Testing a New Tungsten Carbide Turning Tool Made by RD Pottery & Tools.

This week, I'm testing a new tungsten carbide trimmer made, and VERY kindly gifted to me, by Rahmi Imrak of RD Pottery & Tools, links and such below. I talk tungsten carbide, how and why it's better and worse in some situations, and discuss the trimmer itself, the handle, the shape of the blade and more. Thanks for watching!
RD Pottery & Tools website: www.rdpottery.com
Rahmi Imrak's Instagram: / rd.pottery.tools
📖 • ORDER MY BOOK: geni.us/bymyhands
🏺 • You may also be interested in my 'A Beginner's Guide' series, which you can find here: • How to Throw a Pot - A...
Timecodes:
0:00 - Introduction and unboxing
2:20 - Trimming the first bowl
5:32 - Are these the best tools for trimming?
6:18 - Why I don't use tungsten carbide tools to 'finish' the surface
9:38 - Trimming the second bowl
11:58 - Talking tools, 'copying' and supply & demand
14:04 - How I clean my trimmers
15:07 - Clean up
•
Find out much more via the link below!
linktr.ee/floriangadsby
•
Get in touch here: www.floriangadsby.com/contact
Sign up to my newsletter here: www.floriangadsby.com/newsletter

[@kaysmith7028]

amateur blacksmith here,tungsten carbide is never used in knives (from what I've seen,there might be special cases) because it is just so brittle,you almost always want your knife to have a bit of bend otherwise it will just crumble under any stress,hope this helped

[@JoshZanders]

Not a potter or ceramicist in any way, as much as i enjoy your videos. But as an ex-machinist, I can personally attest to the insane hardness and fragility of tungsten carbide. I've seen carbide end mills get red-hot while cutting through hardened tool steel, literally throwing sparks, and still be sharp enough to cut cleanly afterward. And conversely, I've accidentally snapped one in half from setting it down on a workbench too roughly.

[@cressrose]

I love the point you make that because you have a nice set of tools doesn't make you automatically amazing at your trade. It's your experience and your practice and hours of effort you put into learning and honing that trade that make you good at it. This applies to so many different art forms-- and honestly, to a lot of learnable skills. The fancy stuff doesn't make you a master. Experience does. I just think that's a really good reminder/lesson; thanks for including that in the vid.❤ Hope the tools continue to work well, and that you have great success with them! :)

[@SweetPickins]

Thanks for the detailed video about the tungsten blades. I have a couple and they haven’t been my favorite because of the chattering. But good to see that you use them for removing the bulk and smooth over with a metal blade or rib- will definitely give them a go again and try all your tips!

[@floriangadsby]

Welcome! It also helps if you trim at about 5 o'clock on the pot - there is a sweet spot where chattering tends to happen less - and the condition off the clay really is paramount. It needs to be on the firm side of leather hard but not turning bone dry anywhere, which can be a difficult moment to catch. Good luck and thanks for watching!

[@SweetPickins]

@@floriangadsby thank you for the tip on the 5 o’clock. Excited to get out and throw some pots today and use your advice. Have a great rest of your day!

[@jasonb6570]

New Tool Day is always a good day.

[@galacticmechanic1]

I like that you emphasize that the new tool, while an amazing piece, is not the be all and end all of pottery tools and simply has its place in the toolbox.

[@alexandraframe6493]

I’m no where ready for such fantastic trimming tool. I need to get better at throwing on the wheel. I’m do good slab build, I love doing it, the creations are endless. Your videos have help me so much, thank you.

[@eileenwhaaat]

I looked into tungsten tools for the first time last night and was shocked how high prices can get. Thanks for the video! I’ll hopefully use these beautiful trimming tools one day soon

[@tireballastserviceofflorid7771]

I know almost nothing about pottery tools. But I do know tools and tool steels in particular. I am was a machinest in one for or another for nearly all my life. I couldn't think of a better metal to be used for that tool. The extreme grit and abrasion quality of clay is crazy. Especially if you have cullet in it. Very nice looking tool. Now I want to try pottery even more...

[@jocewaitwhat]

I have my first trimming lesson in a few weeks! Thanks for all the inspiration! (Obviously I won’t be using the tungsten carbide anytime soon but still!)

[@Actually_Sanguinius]

I've always bee wondering why you never used the flattened edge of a trimming too to remove larger portions of clay while also leaving a smoother surface to follow through onto the rest of the piece. Now i know why. Thanks for clearing that up for my own curiosity. Also, I'm not even a potter but I've always had the idea that you used the tungsten carbide trimmers for heavy work and the blunted steel ones for finer and more detailed work. Its kinda like the difference in using a coarse wheel versus using a buffing wheel on a grinder. Glad my thought proved to be correct. Happy trimming.

[@wartris1]

Just commenting to support the video! I don't have anything profound to say this time-have a nice day Florian, and everyone else!

[@themoodyonejb]

💚

[@alexanderramirez3099]

trimming has become something overlooked in my ceramics class. but because of you Florian it has easily became my favorite part of the process

[@MrLewooz]

Starting with no money and borrowed material I made my tools out of Old cutlery from my guest house as we changed it for newer models. hack saw, vice, hammer, file, grinder and more grinder as you go.... as an Italian friend say: "Zero budget, Total guerilla approach" Still got them and if you do your own, you can shape them as you like!!!!!!!!

[@Joe___R]

You might want to look into some high-speed steel tools. They are much more durable than your standard steel tools but still made just as thin.

[@annamariasabatino9399]

I waited so long for my RD tools. I will be using them tomorrow for the first time!!!

[@Volther11]

As a new potter who received a carbide turning tool as a gift, they are hard to learn. It will amplifie the ondulation in the pot and cut a hole through the clay very fast.

[@2terryparker]

I am wanting the Big 7 by them. I would. Love to see a video with descriptions such as this on the big 7 tool

[@deathbydarwin1985]

I think with your glaze and clay would look beautiful with chattered textures, but I can see how it doesn't lend as well to your delicate thin wall style

[@deemdoubleu]

Hi Florian, do you have any videos on shapening conventional cheaper trimming tools. Something I have tried to do without much success.

[@jenniferkeller9857]

“May thy tungsten carbide trimming tool chip and shatter” -dune 2

[@lcweinstock]

"Supplys in a RELIABLE WAY" /SIDE EYE TO who I shall not name who makes your fave tools/ lol

[@themoodyonejb]

I had fun learning the trimming process of turning clay. My instructor is so patient 😂 thank you for the video.

[@ollieking3538]

Out of interest, what steel trimmers do you recommend? I’m finding it hard to find different shapes, aside from the standard tear drop which comes with absolute beginner tool kits.

[@rafttree]

Could you share a link to an example steel tool? I've not found one with that profile for finishing.

[@andrewnicon]

I just know I'd knock this thing off the table in 20 minutes

[@NyxWhiteFang]

Funny thing actually, tungsten carbide isn't an alloy! It's a powdery substance that can be made into solid items through sintering, but its molecular structure is more similar to gemstones than it is to metal, which is a big part of why it's so hard (doesn't lose its edge) and brittle.

[@floriangadsby]

Fascinating stuff! I'm terrified really about how fragile it is... I think it's time I expanded my box to keep the tools safely in.

[@JoshZanders]

Truth! It is its own mineral, not dissimilar to silicon carbide (often used as an abrasive in wet/dry sandpaper and grinding stones).

[@SunnyD74]

Ok, so I’m just starting out in pottery as a hobby, and I know these sorts of tools are far beyond my skill, need, and budget. Here’s where I’m stuck. I ordered a basic set off of amazon, but when I tried it, the tools were super dull and didn’t take off hardly anything. Does anyone have a suggestion for a brand that is affordable and basic, but effective?

[@MawoDuffer]

I’m a machinist and I think that this is a bad idea. Yeah they won’t get dull as fast but they will break very easily. Are there any trimmers made out of super steel instead of carbide? Look into Elmax steel; it’s stainless and it’s being used in knives. It’s possible heat treat extremely hard. I hypothesize that it will stay sharp long and could have a better resistance to shattering.

[@gabrielkopito3931]

2-3 year waiting list seems like sugarcoating Phil Poburka (Bison tools) current status... it's been 3 years of waiting for me (and my friends who grouped together on the same order) from him after he said he would get to it quickly, and he hasn't replied to a single message since he cashed my check. We had ordered from him previously and waited a year for the first tools - we've given up hope entirely on our last order.

[@floriangadsby]

From what I’ve heard from those who’ve successfully managed to get their orders recently, it took them emailing him every week until he responded. Apparently the initial orders were lost? But the customer did eventually manage, that’s the only advice I can give unfortunately.

[@redpandah3309]

Out of curiosity. Can you make a mix of 1:1 clay and porcelain and create anything out of it? i wonder how it will react with the glaze 🤔

[@floriangadsby]

Of course! It might not do much, depending on what the stoneware is like, but it'll likely just be a lighter body.

[@potterymaker793]

How are you dear

[@lauraalisanne]

Might you consider a video dedicated exclusively to all the tools you use? 😊

[@jacobrodenkirk2412]

i agree others can make tungsten tools..... but the fact that this RD tools and Shin and others are so obviously coping the handles and Ferrell and blade shapes. it does seem a little offensive. i have Phil's tools and i have met him a few times. these tools you're spotlighting are way way too close to phils to be flattering....just rip offs.

[@Iboughtanolddungeon]

What an absolutely ridiculous tool. Over engineered and over priced. I use 5 trimming tools that I made from Blue Steel Strap I got from a building site for nothing. Easy to shape into any form I need and held together with cheap brown electrician's tape, they easily sharpen with any grinder, stone, or piece of sanding paper, keep their edge, don't break even if I stand on them and I've had my collection for over 25 years with a total cost of £0.10p for the amount of tape I've used (2024 prices). You've got at least ten tools in your tray, so the idea of spending £600+ pounds for a set of pretty tools is beyond me. I don't need a tool that looks pretty, I need a tool that works and I don't have to waste money on. I thought potclays was a rip off company in the 80s, nothing I see here has convinced the industry is any better today... Beyond belief!