[Cut_Fingers]

Hey all,

Like I said a silly questions but here it goes - I know the motion of a reciprocating saw, but that same motion work with chisels or gouges. Do you just hold the handle and allow the chisel to jack-hammer its way into the wood? I may be way off base. I've never seen one & don't have a concept of how it would be used.

Would some of you explain the method of using and maybe when it is used and on what type of carvings?

You know, just a 3 page essay on all facets of carving with reciprocating tools. just kidding

Thanks

[rick-in-seattle]

I have used Ryobi, Proxxon, and Automach reciprocating carvers.
They all work much the same, I wore out the Ryobi, gave the Proxxon away, and currently use the Automach.

I will only comment on the Automach; it is a very capable machine. It will get very warm with continued use. It accepts all the Flexcut replaceable blades, although an adapter is required to use the larger style blades.

The cutting action is initiated only when the blade is pressed against something. The amount of pressure applied determines the cutting speed.
With sharp blades, the Automach will cut through basswood like a hot knife through butter.

Although the Automach can be used to carve fine detail, its length and size precludes that use for myself. I prefer palm tools for details; but for moving large amounts of wood, it is unbeatable.

For my uses, it replaces my full size mallet tools and does it well.

The downside of any reciprocating tool is the conversion of power from rotary to reciprocating. That is where most tools fail; the design is insufficient to handle the constant pounding.
I have not had any problem with the Automach, but I have yet to overwork it like I did the Ryobi.

(not quite a 3 page essay)

[Cut_Fingers]

Rick or anybody,

Does it just pound away & best for roughing out. That sounds like the best use of the tool. However, once again, I have no concept of its action.

Rick - I was especially expecting 3 pages from you, but that was fine. LOL Not that you talk a lot, but that you have so much knowledge!

Thanks for your response!

[rick-in-seattle]

No it doesn't just away.

The action is so fast as to be unnoticeable; kind of like shearing sheep.

I will attempt to explain its action (without tearing it apart to confirm my guess) since I used to design machinery in my younger days.

I assume that to convert the rotary action to recip., there is some sort of cam attached to the rotating axis. The recip. drive shaft, is obviously spring loaded to prevent constant contact and cutting action. When the spring is compressed it allows the recip. drive to contact the rotating cam. The harder the spring is compressed, the longer the drive of the recip. shaft and the more aggressive the strokes. Since my Automach has a constant rpm, the number of cam lobes x the rpm determines the strokes per minute.

Therefore, while the strokes per minute would remain constant, a light touch will give light cutting action; while a heavy hand will move some wood. kapesh?

(nope, never completed the ME degree)
signed: "a man of few words".

[Callynne]

Hey Jim, here's how this female explains it when friends ask. The reciprocating action makes chips...just press it against the wood and it starts chipping away the waste wood (wonderful!!). You don't have to wear a dust mask because there isn't any dust produced. I do recommend wearing eye protection, a carving glove on your opposite hand and ear plugs...all these 'machines' hurt my ears!

The difference between reciprocating and rotary is simple, reciprocating makes chips, the rotary makes dust (very, very fine sawdust) which you have to wear eye protection, a dust mask and run a dust collector for because it's harmful to your lungs!

Hope this helps make it clearer, if not, ask again, there aren't any silly questions, there can, however, be silly answers! Callynne (a woman who tends to use too many words...Hubby has mentioned that once or twice! )

[Nancy_G]

And this female who rarely uses power tools and always uses too many words wants to chime in here.
With a jack hammer you press straight into a surface, straight down and try to destroy the surface, right?
With a recip. tool you move the blade at a a shallow angle across the surface of the wood, just like a hand gouge. The recip. blade will not engage or turn on until the blade touches the surface and it will turn off (stop moving) when it's not touching a solid surface.
You just remove CHIPS, large or small, of wood. A recip. tool is simply a power chisel.
I don't like power tools and rarely use them but I love my Ryobi and Automach recip. to remove large amounts of wood FAST from a rough out I've just removed from the band saw. It's exactly like a palm tool in your hand except it's much faster, more powerful and it does the work while you guide it.
Did I make any sense at all?

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

How these things operated never entered my mind as I have had not interest in them. However, after reading this thread, I feel confident that I could build one. Excellent explainations. Don't even need pictures.

[Colin_Partridge]

You are now talking to someone that has tried them all and owns most of them. The Riobi is underpowered and as Rick says he wore his out me too. I have a Proxxon and it is great for small carvings but I find it a little underpowered for larger work. I also have an Arbortedh a real wood hog will remove a lot of wood fast. The only complaint I have with the Arbortech is that it gets hot with prolonged use and burns the ends of the chisels. You also have to oil the cam about every 15 mins. It only takes the Arbortech chisels and they are very limited. The Automach is also a wood hog although I do not own one I did a demo with it at a woodshow and it worked supurb it can be fitted with the Flexcut chisels. I also have a Skil three speed reciprocating carver,(MY FAVORITE) the only problem is that they dont sell it anymore. I was lucky and purchased three of them because I knew it was going off the market. There is also the Weecher that will fit on the end of your Dremel very inexpencive but I find it very underpowered. Now this is just my opinion on the ones I have used and own. Its like a chisel or knife no two carvers use the same tools its a matter of preference.
Colin

[BobD]

I really like the proxxon I've used on small projects, but for harder wood, it is a little underpowered. I'm in the process of reviewing the new Flexcut RPC...that has some POWER. My only problem so far is that for softer wood (pine, basswood) the flexcut chisels are so sharp that they cut the wood before the reciprocating action engages! Also, it's hard to use on smaller projects...I broke a cherry spoon I was carving for my wife with it! I like the way it hooks on you belt so there isn't a lot of weight to lug around in your arms. I just need to figure out the best side to attach it to so I don't get tangled up in the shaft!


Bob

[Cut_Fingers]

Thanks all for your replies. That gives me a better understanding of how it works & its purpose. Probably not a tool that I will use at this time since I work with very small pieces. However, It's nice to have the info.