"Chris Hogg" wrote in message
...

PS: forgot to mention that tungsten carbide isn't magnetic, whereas
most steels are (but not all, I don't think, so not necessarily
absolutely definitive).

Apprently tungsten carbide tools also contain cobalt.

Testing some router cutters solid tungsten ones were much less
magnetic than steel. Basicaly it was an effort to pull steel
cutters off the magnetic whereas the tungsten ones fell away
easily.

So a comparison with a known HSS tool should gibve a good
indication.

Saying which, depending on the seller's feedback profile, and
the price paid, whether the seller will necessarily roll over
straightaway is another matter.


michael adams

....



--

Chris