[Jewelry making - Article 00451] - Re: [Orchid] Broken drill bits remover

[David J McIntyre]

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Peter, Jim and any with odd interests:

    In my professional life a surgical center was one component of my
    practice. Beginning in about 1976 I used a tungsten carbide lathe
    cutter insert (one of the one inch round ones that I found at Boeing
    surplus) in surgery. It was sterilized along with all my goodies and
    my assistant used it to form the tip of a new hypodermic needle into
    a vicious little hook which I then used as a disposable surgical
    instrument. The sterilization cycle was carried out at about 250 F.
    in an atmosphere of alcohols, ketones, formaldehyde and about 9%
    water. For some 35 years these sterilizers had no noticeable effect
    on instruments made of 300, 440 and 770 series stainless, nor on
    titanium or my diamond scalpels. HOWEVER, the cutting edges of the
    carbide inserts simply disappeared after several months! The flat
    surface was little affected remaining slick and hard and just right
    for making hooks on needles. 

    I've never looked into the explanation, perhaps one of our metals
    wizards can enlighten us. 

Dr. Mac
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