I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for what kind of reciprocating tool to buy. Ryobi? AutoMach? Proxxon?WeCheer? Anything else?? I plan on using Flexcut gouges, but don't know which tool would be best. My carving projects are mostly small to medium and I was going to get this to mostly do roughouts. And how are these thing with detail work anyway?? Just wanting to getting advantages/disadvantages from you carvers who have had experience with these things. Thank you.

Skratch
http://www.geocities.com/skratch145/brad

[masker001]

Hi,I dont have a reciprocating carver anymore{had a Ryobi,it bit the dust.Cant get new ones anymore,stopped making them.}From previous posts on the subject the general consenses seems to lean towards 'Auto-mach'.That is the one I,ll be trying out soon{I hope}.Maybe someone else can give you more info on the subject,but the Automach is the one I lean towards.Hope this helped abit.

My first reciprocating carver was the Ryobi - it used to sell for a mere $59 and did a pretty good job. They don't make it anymore, but I've seen them for sale on eBay. I still have mine and used it until just a few months ago, when I bought my first Automach. WOW The difference is like chocolate and vanilla. The Automach will run you about $300, but it's worth every penny. It carves circles around the Ryobi. I use it for knocking off the big chunks of wood and getting the shape of my carving. You can do detail with it, as well, although I don't. That's just my preference, though..when it comes down to the details, I prefer to use hand and chisel.

I have since bought a second Automach - I like to have two so I'm not changing chisel blades all the time, and also I don't want to be stuck if one of them breaks. I use them ALOT - they take very little upkeep - just have to keep them well greased and change the motor brushes every 300 hours or so. It's a workhorse.

Teri

[Callynne]

Â* Â* Skratch, I have the Ryobi and WeCheer Flex Shaft attachment that I can use with my husband's Dremel. Â*The Ryobi I use to do all my roughing out, the shaft attachment is great for doing 'finer' roughing out, it lets me get into tighter places to get all the waste wood out. Â*
Â* Â* I do intend to buy the AutoMach as soon as the Ryobi dies out. Â*I was wondering Teri, do you use the blades that came with it or do you use the FlexCut ones? Â*Seems like all the reciprocating carver's I've read about suggest other blades if they do come with them. Â*Just wondering, as I will be buying more blades when I get my AutoMach. Â*Callynne

Callynne, I use the Flexcut blades with my Automach. They come with an adapter that makes them fit. I used the Automach blades only once - when I first got it - just to see what they could do. They were fine...but I'm stuck on the Flexcut - they hold an edge beautifully, stay nice and sharp with regular stropping, and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, etc.

If you're waiting for that Ryobi to die before you buy an Automach, you may have a long wait. I still have my Ryobi, it still works fine, and I bought it maybe 15 years ago. Granted, I didn't use it for a long time, but when I picked it up again this year, it still worked just as well. It's a good machine...just not nearly the power as the Automach will give you.

Teri

Check out the ArborTech Powerchisel at www.arbortech.com.au/productinfo/prodinfo.html. Although the gouge selection is limited the machine outperforms anything else on the market. If they would work out a deal with Flexcut for gouges it would be perfect. I have the Ryobi, Skil and a reciprocating hand piece for my Foredom and they are gathering dust except on rare occasions. The powerchisel is available in the US in either a complete unit or just the powerchisel mechanism to attach to a 4' - 4 1/2' angle grinder. There was an article in WCI, I believe, and I can't recall which one, about using it in a charity carve in Vegas and another one about making a small carving. Incidently, I do not have any connection with the Arbortech company.

Viejo

[Callynne]

Â* Â* Viejo, I checked out the Arbotech chisel when I was looking for a reciprocating carver (before I was given the Ryobi). Â*The man I talked to said it would be too large a tool for the size carvings I generally make. Â*Anywhere from three to ten inches. Â*Sure looks like a great tool though. Â*I don't doubt, with the way I have accumulated tools in the past two years I will probably own one evenutally. Â*Looks like it might just be what I need when I make that 'life-size' Indian my husband has mentioned....more than once! Ha!
Â* Â* Teri, I know, I keep thinking about how 'laboring' my Ryobi sounds and cuts and am so tempted to order an AutoMach right now. Â*Told my husband I'm waiting till I make my FIRST thousand dollars !! Â*Thanks for the information! Â*Callynne

Nope - wait til you make your first $300, and then RE-INVEST that money into an Automach. That re-investing is just what I did...til I got the tools I wanted....and now my carving is easier, faster, etc....so then making the next $300 is just that much easier.

Teri