Issue 58

Steel Yourself: It’s Carbide

Carbide cutters vs. high speed steel: the question has been answered. The short version is that, by a large margin, those who answered my query preferred carbide. A few good fellows chose HSS (particularly for router bits) because they can hone-their-own and get a sharper edge than carbide bits. But the general view is that the HSS bits being sold today are not high quality and that the carbide versions provide a better value, despite the greater initial cost. Look for some selected feed back on the Readers’ Response page.

And speaking of response…Richard Jones, our Today’s Woodworker from a couple eZines past, reported that he actually got a lead for work from his story. Which brings me to my question for this missive. How many of you eZine readers are “in the business”? No, not show business, woodworking as a means of paying the bills. If you are not doing woodworking full-time for your means of support, maybe it’s your part-time job. Perhaps a few dollars here, a couple there? And if you are doing woodworking for profit, how is it going? Is it a good living or a labor of love? As always, I’m here for you. Let me know what you think, and I’ll share your thoughts with the eZine faithful.

Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal