Handle grip HG25 28/22x115 mm, glossy black

Handle grip HG25 is a cylindrical grip in TPE, thermoplastic elastomer, that slides onto tube or round bar with a 22 mm outside diameter. The grip turns a bare steel tube into a finished handle: the outside diameter becomes 28 mm, the grip is 115 mm long and the surface is glossy black. The material has the character of rubber but is injection molded like plastic, which gives even quality and exact dimensions throughout the series.

The difference from a bare tube is felt right away in the hand. TPE gives friction even with damp or oily gloves, damps vibration from the machine and does not feel ice cold when working in unheated premises or outdoors; a steel tube in winter is unpleasant to grip, a TPE covered one is not. The 3 mm wall thickness all round is enough to take the edge off both cold and rattle without the handle turning clumsy.

The grip suits anywhere someone has to pull, lift or hold. Machine handles and control levers on workshop equipment, bow handles on carts and roll containers, pull handles on gates and doors, handles on exercise equipment, service hatches and tool carts. Designers who draw with 22 mm tube as the standard size for handles can use the same grip throughout the machine series, which gives a uniform look and one item less to keep track of in production planning.

Assembly is simple but deserves a thought. The 22 mm inside diameter gives a press fit on a 22 mm tube, and that is exactly how it should be; the grip is meant to hold by its own tension without glue. At assembly it helps to use compressed air, which expands the grip while it is pushed into place, or a fast evaporating liquid that gives temporary slip and then lets the TPE surface take hold. Avoid greasy lubricants, since they stay in the fit and can let the grip twist in service. Never cut the grip lengthwise thinking it will give you two short ones; the open end then loses its shape.

The material takes everyday workshop life. TPE stands up to water, cleaning agents and the occasional splash of oil, and the glossy surface is easy to wipe down; dirt sticks less than on ribbed rubber grips where muck thrives in the grooves. Under hard wear the grip is also cheap to replace, which makes it a rewarding choice on equipment that is serviced regularly; a worn grip is changed in a minute without special tools.

Ergonomics, by the way, is a work environment argument and not only a matter of comfort. A grip with the right diameter reduces the hand force that otherwise wears on wrists during repeated pulling and lifting, and 28 mm sits in the range many designers aim at for a power grip. The smooth surface also makes the grip easy to sanitize in operations with hygiene requirements, where a wipe with ordinary cleaning agent is enough; that is one of the reasons smooth grips are often preferred over ribbed ones in commercial kitchens and care.

Delivery is in packs of 50 pieces, a level that suits both series production and the maintenance store. Check the real outside diameter of the tube before you order; drawn tube normally holds its dimension well, but on welded or painted tube the diameter can be off by a tenth or so and then assembly gets noticeably stiffer. Detailed dimensions are in the manufacturer's data sheet.

Is the handle going on a machine you build in several versions, or are you unsure whether 22 mm is the right tube size for the grip? We will gladly help you pick the right one.