Carbide -vs- Steel

I've heard that carbide is more durable than steel. How can I identify carbide tools when comparing to steel?


-Hady

MUSCAT, OM

Our Expert

Carbide has all but replaced steel tooling in recent years. Carbide is much harder than steel and much more resistant to heat. Although a carbide-tipped tool is more expensive than a comparable tool which has steel cutting edges, carbide is more economical because it lasts much longer.


When comparing carbide tools to steel, you'll see that carbide is a thick, polished cutting surface which has been brazed to a steel body.


Among carbide-tipped tools, there is a large difference in quality between brands. For example, Amana uses a fine micro-grain carbide; router bit shanks are precisely machined to size for a secure fit in the router collet and saw blades are dynamically balanced and tensioned. These differences cannot be seen through casual observation but the difference is easily seen in the quality and smoothness of the cut.

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