Knurled knobs, also known as knurled rim knobs, are no single knob type. Instead, they are one of many knob types with several ridges or knurls around the rim for the sole purpose of improving grip during maneuvering.

Typically, business owners and manufacturers install such heavy-duty knob types in wet or greasy environments where slipperiness can significantly impact functionality. In addition, they are manufactured with various materials like steel, stainless steel, and plastics such as technopolymer and duroplast.

You can even purchase them with adjustable torque limiting mechanisms, different thread sizes, screw press fits, and a variety of colored caps to suit your needs.

Where you will be using your knurled knobs can make all the difference to the material types you purchase. This includes both the internal and external material and any additives during the manufacturing process.

Understanding knurled knob materials is a crucial step in the purchasing process. Failure to research the best options may mean you end up with knobs that don’t have the corrosion resistance, impact resistance, or even the chemical resistance you require in your line of work.

You may even need to establish the best types of internal and external material types for use inside a building and outside in the elements.

Out of all clamping knurled knobs available, nylon would have to be one of the most popular materials. Heavy-duty nylon knobs suit a wide range of industries, have incredible impact resistance, and even boast electrical insulating properties.

Business owners may also be impressed with this knob type’s resistance to most fuels, greases, and oils and how they’re also suitable for knob inserts.

Before you add nylon knobs to your shopping cart, it doesn’t hurt to be aware of their disadvantages. They may not suit environments with strong alcohols, acids, and alkalis. Their dimensional stability also decreases with moisture, but their impact resistance increases with moisture.

While phenolic knurled knobs may not be a suitable option for high-vibration applications due to their rigidity, they’re still an ideal option for many industries. This is because they’re cost-effective, lightweight, and resistant to heat, wear, grease, oil, and fuel. Phenolic knobs also boast thermal, electrical, and corrosion resistance.

If you’re worried about their strength on a machine or appliance with vibration, you may be able to purchase phenolic knurled knobs with steel threaded studs to reduce the risk. However, there are plenty of other material types that may be better suited for your needs.

For light-duty clamping and securing, your business might set its sights on polypropylene (PP) knurled knobs. They can be strengthened with glass and tend to have reasonably good fatigue, chemical, and heat resistance.

However, it’s worth being aware of PP knobs’ drawbacks. When in contact with copper, their oxidative degradation can be accelerated. They also have poor UV resistance compared to other options on the market.

If you’re in construction, aerospace, or the automotive industry, aluminum knurled knobs may capture your curiosity. Compared to other metals and materials, they are incredibly lightweight, and they can also be used as knob insert material.

Aluminum knurled knobs can be manufactured in a wide variety of strengths, and cold conditions make them even more robust. You may also be pleased to know they have good electrical and thermal conductivity while also being corrosion-resistant.

Stainless steel knurled knobs can stand out from the crowd in wet environments and areas with high temperatures. They are corrosion-resistant, non-porous, and aesthetically pleasing, like polished chrome. Stainless steel can also be recycled.

Food and medical businesses often rely on stainless steel knobs for their easy-clean surface. However, the knurled head of a stainless steel hand knob benefit can be eliminated.

When you see the broad range of knob options for sale, such as lobe knobs, ball knobs, t-handle knobs, wing knobs, and thumb screw knobs, you may be wondering why you should choose knurled knobs over the many other options.

You might even be wondering what their drawbacks are if any. We’ve included some pros and cons to help you make an informed choice.

• The ridges improve grip
• They suit slippery, greasy, and wet environments
• You can purchase various knob styles with the knurled rim
• They come in a wide variety of metal types

• The knurling makes them difficult to clean
• You can’t use them in food or medical industries, such as cabinet knobs that require sterility
• You have to consider both the internal and external materials

Finding any suitable industrial hardware for your line of work can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. When it comes to knurled knobs and knurled handles, a small amount of research on product details can see you armed with important information to make an informed decision.

Now might be the right time to look at your distributor options, weigh up the pros and cons of new products, and add the most suitable knurled knobs to your shopping cart. Your business can be well-equipped with high-quality knobs in no time.

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