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FortyFour · 09-14-2006, 10:55 PM

I was given some router bits by someone cleaning-out a garage. Many of them are solid cutters. Is there a simple shop test to distinguish between carbide and HSS cutters?
Many thanks.

**bobj3** · 09-15-2006, 01:30 AM

Hi FortyFour
There is a small test BUT you may not want to use it on router bits.
It's a grinder test, when you grind steel the sparks will tell you what the steel is but most router bits that have carbide blades you can tell just by looking at them.
And the most common router bits are HSS that's to say if they are round over and alike.
Most home owners don't have the high end soild carb. bits,one bit can cost almost the same as a full HSS set.

Spark test below
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_testing_metals

Bj

Pop_pop1 · 09-16-2006, 01:36 AM

You can also check the weight. Carbide is heavy. Also the corner of a file will skip across carbide like it was glass. And the color of carbide is duller than the shine of HSS.
About the only solid carbide cutters will be straight spiral cutters, the rest will have a piece of carbide silver soldered to a steel body of the cutter. The solder joint between the carbide and the tool body is easy to distinguish.
Thanks,
Chuck

SHARKEY · 10-22-2006, 10:42 PM

I suspect that carbide is not magnetic
Bill

09-14-2006, 10:55 PM	#1
FortyFour Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1 View FortyFour's Gallery	Report This Post! Test For Router Bits I was given some router bits by someone cleaning-out a garage. Many of them are solid cutters. Is there a simple shop test to distinguish between carbide and HSS cutters? Many thanks.
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09-15-2006, 01:30 AM	#2
bobj3 Forum Contributer Supreme Forum King Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Littleton,Colorado U.S.A. Posts: 8,271 View bobj3's Gallery	Report This Post! Hi FortyFour There is a small test BUT you may not want to use it on router bits. It's a grinder test, when you grind steel the sparks will tell you what the steel is but most router bits that have carbide blades you can tell just by looking at them. And the most common router bits are HSS that's to say if they are round over and alike. Most home owners don't have the high end soild carb. bits,one bit can cost almost the same as a full HSS set. Spark test below http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_testing_metals Bj __________________ PodCast videos RWS on YouTube http://www.routerforums.com/86898-post1.html Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables http://www.woodworkingonline.com/?s=dovetail Machine Cut ▼ http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/ http://www.woodworkingonline.com/woo...podcast-store/ http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm Bob J. Last edited by bobj3; 09-15-2006 at 02:00 AM.
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09-16-2006, 01:36 AM	#3
Pop_pop1 Registered User Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 143 View Pop_pop1's Gallery	Report This Post! You can also check the weight. Carbide is heavy. Also the corner of a file will skip across carbide like it was glass. And the color of carbide is duller than the shine of HSS. About the only solid carbide cutters will be straight spiral cutters, the rest will have a piece of carbide silver soldered to a steel body of the cutter. The solder joint between the carbide and the tool body is easy to distinguish. Thanks, Chuck __________________ PopPop If it's worth building, It's worth building well. poppop@routerforums.com
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10-22-2006, 10:42 PM	#4
SHARKEY Registered User New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vanciuver, Canada Posts: 2 View SHARKEY's Gallery	Report This Post! I suspect that carbide is not magnetic Bill
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