TIN coated HSS - any thoughts or information on these tools?

[Barry Larson]

I didn't want to hijack any of the threads on sharpening or HSS types so I'm starting a new thread on TIN coatings. I just came across these tools from New Zealand. Anyone know anything about these and if there are any advantages? TIN coating have been around for awhile in the drill bit sector and for some metal cutting applications, but I was under the assumption it was more for ease of chip removal than for edge durability.

Sorby 1/4 Bowl Gouge TiN

Sorby 1/4 Bowl Gouge TiN

www.carbatec.co.nz

Be safe and stay well.
Barry W. Larson
Calgary, Alberta, Canada eh!

 

[hockenbery]

Anyone know anything about these and if there are any advantages? TIN coating have been around for awhile in the drill bit sector and for some metal cutting applications, but I was under the assumption it was more for ease of chip removal than for edge durability.

I have a 1/2” Robust gouge (5/8 dia bar) that has a nitride treatment. No mention if titanium just nitride,

Robust Tool performs well. Takes a nice edge, cuts well, chip removal is great but it is a has a parabolic flute and that flute profile does not clog.
I’m not a good judge on how long the edge lasts because I’m always sharpening a useable edge as I move through steps in a turning.

I have a couple Jamieson gouges made by Thompson

In use both the Robust and the Jamieson will turn a 4” sphere without sharpening.
Both will hollow a 8x5 Natural edge bowl without sharpening but i alway sharpen when I begin to finish turn the inside wall.
The tools are Cutting well when I do this, just want the sharpest tool at this step.

 

[john lucas]

I also have some Robust tools. Still pretty new at using them. They seem to hold an edge well but like AL I sharpen so frequently that I seldom really test an edge. According to Brent the coating on these tools actually penetrates the metal a short ways. Not sure what the advantage is.

 

[Dwayne Watt]

Nitriding is not a coating. It is a heat treatment that infuses nitrogen into the surface of the steel. This creates a very hard material surface that is less 8 microns thick (typical) which does not readily oxidize (rust). That is about 0.0003 inch. The idea is the very hard material will hold an edge longer than the base material without being brittle.
TiN is a coating that is also very hard, very thin and is removable. It predominantly reduces friction in metal tool application. I have no idea if it does anything for tools used on wood but the idea is the hard coating will reduce wear on the chisel.

 

[Bill Blasic]

I got a couple of the Robust gouges from Brent for an article. For me to do the article Brent said I must state that I work in the Thompson Tool Booth which I agreed to. Before the article was to be published the magazine was stopped due to the editors retirement. They were good looking tools and cut just fine but I didn't see them staying any sharper longer than regular high speed steel. That was just my own finding. I let numerous folks try them and some liked them and some didn't, not any different findings than any other brand of tools. I passed them on and hopefully folks are still trying them out.

 

[Roger Wiegand]

Isn't the coating removed when you sharpen and hone the edge?

 

[Brent@TurnRobust]

Isn't the coating removed when you sharpen and hone the edge?

Hi Roger, Brent from Robust Tools here. The cutting edge on a gouge is defined by the flute and the surface you grind at the end. Since the entire gouge gets the treatment, the flute has it too. So when you grind the end of the gouge, the treatment is still on the flute and therefore right on the very cutting edge. Same for scrapers if you leave the top alone. The burr has the treatment. Of course, there is no treatment left on the edge of a skew chisel. I suppose aggressive honing could remove the treatment.