More and more woodworkers today are turning to woodworking insert tools because they offer an attractive combination of value, versatility and quality. But what exactly is woodworking insert tooling?
The cutting edges are manufactured separately from the tool bodies and joined later. Other types of tooling typically have cutting edges that are permanently attached to the body, usually by a silver solder braze joint. Woodworking insert tooling is joined to a tool post by some type of mechanical clamp or screw.
Carbide difference
A different grade of carbide can be used for woodworking insert tooling. The grade of carbide is most often a much better grade, because it’s mechanically clamped and doesn’t have to be brazed. In brazing, the material used to braze the knives to the tool post attaches to the carbide in the knife, changing the carbide slightly.
With brazing you can’t always get the angles you need in machining different types of hard woods, soft woods, composites or whatever. With woodworking insert tooling you get a better finish.
Woodworking insert advantages also extend beyond the cutting edge. Because woodworking inserts are attached to tool bodies mechanically, manufacturers can use different, lighter metals for tool bodies. Light-metal tool bodies minimize tool weight when addressing weight-sensitive tool applications.