There are four types of planer blades: high-speed steel (HSS) planer blades, carbide inserts, solid tungsten carbide planer blades, and tungsten carbide tipped (TCT) planer blades. Among them, HSS and carbide inserts are both popularly used for planer cutting due to their sharpness and durability.
Choosing the right blade is crucial for achieving a precise and clean surface in woodworking. Each blade type has its own advantages and disadvantages, suited to different tasks. So, here’s the question: Which is better, HSS or carbide inserts?
In this post, we will explore carbide inserts, HSS plaer blades, and their key differences to help you make an investment decision between the two.
Carbide Inserts Overview
Carbide inserts are mainly made of tungsten carbide material, an extremely hard material widely used in the manufacture of wear-resistant tools. These inserts are ideal for high-precision woodworking applications, particularly for hardwoods, composite materials, plastics, and certain metals.
They offer superior wear resistance and heat resistance, making them suitable for extended periods of high-load operation. Due to these advantages, they maintain excellent sharpness and produce highly smooth surfaces even under high-temperature conditions.
HSS Planer Blades Overview
The planer blades are made from HSS for hardness and sharpness. High-speed steel material is commonly used for high-speed cutting tools, such as router bits, drill bits, lathe tools, and planer & jointer blades.
High-speed steel planer blades offer excellent toughness, wear resistance, and cutting performance. They are ideal for handling soft wood, soft metals, and some hardwoods, thereby slowing down blade dulling.
The HSS planer blades are affordable, making them suitable for beginners or DIYers on a budget. However, the dullness over time can increase the subsequent cost of the HSS planer blade replacement. Therefore, in the long run, it is not an economical decision.
Comparison: Carbide Inserts vs HSS Planer Blades
In the previous sections, we have introduced the planer blades and the carbide inserts separately. This section will compare their differences. Here is a concise table to help you quickly grasp their key distinctions. Hope you can choose based on the actual requirements and your budget.
| Feature | HSS Planer Blades | Carbide Inserts |
| Material | Made from high-speed steel. | Made from tungsten carbide. |
| Cutting performance | Low precision due to dullness over time. | Produce highly precise and clean cuts. |
| Durability | Low durability and prone to deformation and wear. | Highly durable and wear-resistant. |
| Versatility | Ideal for softer materials. | Suitable for harder materials. |
| Hardness & sharpness | Hard but dulls quickly. | Sharp but brittle. |
| Cost | Lower initial cost but higher replacement cost. | Higher initial cost but lower cost in the long term. |
| Heat assistance | Lower and prone to losing temper or overheating. | Higher and able to maintain good performance. |
| Maintenance | More frequent sharpening and replacement. | Less frequent sharpening. |
Bottom Line
In summary, the indexable insert is better than the high-speed steel planer blade. HSS planer blades are known for their heat resistance and high hardness, but carbide inserts maintain their sharpness longer. HSS requires frequent sharpening, whereas the indexable design of carbide inserts allows them to be rotated to a fresh cutting edge as they wear down.
FindBuyTool provides premium-quality planer & jointer cutting tools, including HSS and carbide inserts. There are two shapes of carbide inserts: rectangular indexable inserts and square indexable inserts. When you want to replace or upgrade your cutterhead blades, visit our website and make a selection. If you cannot find the required carbide insert, we also provide custom insert manufacturing service.
FAQ About HSS vs Carbide Inserts
#1. Which is better, carbide or HSS?
Absolutely, carbide is better. Carbide inserts have higher hardness, wear resistance, and durability than HSS knives, making them ideal for working with hard materials. They are perfect for high-volume work on high-speed machinery.
#2. What is the disadvantage of HSS?
The disadvantages of HSS blades are:
- They wear out quickly.
- Low durability leads to frequent replacements, tending to affect work efficiency.
- Poor performance at high speeds.
- Limited material range.
#3. What are the disadvantages of carbide?
The disadvantages of carbide inserts are:
- Expensive.
- They are brittle and prone to chipping and breaking.
Also Read: How to Choose the Right Carbide Inserts?
