Slate and punch cutters usually consist of a steel frame and PVC covered handles, a steel cutting blade and a steel punch pin.
Steel
To become steel, iron that has been smelted from its ore must lose some of its carbon content. So, it’s melted and reprocessed to reduce the carbon to the desired amount; eventually steel is produced. When melted, the liquid is continuously cast into long slabs or, more rarely, it’s cast into ingots.
In modern steel mills, this process often takes place in one assembly line, with ore coming in at one end and finished steel coming out at the other.
PVC
PVC is a low cost material that is frequently found on the handles of hand tools because it makes them more comfortable for the user and improves their grip.