Carving?

Re: Carving?

Mac

>Mark, I have an older carving tool, the Ryobi, which has been discontinued. They are still available occasionally on E-Bay and other sites.There are a rash of newer versions on the market, but in my opinion they are no better and in some cases not as good.I have a Foredom and also the recipro shaft for it ,again,not as good.If you can find a Ryobi,buy the Flex Cut blades for it, and give it a try.It can add another dimension to turning.

I vote for pneumatics

Bob Hackett

>For wasting large amounts of wood its hard to beat either the Lancelot or the Arbortech on a 5" angle grinder.An electric chainsaw will remove wood faster but its harder to control.

For finer work I use pneumatic die grinders,both straight and 90 deg.For even finer work a pneumatic pencil grinder comes into play.From there its handwork.

I have a Ryobi electric carver too and like it except for the hand fatigue during long useage.Al Stirt uses a stone carving rig for this type of work,as soon as I hit the lottery I plan to get one too.

Pneumatics are worth the money IMO.I got tired of electric tools heating up and burning out.I didn`t like the weight either.If you lean too hard on a pneumatic it just stalls till you let up.Try that with an electric tool and it fries.Pneumatics are also easy to rebuild and rebuilds are a long time between if you feed the tools clean air and oil.

The only drawback I can think of for pneumatics is that they freeze up in colder weather so no outdoor carving for me during the winter.(not that I did much of it anyway)

Mainely,Bob

Re: Carving?

John Lucas

>Mark

I'm still a rotary tool carver or I use had carving tools. I have the Ryobi and I find the vibration so iritating that I hardly use it. Every now and then I need a shape that I can't get with a rotary tool so I'll pull it out.

I'm currently trying to go the Pneumatic route. All my friends who do lots of carving have either gone that route or switched to hand tools and done the traditional style.

For big stuff that needs roughing I use a 3" angle grinder with ne of the chain saw blades. Everyone says the Arbortec is better but I'm pretty good with this. I really would like to have a smaller tool with the small arbortec cutter.

Re: Rotarians

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>I have a Lancelot and such, but I'm not looking for rotary cutting/grinding. I'm interested in in-line chisel strokes that I don't have to use this here big old sledge to make.

I was trained to carve stone with 5 & 3 lb hammers. When in grad school a friend took me out to a limestone products outfit near Bloomington, ID. Guys let me "try" one of their air drivers. That's very cool [x2] and way easier on the forearms, so I wouldn't mind one for wood so onmg as my 12 CFM compressor will run it.

Know any brands?

I tried the Ryobi electric years ago; not an option with my Carpul Tunnel.

Mark

Re: Ryobi

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>Tried that one years back when a friend got one to play with. As I remember the vibration wiped my hands for about a day. Carpal Tunnel + Tennis Elbow from younger days.

Thanks, Mac

Re: Air

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>John,

Got any sources for the air drivers?

Thanks

Re: Air

John Lucas

>Mark

I haven't gotten far enough to look at air powered drivers. I know they exist but I haven't looked yet. I've got to build some projects with my new air tools and get comfortable with them. Then I 'll probably find a "need" for the reciprocating and I'll start looking and wait for a good sale.

Reciprarians

Bob Hackett

>Maybe I should trademark that?

Trow and Holden and Granite City,both in Vermont offer the handpieces and chisels.

There`s some adapting needed to get the proper shank on a wood carving chisel.

You may want to try one of these tools before ordering as they do vibrate a bit.Not as bad as the Ryobi,more like a strong humming,may not be good for the carpal tunnel.I know even a ROS gets mine going.

Most of what you do with an inline tool can be replicated with a rotary now.If carpal tunnel is a problem,join the rotary club.

Mainely,Bob

Re: Carving? *LINK*

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>If you already have something like a Dremel tool (I have the Craftsman clone - Christmas present - go figure) you can buy a recipricating carver set from Craft USA called a Wecher for $45.

I got one back in March, and have only played with it a bit, but I like it.

Mark


http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/frames/frameset_carving.html

Re: Carver

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>Thanks, Mark,

I had seen that one on the Woodcarver's Supply site. Kind of pricey for the "extra" chisels.

Mark