Re: Rotary Tool ??
Mike Schwing from Md.
>Jennifer, over the past year I've gained lots of new tools and experience in this area. As a new carver, but with a few things completed with pleasant results, here are my thoughts, for what they're worth.
I have; a Powercrafter - the 300,000 rpm air powered dental drill, A Dremel XPR 400, and a Foredom SR.
The Foredom is an incredible machine. I bought the SR but plan on exchanging it for the TX, as the SR is 1/8hp and the TX 1/3hp. It is fine, but for big roughing out jobs it can't spin the big 1/4" typhoon/Kutzall bits the way I want them to. The handpieces allow me to use the tiny bits that came with the Powercrafter or the big a** 1/4" bits. Incredible versatility. The unit is also QUIET, and smooth, very smooth. I like the footpedal variable speed control even though I thought I would not. I still think I'd like to have the bench dial vs. control, but no $$ right now for it.
The Powercrafter is great for tiny details and final shaping, but only for that. It will not take much of a load and quickly tells you how it wants to be used, you will develop a very light delicate stroke, almost like fine line painting as you learn to use it. It is great for carving detail on the bottoms of bowls, etc.. and for signing your work. you can even do a little burning with it.
I have not turned the Dremel on since receiving the Foredom, and only use the Powercrafter when I need absolute fine detail, which is at the very end of most of my carving work, or when finishing a bowl bottom/signing.
I can't get the same tiny bits that are used for the powercrafter to perform the same in the Foredom - it just doesn't spin fast enough, but it isnt' designed to. The Powercrafter is really fun.
If you have one of these on your mind, I'd recommend looking closely at the heavier duty Foredom with the rotary bench variable speed control.
BTW, if you wind up carving wet wood, I find the Kutzall bits don't clog, whereas the Typhoons do immediately. And oh, I don't think it is the quality of your tool so much, rotary carving doesn't always produce fantastic results, but if your bits are dull that could exacerbate the problem. Also, if your handpiece has any slop at all in the bearings, the bits tend to vibrate on the workpiece and produce a lousy finish. The Foredom bearings are very solid. Dremel, less so.
