I like having both. If you want someone to get hooked on woodturning, give them carbide so they can actually complete some projects, then let them increase their skills with traditional tools if thats the route they choose to go down. I can say this, I've never had a customer ask me what tools I used to make XYZ

Mike, I admire your dedication to our hobby and appreciate your videos. That being said, I offer these comments. Easy woods large tools are 1/2 “ shafts and their mid size and smaller use 3/8” shafts. Everything I read on the forum lumps carbide into one bucket. Carbide has many many different grades and categories. There are several charts available showing grades and even cutters that are available. The cheaper ones on the internet use copy Chinese carbide that is fragile and need frequent sharpening. Capn Eddie discovered this several years ago and offered cutters at a discount that were great. Would love to see someone do a video on the grades of carbide and the cutters available , sourcing and pricing. Thank you

I made these two tools a couple of years ago. Barstock was $5 each and Easy Wood Tools bits (with the screws) were $16 each. I turned my handles from a hickory log that I had laying around. I use them mostly for long narrow hollowing. Thanks for the close-ups. Any one making these will find them useful. I originally did not chamfer the steel under the bit and had to go back and put the chamfer on so that the bit hits the wood before the bar. Very informative.

Carbide is without question just plain EASIER to use. Straight cuts, quick to remove material, and can be sharpened with any diamond stone. It'll never make a finish ready surface, and you'll spend $ on sandpaper for sure. It's a good gateway into turning for anyone, and I'd highly recommend carbide tools to anyone from beginner to master turners.

Massive respect to you for not being one of these older woodturners who spew out the carbide is bad rhetoric. A proper balanced caution instead telling people to do their own research. It’s stuff like this that keeps me watching your videos :)

I started years ago using HSS only. I now use almost exclusively carbides. The reasons are pretty simple for me, very seldom have to sharpen and I can do anything with a carbide that I could with HSS tools. And, contrary to what some will tell you, you can sharpen carbides. Of course, I make my own tools and use mild steel 5/8" round stock for my shafts. Your manufactures will tell you to use the carbides in a flat or horizontal presentation, then you are limited to only scraping. I use mine at all angles and do a lot of shear cutting with them. And using them as I do can be as much a challenge as using any HSS tool. Here's an interesting observation I've seen many times, and with known experienced turners. When they are turning really hardwood and have to sharpen their gouges a lot, they say, "well I guess I have to use carbides". I have to grin. Thanks for the video, look forward to your gaining experience with them. Take care, Larry

Mike.... THANKS for the video. I didn't want the added expense of buying a special grinder and holding tools so I purchased these tools from Amazon last year and really like them. I have not had any problems with the screws. I also purchased extra screws and cutters on Amazon. I purchased regular Torx tools with slightly bigger handles for ease of use. I had wooden handles and bored a hole for them and used epoxy glue to set them.

I started turning a few years ago with full size Carter carbide tools, then changed over to HSS tools. I use both, but mainly HSS. Happy New Year!!

Thanks for this - I have been learning with traditional tools for the last couple years, but carbide seems really nice for some specific applications. I look forward to hearing your thoughts after you can test drive them for a while. Happy new year!

Fantastic tips, Mike! Thanks a lot! 😃 Happy new year! And stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

Thanks for sharing

I will add to what you said by informing you that carbide cutters are available in negative rake configuration and because the edges are eased you can tilt the cutter to use it in a shearing action. Carbide can be sharpened with a diamond hone card but the best way to use carbide is to make sure the cutter is cleaned of pitch and resin build up the same as a circular carbide tipped saw blade. Carbide tooling originates from the metalworking industry and while HSS is sharped, carbide will cut even when it is red hot and is brittle. I use both HSS and carbide tools, the carbide ones I make and my HSS tools are from D-Way tools. Happy Turning and stay safe!

Thanks for this, Mike!

I love your honesty Mike. I use both, HSS and carbide tools. I bought cutters from Captain Eddie. Full disclosure, I have built machinery and tools for 50 years so these are no real challenge. Full size EZ wood tools are $150 ea, I have less than $50 in five tools. I still have to make the curved hollowing tool. I use carbide on dry, dense, wood, that would full HSS tools quickly. Thanks!

Excellent video. I turn with EASY WOOD TOOLS exclusively. I learned on traditional tools then made the switch! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Great information, well presented, Mike. Thanks for that. Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year Mike. Thank you for all your videos of 2020. I made my own carbide tools and although they work well I find that standard tools cut cleaner. In all I made 8 different styles of carbide tools but do not use them often. If you need to replace the cutters I recommend AZ Carbide. They have a large selection and reasonable prices. Looking forward to your new videos in 2021.

mike buddy im sure by now you have used these carbide cutters . now i have them and i have used then alot . to the point where i can do almost if not everything you can do with traditional tools . but i think and this is only my opinion buddy that they do not beat the traditional tools at all other then the traditional scrapper . hands down with out a dought carbides are the best scrappers on the market . you will love how they work for scrapping and hollowing out pieces . they are also very nice for super hard woods that just seem to not want to cut . i had a mystery wood im still not sure what it is i have been told its roko wood if i spelled that right . but im not sure it was as tough as iron wood but had a redish brown color . i was told it came from south America. now the traditional tools was working on it but not very well . the carbide cutters made all the difference made short work of what would have took hours . so the carbides have there place for sure . no they wont ever take the place of your traditional tools but if you give them a chance you will find out they are very very nice for certain jobs . good luck with them my friend and cant wait to see a follow up video with you using them . im sure you will like them around im sure glad i have mine when i need them . take care my friend

I own and have used both HSS steel and carbide. I find I get a better cut from steel. Thanks for your preliminary review. I am looking forward to a further review of the use of carbide. Thank you for sharing. Have a great New Year and stay healthy.

Good info thanks for sharing

hi,mike,i do not had any carbidetools ,until now in the christmaspresents!thanks for these info video!happy safe new year!

Happy New Year, Mike! I look forward to your thoughts after you've gained some experience with the tools. I have some carbide tools, but I almost never use them.

I’ve learned and exclusively use HSS tools, I’ve been cautious about buying carbide tools so am excited to see what you think of them. Thanks for the video

I like them for hollowing. I made a couple 8.9mm on 5/16 key stock bars for reaching into urns they work well.

Good video, Mike. I hope you’ll also be making some videos on using the carbide vs regular has tools. I’ve made a small handful of carbide-tipped tools, but I don’t use them much. They can be useful when doing hollowing, although even there I like has scrapers better. I look forward to your experience with theses tools. Happy New Year and wear a mask!

I have traditional tools and carbide Mike ,the carbide are great if you struggle with sharpening traditional tools. Happy New Year to you and your family 🎉👍

Happy New Year Mike, hope you and yours are ready for a great New Year (COVID Free). I’ve used Easy Wood Tools carbide tools for years and love them, also have a set of Woodpecker’s Ultra-Shear full size tools (2019 Christmas gift from wife) that I also like. I’ve been trying hard to learn to use my traditional turning tools, but admit I slip back a lot 😔 The one thing I did find out when I acquired several homemade and Chinese carbide in an auction buy, they are a looonngg way from my other carbide tools. I gave them away to another member in my club that wanted them. Hopefully you’ll have better luck. But I WILL learn to use tradition tools. Then I’ll be able to use the most effective tool for the project at hand. Thank for all you do to help educate us. Stay safe and well to keep the videos coming. Cheers, Tom

Only really used carbide to rough-out a form and revert to good old steel for finishing cuts and detail,keep us informed Mike and have a good New Year👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Thanks, great info!

Negative rake carbide tools on casted resin is a must for me

I started with HSS and then added carbide to the arsenal. I use both for my spindle turning but nothing leaves as smooth a finish as my skew chisel.

I bought a set of Asieg miniature carbide tools from Amazon for making pens. They were cheap but work great.

Ty

I use carbide tools for roughing and find the square tip is excellent for making tenons. My tools have round bar and I like to angle them and I feel it gives a result similar to a negative rake scraper. Thanks for the videos and I'm looking forward to hearing of your impressions.

the square tips are great, but they also make the square with a 2, 4, or 6 degree radius. just ever so slightly curved. i get less catches with the radius ones. different brands are slightly different sizes, they all seem to use different screws, it can be a real zoo keeping track of whats what. i own a set of Simple Woodturning Tools made by Harrison Specialty in Minnesota, great tools, great bits, too expensive. ive been making my own from stock using Yufutol tips. the square, and square with radius are interchangeable with my set, the round and diamond shape are not. youve taught me a good deal of what i know about turning. i hope i shared something of any value with you! Thanks as always! -Fresh Air Woodshop - Kansas

I use my traditional tools 90% of the time. But that other 10% they sure come in handy. The diamond shaped detail tool is probably the most useful to me. I bought the tools from a local NC guy that makes them for the same price as your Amazon ones.

I’d be curious to see your feelings of putting a Hunter carbide cutter on the round tool. Mike Hunter cups his tips so they are truly cutting and not scraping. Thanks for the video. Happy New Year

I use HSS for knocking of corners and roughing then I go to carbide for fine details and finishing.

I use a combination of carbide and conventional tools when turning wood. I do this mainly because I am still somewhere in the learning curve using the conventional tools. The thing about carbide tools is that you have to turn wood at higher RPM...1100+. Also the cutter needs to be at the center or just a tad bit higher than the center of the turning piece. The carbide is more of a scraper than a cutter and the finish is not as nice, which seems to translate into more sanding. But, the carbide is definitely easier to use. Happy New Year to ya, Mike!! Same to your subscribers and viewers!!

Im just starting wood turning this week but im on a very tight budget so im starting with carbide till i can save for the good stuff. I have disability on my left side so i figure it would be easier to start with carbide since i dont have to struggle so much with angles and bevels. Haha baby steps

I can’t find the Amazon link to the tools you said you would include.

I picked up a couple of Robert Sorby carbide tools at a yard sale. Is there a need to have more than 2? One is round and the other is square.

I use both. By the way, do you know that you can sharpen your cutters and they last a very long time? It’s very simple and cheap. There are several videos on KZfaq showing you how.

Carbide is just another tool. Us tool junkies always want more tools! Seriously, I have them in my collection, and there are times when I use them, but my experience is that I use my conventional tools far more often. I bought cutters from Capt. Eddie and made my own shanks and handles. The only downside of that approach is that the small screws require small taps, and I find that I break them often. Having to buy two or three taps for each tool really does eliminate any potential DIY savings!

I learned with carbide but am wanting to switch to HSS, just need to figure out which tools/size to get.

My Sorby carbide tool catches at least 10x more than my good old swept back bowl gouge. I don’t get why people think it’s easier. The wood acts like I’m jamming my tool too hard. Maybe I just don’t get it. Try to ride bevel and pull handle up/bevel down, then boom wood wobbling and I’m trying to turn off lathe in a panic.

Mike Don't you use carbide tools on hollow forms? I can't believe these are the first carbide tools that you have bought. I use both cutting tools and scraping tools, they all get the job done.