Relief carving with power??

[Alice in Wonderland]

Hi Susan
with envy I was folloing your so informative relief carving technique how I wish! my hands are very poor do to Arthritis and I can only work with power tools now is there anyway I could do this? Thanks for your help
Alice

[squbrigg]

Alice, I ran into a similar problem only mine was due to a car accident. No strength or endurance to relief carve. I developed a way to do it though, a combination of both, power and edged.

Draw out your pattern on the wood and identify the basic depths your scene will have. Use a drill press with a Forstener bit to cut away the background, using the depth settings to control your depth. Remember, the bits will have a small sharp point in the center to guide their cuts, but you can either work with that and power grind the scene level or grind off the point on the bit before you begin. Once the basic depths are achieved, then use a power carver to round, shape and finish up, or if you are able, use edged tools to finish up.

Where there's a will, there's a way!

Bob

[BobD]

A lot of carvers also use routers to remove the background to the proper level. The Dremel with a router attachment lets you get into tighter corners. Then you can just detail with traditional power carving tools.

Bob

[Alice in Wonderland]

Thanks for your replys I shall try this if I can get at the drillpress :-) :-)
I have my corner in the workshop and thats it. I must cook something special for supper and make my point :-) does this sound right guys??? (lol)
Thanks again
Alice

[Huon_Carver]

I started whittling,with a small modelling knife over 20 yrs ago,then graduated to chisels,but now i find that inline power grinders and cutters,used in conjunction with chisels can have a very rewarding affect,as i can get certain patterns from different cutting heads,which can not be achieved by a chisel,so I for one do believe in mixing old and new technology,as was stated by another member,where there is a will,there is a way

[Irish]

Hey Alice ... it's not what tools you use to create the different levels and layers early in a relief carving, it's that you do establish those levels to make the impression of a 3-d type image. Just because I am using a round gouge and sweep to drop my background you can, of course, check out which power bits work for you to do the same drop.

I really don't see any reason why you can't come along in the fun using power!

Susan

[Tucson Bill]

Speaking of all this, I have the 10.8V Lithium Dremel Tool. Does anyone know for sure whether the Dremel routing attachment will fit this tool or not?

[Tucson Bill]

In regard to the above question, I emailed Dremel Customer Support. I received the following reply:

While the 10.8V Model 800 cordless rotary tool and Model 335-01 plunge router fit together, its best application is for a small one time project. You will receive a greater reduction in run time when using them and the battery will require several charges. Extended routing is better suited to a corded model Dremel. The cordless tools are not as powerful as the corded unit.

Guess that answers the question!

[Ashbys]

I like the statement ... ONE TIME ....sounds like a Dremel Bouncing S

Ash