Carbide is more expensive per unit than other typical tool materials, and it’s more brittle, making it susceptible to flaking and breaking.” To compensate for these problems, the carbide cutting tip itself often comes in the form of a small insert for a larger tip tool whose rod is made of another one’s material, usually carbon tool steel. This gives the advantage of using "carbide" at the "cutting interface" without the high cost and fragility of manufacturing the entire carbide tool. Most modern surface cutters use carbide pads, as well as many lathe tools and end cutters.