Easy there James. You missed the point. There are places for both and the guy who uses both is smart. I few points I have to make thought. I stayed out as long as I can.
1. Yes you will get more hours out of a set of carbides. But factor the price for a given time period (500hrs) and the price difference between our blades and carbides it ends up a draw on that point. If I can do the same amount of work, faster, and with less fuel, that is the point!!
2. Our blades cut the same at there last hour as they do there first. A carbide's effientency decline's from day one till there replaced. Sure you can make a carbide continue to work but I guess that's why on average carbide equiped unit are atleast 200hp more or greater. That my friend ends up being a waste of fuel. With prices per ft going down and cost of fuel going up that has to be considered.
3. Cimaf heads in Tx. Well since your talking about my territory, next when I'm there I'll show you a few, we will not ride all day and still have time to sharpen a set of blade's or 2

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4. Excavator brands, really! pumps on excavators, 5000-5500psi, gpm based on hp and install it right and there just different colors and personal preference.
5. I feel ya James, I personally would not want to sit in a machine in a dust bowl working, waiting for a soft spot to get stuck in

. Or look back and know the mile I just cleared is only 1 of 15.