[TNT]

Hi everyone. I have a question about powertools. I do a lot of hand carving and I have started on birds. I have done well with small birds. but I am having a hard time with a American Kestrel. I have been told to use power and that would help.Can anyone recommenda good one with lots of power. Thanks Todd

[Hugh]

Todd, go with the TX Foredom it has lots of power. Also for myself, I don't spend the extra money on the reversible foredom, as I don't find any use for the reverse. My first foredom lasted me 16 yrs, and as far as I know it is still running. For the micro motor, I would reccomend anything BUT the foredom. Gesswein, Ram, Razertip has a good micro motor, several of my students have them, and are having good luck with them. Hope this helps.
I purchased my TX from Wayne at MDI woodcarvers supply found his prices to be the most competetive for the foredom models.

[TNT]

Hugh Thank you for the info. I am sorry that I hve not responded unit now. I was injured on the job and I am just starting to get back on my feet. thanks Todd

[Doug Ridley]

Todd-- There are several good flex- shaft machines but my recommendation is the Foredom. It has been around a long time and is probably the best available. Mastercarver is another good brand.
As to micromotors, ther are also several good ones. The Ram is top of the line in medium priced ones. I would also recommend that you take a good look at the Optima 2. It is a very good medium priced tool and Pat is very good to do business with. Just Google up Optima 2.
Let me make another suggestion, call Curt Fabre at 985-580-3014 and talk to him about what you need. He sells several different machines, both flexshaft and micromotor, and will help you decide what is the best fit for your application and budget. No affiliation but a long time satisfied customer.
Hope this helps
Doug

[Callynne]

Todd, sorry to hear about your accident, I hope it wasn't too serious and you've recovered completely!!

Lots of good advice has already been given here. The main thing to consider is what you want to do. Do you need to remove quite a bit of wood or do you just need help getting the detail into the piece that you want?

Rotary is terrific for removing waste wood and shaping. You can also do a lot of detail with it, for really fine detail though, I recommend a Micro Motor. I have the RAM 45 and love it.

I don't know some of the people mentioned here but have done a lot of business with MDI www.mdiwoodcarvers.com Waye Edmondson is great at helping you make the right choice for what you want to do. Also, Ray Zojac at www.hummul.com and the folks at www.woodcarverssupply.com that's who I got my MasterCarver Rotary system from and I really like it. I recommend the Foredom also, I bought one of those at a garage sale (for $2.00!!, it's a very old one but still runs like a dream!).

Good luck, let us know what you decide on and how you like it! Deborah

[heineda]

TNT,

I am not a power carver myself, but have been thinking of buying one. I attended the Creative Carving seminar in MI this past summer, and there was a young lady there with one of the Mastercarver tools. I had been loking at them, and asked her how she liked it. "Don't buy one, even if they give it to you" was her response. I have seen many negative posts about the tool on this message board as well. I woudl advise staying away from Matercarver, and stick with Foredom. Foredom's new 5240 kit looks awfully nuce to me, and you can add their new rteciprocating handpiece for power carving.

Good Luck,
Dan Heine

[Doug Ridley]

I have to disagree. Though I prefer the Foredom, the Mastercarver is also a good machine. I have a friend who has used one for 20-25 years with NO problems.

[BobD]

I have to agree about the Mastercarver. They sent me one to review along with their new Stealth Handpiece, and I've had NO problems with it. And when I'm doing a review, I TRY to make things go wrong!!!

Bob

[Paul_Guraedy]

TNT, I have been primarily a carver of birds of prey. The posts that have answered yours have been very good. I carved a kestrel several years ago and here's what I experienced.

I have a Foredom that I bought in about 1980. It does not reverse and I had been wishing that it did. Then I started to analyze my carving experience. I almost never reverse either borrowed foredoms or my microcarver. I no longer think that this feature would be worthwhile for me.

I have found that I do nearly all of my power carving, on birds, with the foredom. I use very agressive bits and then sandpaper drums for most of the work. Once I have the basic shape, and feather groups outlined and am ready for the individual feathers, I rough them in with hand tools. Then it is back to the micro-rotary to do the edges and get them to lie well on each other.

For the tough work, I don't think you can beat Foredom. For the rest of the work, I think there are a number of micro-motors that will do what you need. I initially (about 10 years ago) chose the Optima 2 because of the handpiece. That design is no longer available. A year, or so, ago I bought a new Optima handpiece. It has been a disappointment and I am not sure what brand I would recommend now.

What area of the Kestrel is presenting a problem to you?

[Ron D]

can someone tell me when they use reverse on their foredom.not trying to be smart just wondering when you'd use it.
thanks ron