carbon or HSS

[File HandleParticipant @filehandle]

Posted by Bill Phinn on 12/09/2022 17:52:30:

Am I to understand that the Tap and Die Company don't actually sell HSS taps, and that all of their taps are made of "HQS"?

If that is the case, I hope I'm not being overly cynical in tentatively concluding that they're selling what are essentially carbon steel taps (good ones, maybe) whilst trying to claim they're in a special qualitative category that puts them (implausibly, in my view) above more expensive HSS taps.

I've not actually checked that their HQS taps are cheaper than typical HSS taps, but I assume from Peak4's quoted blurb on the first page of this thread that they are.

Edited By Bill Phinn on 12/09/2022 17:56:08

No they sell both

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Posted by Keith Wyles on 12/09/2022 20:15:43:

No they sell both

Thanks, Keith. I've had a look at the "ordering site" now, and I see that's the case.

However, the logic of the seller's claims about "HQS" and HSS escapes me.

His offerings of the latter are described as "superior", which may be intended to mean superior in an absolute rather than a comparative sense, even if his HSS taps are routinely more expensive than his "HQS" equivalents.

But then he completely spoils the eulogy of his HSS stuff by describing his cheaper "HQS" offerings as "a tougher and better alternative to HSS". If what we want to buy is something "superior" in a comparative sense, which of the two does he actually want, or advise, us to buy?

In his eagerness to sing the praises of both HSS and "HQS", the seller appears to have lost track of the message he is ultimately conveying about each.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Posted by Bill Phinn on 12/09/2022 20:55:07:

Posted by Keith Wyles on 12/09/2022 20:15:43:

No they sell both

But then he completely spoils the eulogy of his HSS stuff by describing his cheaper "HQS" offerings as "a tougher and better alternative to HSS". If what we want to buy is something "superior" in a comparative sense, which of the two does he actually want, or advise, us to buy?

In his eagerness to sing the praises of both HSS and "HQS", the seller appears to have lost track of the message he is ultimately conveying about each.

I think we generally agree that HSS is tougher than CS and we tend to favour the former where resistance to breakage is important. However, the main advantage of HSS is retention of hardness at high temperature. If you don't need this property (and which of us does?) then possibly HQS is equally tough without the expense of retaining hot hardness.

Rod

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Posted by Roderick Jenkins on 12/09/2022 22:57:46:

possibly HQS is equally tough without the expense of retaining hot hardness.

Rod

There are two problems there, Rod:

First, the seller has said "HQS" is considered "tougher than HSS"; second, what assurance do we have that "HQS", whatever it is compositionally, is actually as tough as or tougher than HSS?

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