Short 🧵regarding what it means when a needle driver has a gold handle.
The gold handles are not just cosmetic: the needle drivers actually *are* better.
To understand this, we have to know what is meant by the 'jaws' of the needle driver.
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The gold handles are not just cosmetic: the needle drivers actually *are* better.
To understand this, we have to know what is meant by the 'jaws' of the needle driver.
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The 'jaws' of the needle driver are the parts at the end that grab the needle.
The *gold* handles indicate these jaws are made of
*tungsten carbide*. The remainder of the needle driver is stainless steel.
If the instrument is all silver, it's all stainless steel (R picture)
The *gold* handles indicate these jaws are made of
*tungsten carbide*. The remainder of the needle driver is stainless steel.
If the instrument is all silver, it's all stainless steel (R picture)
Tungsten carbide is harder than stainless steel, and the jaws can also have better cross-hatching. As a result, they are able to grip the needle better and one has more control of the needle in general.
What's more, in the gold-handled needle driver, the tungsten carbide inserts can be exchanged for new ones once they finally do become worn out.
When a fully stainless steel needle driver is worn out, it just has to be discarded.
When a fully stainless steel needle driver is worn out, it just has to be discarded.
The hardness of tungsten carbide also applies to other instruments with gold handles. Scissors with a gold handle will have a better edge that holds up longer, and so forth.
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