[rick-in-seattle]

Which do you use, Power or edge tools, or both? Why?

I use edge tools almost exclusively, I do use an Automach for roughing out.
I have never enjoyed power carving with a rotating bit.
I don't like the sound, it reminds me of the dentist office.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

I have tried them both and settled on edge tools. I like the portability, lack of noise, and lack of dust. Also, it's a pleasure to make chips with a well sharpened tool. I like to sit at the computer table and whittle and when I get tired I can just put the keyboard aside and use the computer. Just wouldn't due to have a bunch of dust around. The chips are bad enough. I've even gone one step farther into simplicity lately. Have been doing entire carvings with only a pocket knife, no other tools. Certainly not for everybody, but I enjoy it.

[Ron Davidson]

I always use edge tools for obvious safty reasons. I do own a power carver and agree it sounds like a dentist drill.

[Tom H]

I spent 10 years wearing out dremels,and then moving up to an AMC rotary carver with a handpiece. I have had a full beard for 40 years so good masks weren't used. Various dust collection systems helped, but last year the doctor said STOP! It seems that the stuff I "gack" up is 30% basswood, 10% cedar, and 10% redwood. Now I carve in an unused bedroom, and produce piles of chips that go into the waste basket and not my lungs. So far I am also producing lots of firewood in small pieces. Knives and chisels mean a whole new skill set and a very steep learning curve for me. But still fun. TOM H

[squbrigg]

Both and then some! I use to use edged tools exclusively, but when I had to change, I make power work for me just as well, and finish with edged. I also use files....which are sort of neither, but have their applications. Rifters I find too rough, but diamond files wonderful to work with.

I really don't care how I achieve the results, I just love creating something that resembles something. Does that make sense?

Nothing like the smoooooth slide of a sharp gouge through Basswood, Pine, Butternut or Walnut, Mahogany or whatever. But then the intricate detail that I can achieve with a small diamond burr on a Foredom takes my detail carving on my model ships to a whole new level. Dang the noise, just crank up the music a notch or three!

Bob

[Bob_in_TN]

100% edge tools. The noise of a knife going thru wood is as much noise as I want when carving.

Bob

[Marci MN]

I've tried and tried to use the knife and gouges... really I try! But I get so frustrated that I grab up the dremel and do most of the work with that.

I want to order different gouges but that too has me totally stumped on what I want and whats in the book to match what I want.

And then theres the puzzle of sharpening.

I'm a Dremel Diva I guess.

[RobJ]

I'm an edge man. I like the idea of making something complex with a simple tool. It seems more Hands On then the power carving. I do have a power carver that gets used every now and then when I just can't seem to clean up a corner or hole etc.

[BobD]

I've always been more interested in the final product than the process. If the final product calls for the use of a specific tool (be it a chisel, knife, or power carving bur) I'll use it...

I think that's just the way I'm wired, I want to create what I see in my head, and I'm not going to let anything stand in my way.

That said, I'm in awe of what people create whey they pay more attention than I do to the process...whether it's a caricature that is carved only with hand tools or an eagle that is carved with only a chainsaw...

I admire that sort of work, but can't work that way personally...

The funny thing is that when it comes to cabinetmaking, I won't touch sandpaper (unless I have to)...I'm a hand plane and scraper purist...and I'm not sure if that's because I like the final product or the process <Grin>

Bob

[AlArchie]

Mostly I carve fish and aquatics and most of that is done with a bench knife and a palm "V". I've made a couple "rocking horse" sized carvings and even those I used only chisles and gouges. They thunderbird mask was all hand tooled except to hollow out the head....used a chainsaw for that. Some other larger pieces I've done have incorporated the use of the Lacelot blade on an angle grinder, so I guess you can say I use both, and am definitely not a purist. That said, there is a certain rapoire that develops with the wood, when using hand tools.

There is a particular segment of the carving community that seems to gravitate toward power, and from what I've seen those tend to be the folks who depend on turning out quantity for income. This is NOT to say that they do not turn out quality, as some are true artists with burrs!

Check this site out for one of the premier fish carvers, Ed Wallicki. Not only his work, but his shop and instruction area.
www.fishcarver.com

A lot of Ed's carving has evolved into "urethane" rather than wood, but that was apparently due to production demands and does not appear to diminish his carving and finishing skills.

I've never met Ed, but almost went to his studio one day several years back, but it appeared as no one was home so I missed that opportunity....maybe someday.
Al