For the same cutter – same profile, same diameter – you can often choose between three cutting-edge materials: DS Steel, HSS M2 or tungsten carbide (marked HW, also known as TCT). The price difference is significant, and so is the difference in tool life. The right choice depends on the wood you machine and on your production volume.
First: what HRC and HRA mean
HRC and HRA are Rockwell hardness scales. A marking such as “65 HRC” is not a type of steel but the hardness of the cutting edge: the higher the value, the better the edge resists wear. Steels are measured in HRC, while tungsten carbide, being much harder, is measured in HRA. The two values cannot be compared directly – 86 HRA is far harder than 65 HRC.
1. DS Steel – the budget option for softwood
DS Steel is a standard joinery tool steel, hardened to 58–61 HRC.
- Pros: lowest price, easy to sharpen, very keen edge.
- Best for: softwood – fir, spruce, pine, lime.
- Limits: dulls quickly on hardwood (beech, oak, ash). Not for chipboard, MDF or HDF.
2. HSS M2 – the balance of price and performance
HSS (High Speed Steel) grade M2 contains about 6% tungsten and 5% molybdenum, is hardened to 63–65 HRC and keeps its hardness at the temperatures reached during moulding.
- Pros: very fine edge, clean bright finish on softwood with no burn marks. Lasts noticeably longer than DS.
- Best for: softwood in medium volumes and hardwood in small volumes.
- Limits: not recommended for chipboard, MDF, HDF or very hard exotic species – the synthetic binders in boards wear the steel quickly.
3. Tungsten carbide (HW) – for hardwood, boards and high volumes
Tungsten carbide, marked HW (hard metal) or TCT, is not steel but a sintered material made of tungsten carbide (WC) bonded with cobalt (Co). Our cutters use grade K40 (VK15 – 85% WC, 15% Co), with a hardness of 86–87 HRA.
- Pros: several times longer tool life than steel, high resistance to abrasive wear. K40 has a higher cobalt content, so it handles impacts from knots and hardwood better.
- Best for: beech, oak, ash, exotic species, chipboard, MDF, HDF, laminated boards – and any high-volume production.
- Limits: higher price; can only be sharpened with diamond wheels at a specialised service. On softwood it needs a steady feed – if the cutter dwells in one spot while spinning, it can burn the wood.
Quick comparison
| Workpiece material | DS Steel | HSS M2 | Carbide (HW K40) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Softwood (fir, spruce, pine) | Good, economical | Very good | Good, with steady feed |
| Hardwood (beech, oak, ash) | Dulls quickly | Efficient | Very good |
| Chipboard / MDF / HDF | Not recommended | Not recommended | Optimal |
| Edge hardness | 58–61 HRC | 63–65 HRC | 86–87 HRA |
| Price | Low | Medium | High |
Choose in 10 seconds
- Small budget, softwood only, low volume? DS Steel.
- Fir, spruce, pine in medium volume and you want a bright finish with no burns? HSS M2.
- Oak, beech, MDF, chipboard or daily production? Carbide (HW K40).
Maintenance: how to extend cutter life
- Respect the recommended speed for the cutter diameter – excessive speed overheats the edge.
- Clean resin off the cutters after work – deposits increase friction and temperature.
- Sharpen in time at a specialised service. Cutters with brazed tips can be resharpened repeatedly, and when heavily worn the body can be re-tipped.
Where to find the cutters
Many of our cutters are available in several materials, selectable directly on the product page: spindle moulder cutters, raised panel cutters, furniture cutters and router bits. For surface planers and thicknessers see our planer knives, available in HSS and carbide.
Not sure which material you need?
Tell us what wood you machine, your volume and which machine you use – we will recommend the right option. Write to office@solgrat.com or call +40 756 733 343.