I came across some reviews for a wood carving kit on Amazon (TaitaTools 20PC Carbide Double/Single Cut Burr Set) and noticed one reviewer mentioned not to use these tungsten carbide bits on wood. They said that while the manufacturer lists wood as a material, the extra heat generated and limited chip clearance from natural wood resin buildup could be problematic. As a beginner, I'm confused because I've seen YouTubers recommend similar bits without any mention of these issues. Can someone clarify what this means?
3 Answers
It also depends on the type of wood you’re working with. Woods like pine or spruce can gum up any bit pretty easily. I deal with this by cleaning clogged bits using a blowtorch; just be careful not to overheat them since it usually doesn’t harm the burr.
Using tungsten carbide bits on high-resin woods can lead to efficiency issues and even scorch the wood surface. I keep a butane torch handy to burn off the gunk that builds up—just a quick heat helps clear it away without damaging the bit.
The reviewer's concern is about how tungsten carbide burrs handle wood. A burr with poor chip clearance may remove material but fail to clear it, leading to a messy cut and heat buildup from friction. If resin from the wood accumulates, it can clog the bit, making cutting less smooth and generating more heat. So, the reviewer might be saying that for precise work, especially with certain woods, these burrs might not perform well due to that buildup.
Are the double cut burrs worse for this issue than the single cut ones? I read that double cut burrs have better chip clearance because of their additional grooves.