I have been using HSS knives in my 15″ Delta Thickness planer for several years and I am seriously considering upgrading to carbide. Questions:
1) Are carbide better?
2) Solid Carbide or tipped with carbide?
3) Can you have resharpened
4) Can you get them as sharp as HSS
5) Longer life?
6) Sources?
Thanks, Glenn
Replies
1) Are carbide better?
Depends. Typically recommend carbide for woods like teak or epoxy or similar glu-lams. You a pro or hobby woodworker?
2) Solid Carbide or tipped with carbide?
Solid carbide is more expensive and if you hit a nail the blade will shatter. A steel backing is cheaper and absorbs shock better.
3) Can you have resharpened
Of Course...more expensive obviously than HSS
4) Can you get them as sharp as HSS
No
5) Longer life?
Probably eight times longer
Plenty of sources, Schmidt, Bullsharp, http://www.woodtechtooling.com and many others. You ever look at the resource links at this site?? http://www.woodcentral.com has an ever better link source.
If you are still using the stock HSS knives consder getting some Wisconsin Knife Works blades or other qyuality HSS after market blades...big difference!
Edited 12/18/2006 1:39 pm ET by RickL
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