Knifemakers not making cash? Make Medical Equipment.

Halfneck

Halfneck

Joined
Jun 30, 2005
Messages
4,245
Had to order some medical tools and the price just astounds me. To top it off the quality of matierials is bad. Ordered tools to make up 6 Suture kits - 1 each of Hemostat, Pick-ups, and Scissor. Hemostats look like scissor handles with clamping tips. Some people may recognize them as getting used to smoke joints. Pick-ups are just tweezers. And scissors are self-explanatory.

6 Hemostats, 6 Pick-ups, and 6 Scissors, each around 4" in length and made of some type of stainless steel that is maked Pakistan, are going to cost around $1400.

That is absolute robbery.

These are not complex tools, nor are they made of some revolutionary steel. I know several custom makers who could probably make me a pair of scissors out of S30V with a better quality fit and finish. Cripes, I would say that even 440C is a better grade of steel than are supplier is using.

Well there is my money-making tip. Remember me when you start reaping the windfall of cash and send me a check.
 
I'm not sure, but you may have to get FDA approval.

And the liability insurance will be rather high too.
 
Not a new idea... Very old time knifemakers used to routinely do surgical equipment. BR Levine makes frequent mention of this in his book and forum.
 
I could be wrong, but I think corrosion resistance is a major issue. In that case the POS pakistani 440A (if that's what it is) may well be better suited for that use than S30V.

That being said, how about making some surgical instruments in H-1? Should be a good enough steel, and it's nearly corrosion proof.

I have also seen some fancy surgical equipment made from titanium at an expo, I remember a pair of titanium tweezers that retailed for approx. $ 1500!!:eek:
 
Hell, I wouldn't even need to make them. Tool sellers at the local gunshows usually have whole tables full of those exact same Pakistani scissors, hemostats, etc. for a buck or two a piece. I could buy a whole truckload and just re-sell it to you for 20 times more than I paid, and it would still be a helluva lot cheaper for you too.

So, how many do you need? :)
 
Coming from the dental business primarily I can tell you that if it says 'dental or medical' on the sticker when you buy it that you will pay a premium for it.

To some degree this is the same with jeweler supplies as well.

I used to get the acrylic burrs we used for adjusting dentures from wood workers supply to save money because they are basically the same thing as the dental ones only a 1/3rd the cost.

STR
 
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um... arn't hemostats that most hospitals use disposable. I know my dad 'borrows' them all the time so they definately arn't hundreds of dollars.
 
You got hosed.

Best quality German made mosquito forceps cost less than $20US wholesale. The cheap German stuff is about half that and the Paki stuff is less than that.

A suture removal set doesn't need very high quality instruments other than(possibly) the scissors, the cheap forceps (Adson, serrated, etc) stand up pretty well to 8-10 cleaning and sterilizing. By then, most of them are lost are stolen Also most suture removal kits don't need a locking forceps because they are not typically used in removing stitches.

Better quality stuff is used for the needle holders, (suture “in” sets), since they need to grip and hold the needles.

The mid-level German stuff is most common these days for most procedures unless theft is an issue. The best stuff is still used by the guys doing high tech, vascular, plastic or other fine work. Otherwise, it is just a waste of money.
 
I know someone who's buisiness is manufacturing surgical instruments. He uses 440C for some of the tools that are used in orthoscopic surguries. He makes stuff that when you see the tool, it just makes you shudder. Especialy with some of the descriptions of how they are used. :barf:

Bruceter
 
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