Thursday, July 10, 2008

Carbide vs. HSS bits

The vast majority of bits on the market today are carbide tipped. Carbide is an extremely hard material. Its density actually rivals that of a diamond. Carbide has a number of advantages; it’s very resistant to heat, and it keeps an edge (stays sharp) longer than steel. It does have a number of drawbacks; it’s very brittle, prone to chipping, and it’s very expensive. This is why most bits are carbide tipped and not made from solid carbide.

0 comments: