I need to replace several carbide bits for my Rockler R2 cutter.  Usually, because the screw comes loose and the bit and screw get

swooped up by the vacuum, never to be found. I will work on that.

 

For now, though, I see Rockler replacement cutters for now $25 for a round one.  I simply don't want to pay that much.

I see some similar things, though with different sizes and screw holes on Amazon for $15 down to less than $3 if I buy ten at a time. 

For the difference in price, I might either modify my Rockler tool or craft a new one by myself, with friends.

 

But, is less than $3 a piece too good to be true?

Going to the web on quality levels of tungsten carbide, I see "C" levels. Some carbide bits have C1 printed on them.

Most have nothing printed on them, nor do I see anything in the specs.  One local guru says it may not really matter

much with wood.  Looking deeper, I see there are over 1500 grades of tungsten carbide, And, the source says that two

manufactures may use the same designation while the true specs are completely different. 

 

It is too bad that several brands of carbide tools for lathes seem to use their unique sizes, but it is probably so they can sell their proprietary bits.

 

For today,  how much do I need to think about C ratings on carbide bits for the lathe?

Is $3 or less a bit too good to be true?

Are there far cheaper sources for bits that fit a Rockler tool and its dimensions? 

What sources for carbide bits have you used successfully, if I am to build my own tool? 

 

Thank you, as always

For that type carbide tool it sounds good. If it don't work it was on ly $3. Look at AZ carbide, they even have a cross reference chart that has Rockler on it. They probably have screws also.

The guy who runs Easy Wood Tools, Chris Caliendo, has a background in carbide mixture development. I think that's why their cutters stay sharper longer than some of the other lesser expensive ones available.

 

As for screw sizes, these are for the Easy Wood Tools-

**Mini/Mid/Detailers &
All Hollowers Except Mid*:
~Small Wrench 1/16"
~Screw 4-40 x 5/16"

**Full/Pro/Rougher/Finisher:
~Screw 8-32 x 3/8"
~Large Wrench 3/32"

**Exception (Mid Hollower):
~Small Wrench 1/16"
~Screw 4-40 x 1/4" 

My big issues came when needing to replace the Rockler tips. Not quite proprietary, but not easy to get from general sources either.  What I really don’t like is the $26 price from Rockler for a round carbide tip. 

I came to this group for alternatives. One person suggested AZ – AZCarbide.com.  Their $14 replacement for the $26 round Rockler got my attention. But, how would I know if the bit was as good as the Rockler tip?  Research told me about 1500 grades of tungsten carbide and I couldn’t really find the specs for the Rockler tool – screw length and threads, diameter of the tip were important.  What I didn’t want was some cheapo knockoff that dulled or chipped. 

 

What to do?  I just wrote to AZ and asked them how I would know if his bits were as good as those at Rockler.  Ron Campbell, the owner, responded in a few hours. Without asking, Ron just sent me a few bits to try as he knew I had got his name from this group.  

 

I have now tested the round bit heavily, as well as a square bit and curved bit.  I’ve hogged out and initially finished bowls from pecan, mesquite, red and white oak, black walnut, cherry, and poplar. I wasn’t nice to the bits, driving hard to reach some conclusion.  Bottom line – these bits are as good as what I have purchased at Rockler.  The difference is $25 at Rockler, $14 at AZ or 10 for $110.  There is a difference in prices for the square and curved bits as well, though not as much. 

 

I haven’t the skill to do a more detailed test of these to figure if there is an absolute better bit technically.  Nor have I used the negative rake round bit enough to fully appreciate it, though I sure like what I have seen so far. I just know that AZ has a compatibility chart with full specs to locate the bits that fit different tools, their bits are great and the prices superior. 

Ron Campbell met my unspoken challenge, and quickly. With no obligation to him, I feel it appropriate to pass on what I have found.

 

Thanks for putting me on to AZ. 

Are there others who might talk about the use and value of a negative rake carbide bit? 

Wow, that is expensive! AZCarbide does have a great selection of cutters. Looks like Rockler is using the razor blade effect. Low price on the tool but get you on the cutters.

I buy all of mine from AZ carbide. You just need to measure the diameter.

All this made me wonder about Easy Wood Tools ( @Jordan Martindale ) carbide cutters. Seems they do have many advantages over other suppliers-

 

Easy Wood Tools is the only company in the world that developed and manufactures its own carbide cutters in house. They do not outsource. There are literally hundreds of different grades of carbide that can be used in various applications from wear resistance to impact resistance. Easy Wood Tools uses a premium grade of carbide developed specifically for woodturning that will hold a dead sharp cutting edge the longest possible time. Along with this best grade selection, Easy Wood Tools has also developed a proprietary grinding method that will yield the sharpest cutting edge possible. Together these factors give the sharpest, longest lasting cutting edge available to woodturners.

I have appreciated Easy Wood a lot for their tools, accessible parts, and support of the Patriot Wood Worker site.

I have my starter set from Rockler that came with the lathe from twelve years ago including one carbide tool,  more HSS tools from some of the big names,

then some carbide tools from Easy Wood. Never enough lathe tools. I just don't like high prices for parts. 

 

In my reading of Easy Wood's site, I haven't seen carbide bits that are cross-referenced to my initial Rockler tools.

Someone suggested that all that is needed is the diameter of the cutter, but that seems to assume that the holes

for all cutters and the thicknesses are all the same.  Maybe somebody can clarify that. 

 

I want to be clear that my comparison was only between Rockler's prices and those of AZ.  Perhaps some others

might want to do price and maybe product/specification comparisons among other suppliers.

 

I did not compare Rockler to Easy Wood, nor do I have the expertise to technically test the absolute quality of 

any vendor's carbide tips.  Indeed, in my initial reading, hoping to find some simple number or index of quality,

I see there are over 1500 types of carbide and that is before we get into the manufacturing process.  

 

For my purposes, I have found some much better prices to Rockler for what seems to be bits of similar quality.  

There is much room for more technical and price comparisons far beyond those two vendors.  I hope that others

will go the next step to make those comparisons and share their findings. 

As the owner of AZ Carbide we supply some fo the best carbide cutters made.   We try to do a service to the woodturning community by supplying high quality cutters 

ast a reasonable price.  All of our cutters come with the appropriate screw.   With the Rockler we supply the M4 screw to properly seat the cutter.   There are several tool manufacturing companies using our products.  Should you ever be unsatisfied with our cutters we will refund you your money.  As of today that has not happened.