the Shape of the Tweezers

Like most industry-grade products, Teflon® -coated tweezers come in various shapes and sizes. The tips of the tweezers can be:

• Flat, round, and curved
• Straight, fine, and sharp
• Straight, fine, and very sharp; or
• Straight, extra fine, and very sharp

The overall length (OAL) of Teflon®  -coated tweezers is also likely to vary. OAL could range from 102mm to 152mm. It is important to figure out what type of tweezers you need before placing any purchase order with a supplier.

5. Search on the Properties of PTFE (Teflon®) 

Most PTFE-coated tweezers are made from non-magnetic low-carbon steel. A solvent-based PTFE coating is later added to these tweezers. These tweezers show remarkable resistance to salts, acids, and other chemicals, and they are widely used in the medical device industry for sample handling, watch making, wafer manufacturing and inspection.

Teflon®  coating makes the tweezers non-stick, hydrophobic, and heat resistant. Teflon® -coated tweezers also have a low dissipation factor and high dielectric strength. They’re also cryogenically stable and capable of working in temperatures as low as -270 degrees centigrade and up to 200 degrees centigrade. 

Note: If you’re looking for high-quality PTFE Teflon® -coated tweezers do your research before buying.