Discussion on "The advantages of the latest cutting materials" at the Glasgow Section of the Institution

MR. W. BUCHANAN: With regard to Mr. Muirhead´s reference to tungsten carbide as against high speed steel, I believe the later mixtures of tungsten carbon are an improvement. Tapping and screwing. I do not think there is much improvement in the ordinary steel used for taps and dies, but there is a big difference in the grinding of threads. They give better clearances and pitches and I think that is why we get higher speeds from our taps and dies. Tipping of high speed steel shanks. I should like to hear more of the method by which it is done. We know it is difficult to put a Wimet tip on to a high speed steel shank. Another point. He refers to the saving of material due to the use of tungsten carbide tools. I think that that point only refers to quantity manufacture because, where you have only one or two parts to make, the extra cost of the pattern to ensure accurate castings would be far more than any saving of material.