Weecher

icarve2003 · #1 06-20-2003, 02:53 PM

Has anyone used any Weecher products?

I've got my eye on a small Weecher rotary tool that is about the size of a cigar. I'm wondering how they are. They also make a larger grinder similar to a Foredom. They are a bit less expensive so I'm wondering about the quality.

Thanks,
Chris

#2 06-20-2003, 09:20 PM

Sorry I have never heard of that brand?

Colin_Partridge · #3 06-20-2003, 10:14 PM

Hi Chris,
I have tried the Weecher power carver but found that there was too much vibration. I know it is inexpensive but I really didnt like it. I ended up buying a Proxxon power carver a little more money but it is very smooth and with the adapter it takes the Flexcut chisels. I also have a Arbortech it is a work horse and is very heavy duty. I also have a Skil that is no longer made and a Riobi that is also discontinued. My choice would be the Proxxon you get what you pay for in this world and with tools I find it is always best to buy the best.
Colin

#4 06-22-2003, 10:55 AM

I've been powercarving for eight years and I guess I have read every book on power carving, but. The one thing that is missing from them all is a simple thing, the corect way to load a bit in the handpiece. If the bit is not runing true it will vibrate. This will cause the handpiece to feel like it is viberateing. If you look at a large bit like a sanding drum after you just touch it to the wood and it feels like it is viberatiing you will see that you only have dust on one side of the drum, this tell you its not running true. Loosen the chuck and twist the bit a quarter turn and finger tighen the chuck and try it again, keep doing this until the bit is running true you will be suprised at how big a differance this makes.

Callynne · #5 06-23-2003, 07:08 AM

Chris, I have the reciprocating Flexshaft attachment from Weecher for my (hubby's actually) dremel. It really cuts through the wood fantastically....only problem, it is noisy, vibrates a bit and heats up in only about ten minutes! I sent it back to were I bought it from, they said there was a problem, fixed it, it worked great for a little while then started acting up all over again.
Since you're talking about something so small I wonder if you are interested in actual rotary carving or more something for very fine detail or 'clean up in tight places'. If that is what you're looking for I can recommend very highly the Proxxon rotary carver.
I mentioned here before about the Proxxon Pen Sander and how much I love it. It takes a power supply that is also used with their rotary carver. I got to wondering if it would be a good thing to do fine detail and clean up in hard to reach places. I called up Wayne at MDI Wood Supply and he said he thought it would be perfect for what I wanted to do. I bought it and just tried it out on my latest piece...I LOVE IT!
Like I mentioned, I'm not interested in rotary carving big time, only for detail, Wayne recommended a few bit sets and he was right on the mark.
I have three Proxxon tools now and honestly, I think I'd buy their name over anything else, their prices are moderate and their quality is high. In my humble opinion!! :

Callynne

lorax · #6 06-23-2003, 07:23 AM

I gotta agree with Callynne about the Proxxon tools. I would buy their tools over many others. I dont know about their micromotors, but their sanders and grinders rule!

icarve2003 · #7 06-23-2003, 09:15 AM

Thanks everyone,

I have seen ads for the Proxxon tools so I went on their website the other day. They do look like fine tools.

Well, I know you guys know what your talking about, and Proxxon seems to be the favourite. I think I'll be looking into them.

Thanks again,
Chris

Colin_Partridge · #8 07-02-2003, 07:54 PM

Chris,
I am just getting around to reading all of these threads as you know I have been away on the west coast carving. I have to tell you I brought a Proxxon power carver just before I went west and have to tell you I dont like it at all it just doesnt have the power I need it maybe ok if your doing small stuff but for larger carvings I find it usless it stalls all the time for me. I am sending mine back. I have a Skil power carver that is the best I have had it for two years and it still works great trouble is they dont make it anymore. I also have a Arbortech power chisel that is a power house the only problem is that is you have to oil it every ten minutes and may be too big for small carvings. Thats my two cents for what it is worth I also have a Riobi power carver that to me is about the same as the Proxxon.
Colin

Callynne · #9 07-10-2003, 06:46 AM

Colin, I think the problem is probably the size carvings your do, my biggest is 12 inches.....not umpteen feet like your fantastic wood spirits!
When I was checking into reciprocating carvers I was considering, I think it was made by Arbotech, a carver that had a handle thing sticking out the side. The man I talked to said that was for larger carvings, ones the size I do needed a smaller carver. Sounds like you need something much more heavy duty.
I really give my Proxxon a work out and it has never stalled out once, I'm still using the chisel blade that came with it and it's as sharp as the day I got it.
Let me know if you aren't familiar with the carver I mentioned (the one with the handle) and I'll look around and see if I can find some information on it. Callynne

AlArchie · #10 07-10-2003, 09:01 AM

This is just a thought, but has anyone ever tried one of those heavy duty hammer drills for really heavy carving? Â*The rotary function can be turned down, or off and that should leave just the reciprocating function. Â*As they have standard Jacobs style chucks you should be able to put in just about any kind of blade you have, and you could easilly make your own from standard tool steel stock, in all sorts of diameters.

I've also seen (somewhere) small, powered , jack-hammer style tools.

Either of these would seem well suited to heavy duty carving, as they seem to run forever without oil, etc.

Al