Don't know anything about the Hunter, but I have a Rockler carbide tool and just got a Woodchuck Pen Pro for Christmas. I have done demos with several Easy Tool brand carbide chisels.
I wish I could find something nice to say about the Rockler. I simply cannot control the thing. On the rare ocassions when I get it to cut correctly, it yields beautiful smooth cuts. Then, within 15 seconds, it catches, and all hell breaks loose. Either the blank stops and the lathe screams, the tool almost comes out of my hands, or I gouge or shatter the blank. I bought it because it was on sale, and much cheaper than the Easy Tool, several of which I used as a demo once and liked ok. I strongly suspect the Rockler tool is uncontrollable because it has a very long handle, so tiny movements of the handle, even when you don't realize you have moved it, sometimes translate into disaster. I definately would not buy it again. I may try shortening the handle.
The Woodchuck Pen Pro is night and day different. It takes getting used to, and I admit I still like my Sorby tools better. But unlike the Rocker, it is SUPER controlable, I suspect that is because, in large part, it has such a short handle. It also produces extremely fine cuts, but it does demand patience. Basically, all carbide tools are capable of cutting faster than the material can handle, so if I push any carbide tool even a little too much I get an explosion. But the Pen Pro is SO MUCH MORE PREDICTABLE than other carbide tools. I still think it is more difficult to "read" than my Sorby's but overall I like it and will keep learning to use it.
Hope that was of some use to you. Bottom line-if you want a carbide tool for pens, buy the Pen Pro. BTW, I don't know bitshird, so this is a totally objective opinion.
