Carbide Tool Manufacturers – The Complete FAQ Guide

Out of all the different carbide tool manufacturers in the market, which should you choose?

While various manufacturers of carbide tools are scattered, there still some that remain top-quality.

In this guide, you’ll not only learn how you can identify carbide tools; we’ll also help you get the best manufacturers of carbide tools to help you with your sourcing.

Understanding What Carbide Is

First things first, how well do you know what carbide is? How adept are you in determining what it is and how you can use it to your advantage?

Carbide, simply is a compound that is a combination of carbon (C) with a semi-metallic or a metallic element.

They usually come and take the form of powder, which is then pressed to achieve the figure/dimensions.

What is Carbide Cutting Tools?

Carbide cutting tools are considered as one of the hardest tools available in the market.

You can use them as parts and components. However, the most common use you can have for them would be for cutting.

They’re so hard that they’re the top nominee for cutting and slicing up titanium.

Carbide Cutting Tool Manufacturers

They’re manufacturing companies that can help you with the carbide tools you need.

Out in the market, there are manufacturers that source out for their own carbide; while there are those that purchase it from other companies.

The former would be the better option because they’d have firsthand knowledge of the quality of the raw materials for their carbide tools.

Top 10 Carbide Cutting Tool Manufacturers

Sourcing carbide cutting tool manufacturers isn’t hard. But, if you want to achieve good quality, you need to find and locate reliable and trustworthy suppliers.

Here’s a quick rundown of the top manufacturers of carbide tools in the market today:

• Tenyu Tools (Your best choice)
• Greenlee
• Paul Horn
• Fairlane Products
• Misumi Europa GmbH
• ARCH Cutting tools

They’re among the most prominent, so you must expect high rates and prices for their products.

What are Carbide Tool Bits?

By definition, a tool bit is a cutting tool that you usually use in planers and lathes. It neither rotates nor revolves.

Therefore, carbide tool bits are tool bits that are made out of carbide material.

Carbide Cutting Tools for Lathe

Lathes are machines that are so comprehensive that you can use them for many purposes. You’ll find a use for it as it helps rotate a workpiece in the axis of its own rotation.

You can use it for cutting, turning, drilling, and other more processes. Because of its wide functionality, you can expect a lot of tools to come with it.

The most common ones that can be made out of carbide include:

• Boring bar
• Knurling tool
• Facing tool
• Turning tool
• Parting tool
• Chamfering tool
• Threat cutters

Making these tools carbide makes them highly resistant to abrasion, friction, corrosion, etc. But, of course, under certain conditions, they can also undergo the usual wear and tear instance – they’re not perfect.

What is Carbide Steel?

Carbide steel is a carbon that is mixed with another element that is metallic – usually titanium, chromium, and tungsten.

Because they’re harder than regular mild steel, you can expect that carbide steel will last longer and will be 2 to 3 times tougher and more durable.

HSS vs. Carbide Tools?

HSS is short for high-speed steel; it’s part of the options in creating and manufacturing tools.

Carbide is, as we know, a compound of carbon + a metallic element. What’s better and what would work for you will depend on your needs.

Regardless of this information, here are a couple of things where they differ:

Temperature

The temperature resistance of carbide tools can reach anywhere between 800 to 1000 degrees Celsius. While HSS tools just stand around 650 degrees Celsius.

Going over that can result in deformation or warping of the tools.

Prices and Rates

When it comes to rates, carbide tools are much more expensive. You can see their prices to be twice or three times as much as regular HSS tools.

But, this is because of the fact that you’ll be able to use carbide tools in a wider range of applications.

Wear Resistance

Typically, the wear, abrasion, and corrosion resistance of carbide tools have to tend to be longer than HSS tools.

You can imagine it like this; if HSS tools will last 3 years, carbide tools can last up to 5 – even 6 years.

Durability and Toughness

In addition to that, carbide tools are tougher and more resilient than HSS tools.

However, HSS tools are less brittle than carbide tools – since they’re a bit softer and less durable.

Cutting Speed

When it comes to cutting speed and efficiency, carbide takes the crown.

You can cut and slice through workpieces 5 to 7 times faster than HSS tools.

While they seem something that you can easily understand, don’t be fooled.

You will almost always have it wrong the first time. So, the best thing to do is to make sure that you have it checked by a professional.

That brings us to our next question, which is…

Which One Should You Choose?

Carbide tools are perfect if you’re required to perform in high-temperature scenarios. Since they can resist temperature and friction better, you’ll want to use them.

However, if your processes require you high impact scenarios, HSS tools might be better. They’re less brittle, making them susceptible to high impact and higher pressure.

The choice will really depend on your need; carbide tools are obviously better, but there are instances when you’d want HSS tools instead.

How Can You Tell the Difference Between Carbide and High-Speed Steel?

If it’s your first time, you might find it intimidating. Carbide and steel are two (2) materials that are similar, so distinguishing them from one another is difficult.

But, here are a couple of things you can do to help you identify which are carbide tools from HSS or regular steel tools.

Weight (Heaviness)

Carbide is always heavier than regular steel. If you’re faced with options, pick them up and you’ll almost always immediately know which one is carbide.

Magnetization

Regular steel is heavily attracted to magnets; carbides, on the other hand, just attract slightly.

It’s one of the tests that would never fail.

Place a tool on a magnet and see if it attracts forcefully. If it does, then that’s steel. If it only slightly attracts to it, then you know that it’s carbide.

Scratch/Markings

Take a non-carbide material and scratch it on the surface of the tool or the material.

Steel will scratch immediately; you’ll see the markings right away. With carbide, no matter how hard you try, it will leave only little – even no markings.

Carbide is known to be resilient against almost all types of wear; that’s why it’s known to be one of the hardest substances on the planet.

Those are just three (3) of the ways on how you can determine if a tool is made out of carbide. Don’t worry, because eventually, you’ll know which is which just by touching them.

What is Carbide Tools Made Of?

More often than not, carbide tools are made up of raw materials that make up carbide.

For a brief refresher, these include carbon (C), semi-metallic or metallic elements like tungsten or titanium, and it’s broken down into powder through various methodologies and processes.

That powder then is prepared through a pressing machine where great pressure is applied, taking the shape of the die.

Carbide Inserts Chart

Inserts are tiny or bits of parts that are used to connect, link, attach or even protect certain components.

There are a ton of inserts to choose from. To help you with it, we decided to help you categorize them:

• Carbide Inserts with a hole
• Carbide Inserts without holes

Here’s a quick snapshot of the chart of these carbide inserts.

Carbide Tool Price and Rate

There can’t just be a median rate or price for these carbide tools and inserts.

This is because there are many different types and kinds of tools and inserts to choose from; there are saw blades, drill bits, taps, holed inserts, and many more.

The best thing to do to find out about this is to directly contact the manufacturer you plan on working with. Doing so will not only help you come up with the price or the rate but also figure out if that manufacturer is worth working for.

Do Carbide Tool Manufacturers Produce HSS Products Too?

More often than not, carbide tool manufacturers don’t just limit their product selection to carbide.

They usually branch out to other types and kinds of tools like mild or regular steel, HSS or high-speed steel, aluminum steel, and the like.

However, akin to how you’ll know the rates for certain tools and inserts, the best thing to do is to contact your supplier or your manufacturer.

Where Do Carbide Manufacturers Find Carbide?

There are a lot of people who have a misconception about where carbide is found.

To end the discussion, a huge part of it is found in China. This is also one of the main reasons why the best carbide tools manufacturers are in China.

You can find basic carbide in the mines of China, naturally. It’s already pre-combined with metallic compounds and components.

How Can You Identify Carbide?

Carbide, in its most basic and simplest form, is fine dust in the color of gray.

It’s simple to identify and distinguish; you’ll never have any problems in doing so.

Scrap Carbide Recycling by Manufacturers

Some carbide tool manufacturers accept scrap carbide. If you’re not aware of this, it’s imperative that you know.

Why do they do it? Simply because of the fact that it can be recycled!

Yes, because of a couple of the properties that carbide has, it’s actually recyclable; it can be melted down and recreated to be in a new form.

Here in China, we have a lot of manufacturers of carbide tools that do and perform recycling. Not only can it help in preserving our planet, but it’s also a cheap but proven way!

Carbide Cutting Tool Manufacturing Process

Various companies and manufacturers undergo different processes in manufacturing carbide.

But, here’s a quick look of how it’s all done:

1. Mix the carbide with cobalt or any other metallic compound to create the powder
2. It needs to be dried for anywhere around 55 hours; it creates granulated material
3. After the mixture is granulated, it is poured into an opening where it’ll be pressed
4. Once the pressing is finished, it’s placed and positioned in a furnace for sintering
5. It’s then heated at temperatures that revolve around 1400 degrees Celsius to be shrunk and for all the properties to be integrated
6. Now that this cemented carbide is done and finished, you just have to cut it to its desired shape

That’s the general skeletal structure of how carbide tools are made and manufactured.

Some companies and manufacturing firms might have it differently, but that’s a general overview of the things done, made, and completed within it.

Carbide Tool Manufacturers

How Are Carbide Tools Manufactured?

In this guide, we’ve walked you through the general outline of how carbide tool manufacturers produce carbide tools. That general structure gives you a slight touch of the procedure.

But, if we were to fully understand and comprehend carbide tool manufacturers, the process of producing and creating it involves a complex process of gathering, mixing, shaping, further hardening & strengthening, as well as surface finishing.

The process is a complex mixture of combining and mixing the powdered forms of the raw material before melting them. Then, they’ll be pressed and shaped into the desired form.

From there, the material will be finished and polished according to the custom request of the clients.

What Are Carbide Inserts?

They are components of carbide tools that are cemented carbide and can be indexed.

Carbide inserts are usually machine metals that can be steel, cast iron, high-temperature alloys, and even carbon.

These components can usually be replaced and will come in a wide array of sizes, grades, styles, and even application.

Brazed Carbide Tool Manufacturers

Some of the top-tier manufacturers and suppliers of brazed carbide tools include:

• Vinxin Cemented Carbide Co., Ltd.
• Evergreen Hardsteel Tools Co., Ltd.
• Hebei Fineline Tools Co., Ltd.
• Guangzhou Forever Metal Co., Ltd.,
• Tenyu Tools Co., Ltd.,
• And many more!

There’ll be no shortage of brazed carbide tool manufacturers in the industry today. But, if you want the best and the highest quality of brazed carbide tools, you can purchase it from us here at Tenyu Tools.

You can bank and count on us for your brazed carbide tools – we can even customize it for you! We have a low MoQ and we’re more than capable of producing a large volume of carbide tools daily!

Is Carbide Stronger Than Steel?

Since it’s a material that can cut through steel, is it safe to say that carbide is stronger and a lot more durable than steel?

Yes, if we were to base it on raw materials, it’s safe to say that carbide is a material that’s a lot harder, stronger, and better than steel.

As a matter of fact, carbide tool replaced the traditional steel tools that our ancestors worked with back in the day. Thanks to the hardness and the overall durability of carbide, it’s known and considered to be the best and most efficient solution to the creation and manufacturing of tools.

For you to understand it better and more effectively, here’s a simple comparison of carbide and steel in a sense of being used in the tools industry.

It is important to note that even experts will find it difficult and challenging to differentiate them using casual physical observation.

The key differences lie on the results and the output of the tools that are made out of them.

Are Carbide Tools Corrosion Resistant?

Yes, carbide tools are extremely corrosion resistant. As a matter of fact, their property of being wear-resistant will definitely outgrow all the other types of steel in the process.

Many carbide tool manufacturers don’t realize the strength of their products. They just market it in a general sense and like how other manufacturers and suppliers do.

But, here with us at Tenyu Tool, you will never find any inconsistency in the quality of our products. Yes, we market our carbide tools similar to how other suppliers do, but overall, the quality of our products will reveal themselves.

Want to know more about our carbide tools and how it’s like to choose us as your carbide tools manufacturer? Shoot us an email and we will be more than happy to help you!

What Do You Look For in a Carbide Tool Manufacturer?

In choosing a carbide tool, it’s imperative that you understand all angles involved in it..

Its make as well as the materials of it aren’t everything – it’s just one part of the formula. So, in order for you to get the best carbide tools in the market, try asking these questions first before deciding to go with a particular manufacturer.

1. Can You Supply Quality Tools in a Short Amount of Time?
2. Are You Capable of Producing Custom Carbide Tools?
3. What Are Your Basis For the Pricing That You Have?
4. Were You Able to Treat Your Previous Clients Well?
5. Can You Communicate Effectively?

With Tenyu Tool, you don’t have to ask all these questions because we’re known to do them regardless of the business sector or industry you are in!

Carbide Cutting Tool Manufacturers

You’ll be able to find a lot of carbide cutting tool manufacturers in the industry. Whether you’re in Asia, Americas, Europe, and even in Africa, there will be an overflow of carbide tool manufacturers.

If you are looking for a good carbide tool manufacturer – the one that you can trust, you’re just on the right page!

Choosing us here at Tenyu Tools as your carbide tool manufacturer will definitely be the best decision you will make. Apart from the fact that we are the best at what we do, we’re also able to produce the volume of carbide tools that you need within your time requirement!

• All our carbide tools have been sourced from the industry’s most trusted suppliers
• We produce OEM carbide tools, even better than what you can purchase from overseas
• We are equipped with the best and most experienced engineers and experts

Who Should You Pick as Your Carbide Tool Manufacturer?

Out of all the many options you have, which one is the best?

Tenyu Tools Co., Ltd. is a carbide tool manufacturer trusted by businesses and companies from all around the globe.

Serving big companies and businesses for more than a decade, you’ll never have any problems working with us.

The wide variety of carbide tools that we offer usually dumbfound our clients. They never knew that they can get a specific type of tool unless they see it!

Custom Carbide Tools

If you have tools that you need to be customized; or if you require a specific angle for the carbide tools you require, Tenyu Tools will be more than happy to accommodate.

We house a fully trained research and development (R&D) team that can create and manufacture the exact tools you need for your business.

Whether you need regular and pre-made carbide tools, or if you need highly customized and specialized ones, you can count and bank on us!

The carbide that we have are sourced from the best manufacturers in China, but we are on our way to manufacturing and mining our own.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you are in need of high-quality carbide tools. Tenyu Tools is the top and the most trusted manufacturer in the country – we will never let you down!