Why Carbide tools?

Carbide tools have been a controversy since they were introduced. Old-timers slam them as they don’t teach you how to turn with traditional tools.

Trout fishing has long had this conversation regarding fly fishing and using bait. Those who fly fish look down upon those who use bait. I have done both. If I want to relax and eat trout that evening I use bait. If I am out for fun I take my grandfathers old bamboo rod and fly fish

Well Carbide hand tools and traditionalist have this discussion almost daily on social media. If there was one tool that could do everything there would not be such a large number of tools on the market today and someone, the inventor of that universal tool would be very wealthy

Most of our customers are older retirees on fixed incomes. They have a smaller lathe and are learning to turn. Some of our customers are youngsters that are learning to turn pens. This it is their first experience turning. Their parents may not have the money for traditional tools that are going to require a sharpening station.

We also have many turners with disabilities. A couple of years ago life long friend Dave Hinkelman spent a week here with us in Michigan. He had never turned. In grade school he suffered from Polio. One leg would not recover and he has struggled his entire live just getting around. Before he left Michigan he had ordered a lathe. He turns much of the time from a wheel chair. This does not give him the ability to dance at the lathe. Carbide tools have allowed him to turn from his wheel chair and do well

Other customers that have disabilities is Andi Sullivan and David Albright. Yes they are blind turners. Andi started Lighthouse Turning for the blind. David then started Lighthouse Turning in Kanas City. They too use carbide tools.

Dick Gerard stopped by the house a couple years ago to turn with me. He is one of the founders of the AAW and continue to support the AAW. I did not know it until we started hollowing that he had not done any hollowing in years as he had 3 shoulder replacements and his doctor told him no more. We were on the Carter Hollow Roller with a 6MM shear cup cutter. He was amazed

There are many more stories like this. There are many uses for carbide cutters. The most common place for carbide cutters is in end grain hollowing. Most of the hollowing systems today come with or have a carbide shear cup cutter.