Automach

#1 08-12-2003, 11:42 AM

What is an Automach???
Doel

#2 08-12-2003, 02:32 PM

santosdepalo,
The Automach is a power carving tool used instead of or to compliment the use of hand tools. It can be of great use to remove woodstock. It is termed as a reciprocating tool and can be fitted with different blades.
It is great for people that may be to week to use hand tools or for people that need to wook faster. Notice I didn't say more accurate.

I am a begining carver and a power carver. Some day I will get the guts to try it the traditional way.
Here is a link to Woodcarver so you can see it and what it costs.

http://shop.woodcraft.com/Woodcraft/...fcode=04ING008

Carving!

Brad

#3 08-13-2003, 02:50 AM

I'm thinking that the 'traditional' way was to use the best available tools for carving at the time...or times.

I suspect some of the old, dead carving greats are looking down at those who refuse to use anything but 'traditional' tools in 2003, shaking their heads and having a good chuckle: 'Knuckleheads' 8)

Teri

Callynne · #4 08-13-2003, 07:10 AM

I totally agree Teri, I think anything you use to get the 'waste' away and find what you're looking for in the wood is just fine.
I had a piano for years, even tried some lessons and I can tell you, having a piano and using it didn't make me a piano player in the least. In my opinion, having power tools isn't going to make you a more talented carver, it's just going to make the carving 'work' part easier!
If I hadn't found reciprocating carvers I would have had my hands so messed up that my carving 'career' would have been over six months after it started! :'( Thank goodness that isn't the case!

Callynne

#5 08-13-2003, 01:10 PM

Sissies, that's what y'all are is a bunch of sissies ... REAL traditional carvers use flint tools and stone mallets ...

#6 08-13-2003, 01:47 PM

LOL...I guess they would, Ed. Now that I have my Automachs, though, I've deemed them my new 'tradition' in carving. I'll never rough anything out by hand again, unless I'm stuck on some island without any electricity.

Hmmmmm, I still wonder where those 'traditional' carvers plugged in their bandsaws, as I see those who preach 'tradition' being more than willing to use a bandsaw!

Teri

#7 08-13-2003, 02:01 PM

[quote author=Plain_Ol_Ed link=board=GeneralC;num=1060706549;start=0#4 date=08/13/03 at 13:10:29]Sissies, that's what y'all are is a bunch of sissies ... REAL traditional carvers use flint tools and stone mallets ...[/quote]

Yeh and fingernails and teeth!! ya gotta be tough! :

mdallensr · #8 08-13-2003, 03:23 PM

In our weekly class, we don't use power carvers although a couple are available. If ten carvers fired up Automachs we wouldn't be able to take the noise. Occasionally someone will use one to knock off some waste, but we try to get our blanks down to manageable size on the bandsaw or with big gouges and mallets before we all get around the table. At home, I use anything that will get rid of the waste. My Ryobi is OK, but my big gouges and mallet can be even faster. I try to bandsaw my 'carving-in-the-round' blanks in both directions, so there isn't much left to knock off. Let's face it: after you've carved out the bowl of a few dozen love spoons, and method seems justified.

I agree with my instructor's advice about really carving, with knives, chisels and gouges, by hand, to learn how to make the basic cuts and to get the feel of the grain. I also really enjoy 'making chips' in good carving wood, so the traditional tools don't seem like a burden to me. Some of us enjoy the process, some are results oriented, but we're all carvers making our own way; no right or wrong.

#9 08-13-2003, 04:36 PM

For years all I used was a pocket knife xxx then I bought some gouges and chisels then I bought some more then .... I tried carving with a dremel and didn't care for the noise and dust so back to the hand tools ... on rare occasions I'll rough something out on the band saw, but most times I just gut it out with a knife. It's how I enjoy carving and being as how I do it for the enjoyment and have nobody to please but me and no schedule to meet so that's what I do. But, if somebody wants to do otherwise, who am I to open my bigger than normal mouth?

#10 08-13-2003, 05:35 PM

Thanks for the info.
Traditional carving is to use what is available.
A lot of Santeros in PR think that power carving and evens acrylics should not be use in carvings. The believe in making everything from scratch even the paint.
Now I use X-acto blades and a dremmel. Does that makes me less of a carver for not liking to sharp.
Now I will look into th automach becuse roughting out is another of my pains.
Do you have to sharps tha Automach blades a lot?
Doel :-*