How to cut tungsten carbide?

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

I'm considering buying some tungten carbide tipped planer blades that are too long for my planer…is there any easy way to trim these down?

they are HSS with tips on 1"x 1/8" x 16" long

thinking my tile saw? diamond blade water cooled?

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Ian,

There is a useful discussion [circa 2010] on the Practical Machinist forum.

MichaelG.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I've used those little dremel discs to cut up hss

Put the disc in the chuck

Put the hss in the toolpost

Cut on highest speed, slowly and carefully

Cover your lathe bed etc from the dust

[David LittlewoodParticipant @davidlittlewood51847]

Ian,

I find your question confusing. You say you are considering buying some tungsten carbide-tipped planer blades, but then say they are HSS with tips. I find it hard to imagine the maker would use HSS as a support for carbide tips, I think you will find it is some lesser steel alloy. In that case, you should be able to cut through the backing with a hacksaw, then the carbide part should snap quite easily (DO wear eye protection as bits might fly).

David

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Yes perhaps they are lesser grade of steel the steel i can cope with but will the tungsten snap where I want it to? its perhaps 10mm x 1.5 in size on a backing of steel 25mm x 3.5 mm the planer blades want to end up at 310mm long from their existing 400 mm long.

I'm presuming a thin cutting disc wont touch the carbide?

[BaldricParticipant @baldric]

If these are for a planner I guess that owing to the speed these operate at you will need to ensure the lengths are identical otherwise the blades will be out of balance, which will cause problems.

[Author]

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