Carbide Turning Tools

There are 3 different shapes of carbide cutters, each with their specific use cases for woodturning.

• Square Carbide Cutters: Used primarily for roughing cuts and heavy stock removal. Available in square, 4” radius, and 2” radius profiles. The 4” radius carbide cutter is great for smooth, flowing curves on bowls and platters and the 2” radius carbide cutter is our favorite for pen turning and ring turning.
• Round Carbide Cutters: Designed for refining the shape of your project such as the curve on the inside of a bowl. Round carbide cutters are available in different sizes, with the smallest size used for hollow turning.
• Diamond Carbide Cutters: These are used for fine detail cuts and are great for shear scraping. We also use diamond carbide cutters to create dovetail tenons for mounting pieces in chuck jaws.

We explain in detail the different use cases for carbide woodturning tools and carbide cutter profiles in our video and blog post, Red Dragon Carbide Cutters: A Complete Guide.

Yes! Carbide cutters can be sharpened by laying them face down on a diamond sharpening stone and moving them in a figure 8 pattern. It only takes light pressure and the diamond will do the rest. While the edge won't be as sharp as a factory edge, it'll still take a nice a cut and you'll get more life from your carbide cutter.

Learn how in our blog article, Sharpening Carbide Cutters.

Traditional turning tools are forged from solid steel bar stock that is sharpened on a grinder to create the cutting edge.  Carbide turning tools utilize individual carbide cutters that require no sharpening time at the grinder and are easily replaced when the cutters are dull. You may also sharpen carbide cutters by hand if desired to extend the life of the cutter. This makes carbide tools a good option for woodturners with limited shop space for additional equipment or those with limited knowledge of how to sharpen tools on a grinder. 

If you’re just getting started turning or don’t sharpening equipment, you should consider carbide turning tools. These tools are appealing to beginners and many experienced turners alike as they allow you to enjoy excellent results instantly without having to learn or remember complicated tool techniques. Also, if your primary interest is turning pens and small projects using acrylic blanks, there is no better tool for the job.   

Learning how to use traditional woodturning tools is fun and rewarding. It’s also more efficient as the surface quality off the tools is finer than carbide turning tools, meaning you have less sanding to do. Learning tool techniques and continuing to hone your skills over time is part of what makes woodturning so enjoyable. While carbide tipped turning tools offer instant gratification and are ideal for beginners, the tradition of woodturning can best be enjoyed via tools and methods.

Yes! Red Dragon carbide cutters fit Easy Wood Tools as well as most other carbide turning tool brands on the market. We’ve found them to fit just as well as OEM carbide cutters.