CARBIDE BUSHINGS

[Webster]

Does anyone know the actual composition of a carbide sizing bushing? I believe they use the term carbide steel which doesn't make sense. Is it a tool steel improperly called carbide steel, or sintered TiN containing no iron? I worked in a metallurgy lab for 45 years.

 

[ridgeway]

If they are sold as carbide...it's solid carbide. If they are steel bushings...they are either polished tool steel or coated with TiN(titanium nitride)

 

[Webster]

If they are sold as carbide...it's solid carbide. If they are steel bushings...they are either polished tool steel or coated with TiN(titanium nitride)

This is why I asked. A true carbide part would seem excessively complex and expensive to make. A lot of labor, furnaces and shaping. Doesn't make sense to make the part from anything but bar stock of some steel alloy.

Carbides are made by blending micron-sized tungsten carbide particles with Cobalt (or Nickel) powders. This mixture is placed in a mold and compacted to a net or near net shape. Green machining in the as-compacted state can be performed for added shape complexity and then this pre-form is sintered at a temperature that is high enough to allow the Cobalt to melt. As the Cobalt flows it coats or wets each grain. When the Cobalt cools it solidifies cementing the grains together forming a composite. Cemented Carbides get their hardness from the Tungsten Carbide grains and their toughness from the bonding.

 

[cmysix]

they may be just like a "carbide die" which is an oversized steel die with a thin carbide "shell " if you will to "line" the die with.

 

[dgeesaman]

They're dense. Not steel. I don't know which grade but they're not a coating / surface treatment.

 

[WSnyder]

All the carbide bushings I ever bought came from solid carbide (pressed, formed, sintered, etc…into solid material/stock). I assume they started as bar stock and were finished into bushings. @butchlambert used to have them made and supplied them years ago. Maybe he can elaborate on how exactly they were made.

 

[butchlambert]

All the carbide bushings I ever bought came from solid carbide (pressed, formed, sintered, etc…into solid material/stock). I assume they started as bar stock and were finished into bushings. @butchlambert used to have them made and supplied them years ago. Maybe he can elaborate on how exactly they were made.

They were solid carbide, molded or sintered? I don't really know. They were expensive to manufacture and lap to size. I made the mistake of having too many sizes for 4 different calibers. I had them for 22, 6mm, 6.5, and 30 cal. You multiply that times 9 diameters for each caliber and a minimum of 20 per each and I had quite an investment.

 

[RegionRat]

I'm wondering if you are after how the various industrial carbide materials are made in terms of composition?

There are several that are used for cutting tools and die making.

Among them, tungsten carbide, and cobalt carbides are common.

Colloquially, folks often use the word carbide for tungsten carbide (WC) and sometimes the others.

Is that what you were asking, or specifically how we make tungsten carbide?

 

[wildcat3d]

They were solid carbide, molded or sintered? I don't really know. They were expensive to manufacture and lap to size. I made the mistake of having too many sizes for 4 different calibers. I had them for 22, 6mm, 6.5, and 30 cal. You multiply that times 9 diameters for each caliber and a minimum of 20 per each and I had quite an investment.

I payed 2x plus that for my carbide
nk. bushing. three years ago...

 

[J_idaho]

I thought carbide was only used in pistol dies to avoid using lube. So this would be why it’s used in with bushings. Sounds more like another way to charge more and make someone feel like they are buying a superior product.

 

[dgeesaman]

When you use one you’ll ‘get’ it. They are pricey for their benefit but it’s not snake oil.

David

 

[alintx]

Found Redding carbide bushings and buttons for two bucks each at a gun show. Bought em all

 

[Catfur]

Silicon carbide? (carborundum)

 

[butchlambert]

Found Redding carbide bushings and buttons for two bucks each at a gun show. Bought em all

Carbide Redding bushings? You may want to check that. Titanium nitrated maybe.