Ceramic insert tools now? *LINK*

Re: Ceramic insert tools now?

Ron Borowicz

I have a hunting knife with a ceramic blade. Undoubtedly the sharpest knife I have ever use.

Re: Ceramic insert tools now?

Barry Irby

I have a ceramic kitchen knife. It was sharp when I got it but it did not stay sharp much longer than a good steel knife. I sharpen it with a diamond hone.

Re: Ceramic insert tools now?

john lucas

it's still a scraper but I wonder how sharp it is. Probably not as sharp as the kitchen knives but could feasibly have a pretty keen edge for what looks like a 45 degree angle.

Would also like to see how long the edge holds up. I was very dissappointed in the cutters on the EZ wood tools.

I have a ceramic kitchen knife ......

JamieDonaldson

..that is just about useless about keeping a keen edge, and it just doesn't feel like a real steel knife! As John said, it is just another scraper, for beginners who don't know how to sharpen or use a bowl gouge.

Re: Ceramic insert tools now?

John K Jordan

All ceramic edges are not created equal. Who will buy one of these for testing?

Years ago the R&D group I worked with developed process hardware and software for a major national ceramics company. They were developing some amazing ceramics and the head engineer showed me some samples. (He was putting ceramic tips on his deer hunting arrows. He said they are continually discovering how to make sharper and tougher ceramic processes. This was at least 25 years ago, maybe more.

Some time later, a friend of mine in a research facility gave me some ceramic pieces he had made to test on the lathe. Small but so tough, had to be sharpened with a diamond wheel. They worked extremely well but were pretty small. This was about 15 years ago. Later still we had discussions about infusing carbon nanofibers and other materials into ceramic with potential leaps in properties. There are a LOT of smart researchers across the world pursuing such ideas.

I have not kept up with the progress, however I would not be surprised to find that someone has ceramics today that are sharper and tougher than carbide. Maybe I'll ask my buddy who is still in that work. (He is also a woodturner.)

If such ceramics do exist today, how about someone talking these people into making a fully formed tip shaped like your favorite grind for a bowl gouge or spindle gouge, razor sharp? If not, perhaps wait.

I can imagine a future of buying a gouge or skew and never sharpening again.

JKJ

Re: I have a ceramic kitchen knife ......

John Veerkamp

Since ceramic knives became popular lots of companies have jumped in. There is a huge difference between quality ceramic knives and dime store ones. Just like turning tools some are very bad, some are awful, most fall between the extremes. This seems to be a case of "you get what you pay for" to an extent. We have had two , both remain sharp after several years of use.

Re: Ceramic insert tools now?

Dale Miner

I am only one tool away from greatness.