Anonymous
8/23/2025, 9:52:54 PM
No.2940209
>>2938963
>realistically how long should carbon steel tools last before rusting. would you buy carbon steel tools? or is cr-v the standard?
First, there are different “carbon steel” alloys, were the only difference is the carbon percentage, although the processing method can also have a large influence on the finished product, since carbon can get burned off from the surface during hot forging, and can be added by case hardening methods.
As for “alloy steels” other than basic carbon steel, one of the main reasons even cheaper manufacturers use these “tool steels” is because basic carbon steels aren’t usually made to the strictest tolerances and testing, even by USA manufacturers, whereas quality manufacturers routinely test alloy steels to verify alloy content on the alloy steels.
The exception to this is “third world” manufacturers, were cheating on alloy content is extremely common, as are verification certificates.
Even Japanese manufacturers were cheating on alloy content, with the knowledge of the US government, and in China, the issue is way worse.
As for specific alloys, preferences usually come down to what is available, the type of tool, the planned processing methods, and how each component works in the finished product.
In classic Locking pliers, the jaws would likely be forged from one alloy, maybe a vanadium steel, the bent sheet metal parts would likely be a different alloy, optimal for high tensile sheet metal, maybe a Molybdenum alloy, the springs would likely be subcontracted to a spring manufacturer using an optimal alloy for springs, and the rivets would be made out of an alloy that could be cold riveted.
The original vise grips had the jaws braized to the sheet metal handles, and that would be a bronze alloy, so the rivets are just reinforcement that help brazing.
Afterwards, the pluers are cleaned and plated, because the plating keeps welding slag from easily sticking to the locking pliers when used as welding clamps.
>realistically how long should carbon steel tools last before rusting. would you buy carbon steel tools? or is cr-v the standard?
First, there are different “carbon steel” alloys, were the only difference is the carbon percentage, although the processing method can also have a large influence on the finished product, since carbon can get burned off from the surface during hot forging, and can be added by case hardening methods.
As for “alloy steels” other than basic carbon steel, one of the main reasons even cheaper manufacturers use these “tool steels” is because basic carbon steels aren’t usually made to the strictest tolerances and testing, even by USA manufacturers, whereas quality manufacturers routinely test alloy steels to verify alloy content on the alloy steels.
The exception to this is “third world” manufacturers, were cheating on alloy content is extremely common, as are verification certificates.
Even Japanese manufacturers were cheating on alloy content, with the knowledge of the US government, and in China, the issue is way worse.
As for specific alloys, preferences usually come down to what is available, the type of tool, the planned processing methods, and how each component works in the finished product.
In classic Locking pliers, the jaws would likely be forged from one alloy, maybe a vanadium steel, the bent sheet metal parts would likely be a different alloy, optimal for high tensile sheet metal, maybe a Molybdenum alloy, the springs would likely be subcontracted to a spring manufacturer using an optimal alloy for springs, and the rivets would be made out of an alloy that could be cold riveted.
The original vise grips had the jaws braized to the sheet metal handles, and that would be a bronze alloy, so the rivets are just reinforcement that help brazing.
Afterwards, the pluers are cleaned and plated, because the plating keeps welding slag from easily sticking to the locking pliers when used as welding clamps.