[dutchmanmk3]

O.K. So I gotta ask ! What are your own personal observations of the "Best", and quite possibly the "Worst" qualities of the available RPC tools on the market ???

My primary intererest is in the Flex shaft units. Normaly I'd have gone straight for the pneumatic tools, but I've taken a liking to the Flexcut blades, and more importantly the vast assortment of profiles available.

I've used Automach, Wecheer, and Proxxon tools in the past. For the record I am quite capable of getting happy with them ! They WILL BE USED...ALOT ! and while I maintain my tools very well I run a production shop and cut about 80hrs. a week. I am in fact the Envy of Beavers in 5 surrounding counties, and have been know to cause Hamsters to Swoon ! Any experience or advice to offer the criminally insane carver ?

[dutchmanmk3]

Well, Never The Less I got some answers ! Many Thanks, And Grateful Appreciation to Bob D, and Colin Partridge. I'll be sure and let everyone know how the Flexcut Handpiece works out with the Foredom TX. Thanks Again, Marc

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Sorry not familiar with RPC tools? As for foredom I have one but haven't used it, my wife has....for some reason I just get out the knives and chisels

[Colin_Partridge]

For the information of all our readers I will give you some insight into reciprocating carvers. The Flexcut RPC is a beautiful machine very high powered at 3 amps has a variable speed control from 1 to 6. I field tested this machine at Ridgway and was carving maple, the tool went thu it like butter I was very impressed. Also the changing of tools is really fast and can be changed in seconds without even stopping the unit. It can also be used as a rotary carver and takes most size carving burrs. The nice thing about the Flexcut RPC is that it has a self adjusting collett so you dont have the bother of changing colletts everytime. It also comes with a carring strap that is a little awkward to get used to the power unit is a football shaped unit quite large but has to be to power the chisel. The price tag is just over $500.00 US and comes with 4 chisel pofiles. I have also field tested the Proxxon RPC at a wood show last fall although I liked it the unit I found heated up really fast. It was a little underpowed for my large carvings but for the hobby carver should be fine except I think it would heat up on small carvings as well. I also own a Skil RPC only problem with it they dont make it anymore. It has three speeds and is an excellent carver. I actually have three of them two in working order the other I use for parts when one breaks down. I also own a Automach I like it fine again a little underpowered but on small carvings it works just fine. I also own a Arbortech RPC it is a work hog and has lots of power the only problem with it is that you have to oil the power head every 15 minutes and it gets a little messy. It only comes with a few profiles so its use is limited and it doesnt take other chisels. For the money if you can afford it the Flexcut RPC is the way to go unfortunaty it is over $700 Canadain and that is a little pricey for me. Hope that this has answered some of the questions some of you have about RPC's if you have anymore I can answer just ask here or send me an email.
Colin

[dutchmanmk3]

Originally Posted by Hi_Ho_Sliver

Sorry not familiar with RPC tools? As for foredom I have one but haven't used it, my wife has....for some reason I just get out the knives and chisels

I run a production shop, and over time most of the process has gone to power carving. but Sometimes you discover that you have to adapt the work to the tool.

That's when you realize you're using the wrong tool ! When you discover the right tools have existed for a millenia, and were sitting in your box the whole time, THEN you begin to feel a bit Sheepish ! In a way it took RPC tools to bring me full circle right back to the hand tools I started with ??? The Flexcut Tool looks pretty attractive, because I can unplug at will, and shove the same blades into a handle and go back to work. I've used the Automach, Proxxon, and Wecheer units. No real complaints, but the Flexcut unit is Very Rugged, and the blade is positioned lower in the handpiece. This makes for good low angle cutting on Hardwoods. I needed an excuse to use that Foredom TX any way ! I'm actually a bit technophobic these days and my old knives just keep gettin better lookin all the time !!! ;^)

Thanks Again Guys !