The power tool industry is saturated with tungsten carbide products. Although the term "carbide" is frequently shortened to "carbide strip," there are actually more mixtures than just those with tungsten. The question "What exactly is tungsten carbide?" is one that we get quite frequently. In order to provide you with the most accurate response, we conduct interviews with various manufacturers. We were interested in delving a little deeper into this material to learn more about how it can improve the performance of accessories.

WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL IS TUNGSTEN CARBIDE, EXACTLY?
The word "carbide" refers to any compound that contains carbon and another element with a lower electronegative charge than carbon. Powder is the initial form in which tungsten carbide exists. This material is composed of tungsten and carbon in equal parts.

A sintering process is used to convert the powder into a form that can be incorporated into a wide variety of products, including accessories such as saw blade teeth and drill bits.

It is a durable compound that is capable of withstanding demanding applications such as drilling through aggregate. Because of its durability, I decided to get it instead of gold for my wedding band given that I am constantly around power tools in my line of work.

Most accessories aren't pure carbide. Only the individual teeth on the blades of the circular saw and the reciprocating saw need to be sharpened. On the vast majority of drill bits, only the cutting edges are sharpened. The remainder of the accessory is typically composed of steel in some form. When it comes to concrete bits, the shaft still contains flutes that are designed to remove material, and the overall experience is very similar to that of using a standard steel bit. Simply switching to a carbide bit won't require you to alter the way you go about your work.

Carbide plays a much more significant role than other materials when it comes to CNC machines and extensive metal cutting. These bits typically include solid carbide throughout a significant portion of the cutting surface.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF USING TUNGSTEN CARBIDE IN POWER TOOL ACCESSORIES?

It is a common misconception that accessories made with tungsten carbide perform more effectively than those made with other materials. But does that impression match up with the truth?

It does in the majority of instances. In almost every circumstance, carbide tooth blades are superior to steel or bi-metal alternatives in terms of both performance and durability. Because of this combination, it has become the industry standard for the very best rotary hammer bits and miter saw blades. It is gaining more traction not only for oscillating tool blades but also for reciprocating saw blades as well.

When it comes to sheer speed, certain activities can be made more efficient with standardized blades. In particular, steel reciprocating blades have the potential to cut through particular materials more quickly. Steel blades typically come out on top against wider and slower carbide-toothed blades. This is because steel blades are able to optimize the teeth geometry to the material, while also avoiding wider kerf sizes. Additionally, the price of a low-cost steel reciprocating saw blade is difficult to beat. If you won't be cutting anything other than wood or PVC, a blade made of steel will serve you well.

CHEAP VS QUALITY CARBIDE

The quality of the carbide is directly related to the quality of the raw materials used in its production as well as the processes that are used to shape the material and attach it to steel.

Less expensive carbide tends to be more brittle and can be chipped more easily. It is possible for it to detach entirely if the attachment processes were not done properly. If you use a low-cost carbide bit, there is a good chance that you won't need to purchase another one.

However, you shouldn't place all the blame on the material itself because, in many cases, the problem can be solved by purchasing it from a more reputable manufacturer. We have discovered that all of the major manufacturers, such as Bosch, Milwaukee Tool, Freud/Diablo, Lenox Tools, and others, produce products that are of a high quality.

TUNGSTEN CARBIDE BITS COST VS LIFE (DURABILITY)

Downtime is the bane of your existence because it requires you to pay people who aren't working on the jobsite, which is the largest expense on any jobsite. For there to be as little downtime as possible, all of your tools should be in working order, and you should have replacement parts and accessories on hand. There is a complete halt in productivity, and your customer is unhappy about the lack of progress that has been made.

Tungsten carbide accessories offer a number of advantages, one of the most significant being that they continue to function for a longer period of time. Carbide offers superior speed for many different accessories, which results in the overall work moving along at a faster pace. Working at a faster pace requires less energy expenditure, which in turn leads to improved output quality.

In the event that this is not sufficient, consider some of the claims made regarding carbide blades.10 times, 50 times, or even 75 times longer than the standard ones? They may have a higher up-front cost, but when you consider how much money they save you per hole or cut, you can see that they are a better financial investment overall.

THE BOTTOM LINE

When heat doesn't destroy carbide strip accessories, when cutting edges don't break, and when tough materials don't wear them down, investing in  carbide strips tools and accessories is money well spent. When you buy carbide bits that are manufactured with quality materials and processes, they will outperform and outlast any standard ones that you may have used in the past.