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carbide tip dimensions?

D

David Dickman

Joined
Jul 3, 2022
Messages
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Location
Raleigh, NC
I have one of these:

(no idea why that copied and pasted huge and bold)
and one of these:

Trying to find the dimensions for the tips, but I'm totally unable to find the dimensions of the screws that hold these on. For the wen, I can't seem to find any dimensions. Anyone have that info? I'd like to order replacement tips, but don't necessarily want to be tied to the same brands. Thanks.
 

Aogbra 8Pcs Tungsten Carbide Cutters Inserts Set for Wood Lathe Turning Tools(Include 11mm Square with Radius,12mm and 8.9mm Round,30x10mm Diamond with sharp point),Supplied with Screws​

 
David Dickman said:
Trying to find the dimensions for the tips, but I'm totally unable to find the dimensions of the screws that hold these on. For the wen, I can't seem to find any dimensions. Anyone have that info? I'd like to order replacement tips, but don't necessarily want to be tied to the same brands. Thanks.
Click to expand...
As Sam said some replacement tips come with screws. Save your orginal screws when you swap out the tips. The holes aren't threaded and should slide right in screw into the cutting bar.
I have tried several different tips for my cutters and I haven't found one that the original screw didn't fit.
 
Thanks for all the help. Seems like the central holes are different sizes, so I wasn't sure the original screw would fit with a different size hole. The screws for the wen and the other brand aren't interchangeable. From these posts, sounds like it doesn't matter. Thanks for the help. Az carbide looks li a great resource, but my handles are cruddy enough brands that they are not listed on his reference sheet.
 
Dwight R Rutherford said:
Call here, they can help you.
Arizona Carbide. Com
Click to expand...
I don't know about that. Seems like Arizona Carbide has added another layer of mystery to carbide insert identification intended to confuse buyers into buying from them.

Not that they're the only ones doing this. I have yet to see a carbide insert turning tool maker who uses the the industry standard designations for their inserts. Very likely the vast majority of inserts used in woodworking tools are low quality Chinese, but satisfactory for woodturning. If the toolmakers would completely identify their inserts buyers could find them on eBay for much lower prices.

Basically the low quality Chinese inserts and outright counterfeits of name brand inserts right down copying the packaging make buying inserts difficult these days. These problems are more related to metal working usage though.
 
It's not just a matter of the thread and diameter. The taper under the (usually torx) head is critical to holding the cutter on. I have tips from AZ Carbide: these are properly located only once the screw is fully home. i.e. the hole diameter in the cutter is slightly larger than the diameter of the screw. Once tight, all is tight!
 
I’d suggest finding the screw diameter-if it’s imported it’s probably metric if not probably UNC and the pitch of the threads. Measure the diameter at the bottom and top of the taper and ask your chosen suppliers for the dimensions and taper of their inserts. I’m sure AZ were imperial. Their website showed the screw size that was supplied -or did when I bought
 
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