[SeaChips]

I went to the carving show in Hickory and sat through Carole Jean's cypress knee class. And, I was impressed. I watched her use some power tools as she took away the excess wood, and it stimulated my interest in possibly using a power carving tool. While at the show, I bought the Foredom package and brought it home. Unfortunately, when I turned it on and then off, the thing shot a ball of fire as big as a baseball from the switch and sent a shock through my thumb that still aches at the thought of the act. Of course, I returned it to Klingspor and they certainly made it good, but now, I'm not sure what kind of power tool I would like to use. I'm sure if I were to get another Foredom it would work just fine, but that put the fear of God in me, so I won't be getting another one of those. I saw Carole Jean using a Ryobi in the first class. It was a table model transformer with a flexible shaft. I do small to medium carvings, so I don't think I need a huge amount of power. Does anyone have any ideas about a good power carving tool that does not hang but is a table model/transformer with flexible shaft? Up to this point, I have only done handcarving and no power carving, so my knowledge is pretty limited on this subject. Your help would be appreciated. Just wondering about something different.

[doris]

oh sorry to hear about that unhappy expereince. hope you can forget it and feel safe again with powertools... i had exactely same experience, also with a hanging foredom flexible shaft machine. i never touched such again, depite i loved carving hard stones with it. i am anyway a little anxious with any sort of machines...

[squbrigg]

I am sorry to hear of your bad experience with the new Foredom. I have a Foredom and love it, and have had no trouble at all over the years. Foredom also makes a bench mounted version, you might like to consider it. Don't let the bad experience sour you from Foredom, they are a great machine and while the experience certainly is unfortunate, it is not the norm.

The Foredom is a well made, versatile machine, with lots of power and usually do not have trouble.

Bob

[susieq]

Wow, what a first experience with power carving......sorry to hear about it.
It reminds me of a less frightening but similar experience I had in my shop a few years ago. I always have my dog out with me in the shop and the back door open so he can come and go as he pleases from shop to fenced in back yard. One Florida afternoon we were having our usual thunderstorms and it was raining but that didn't stop dog from going out to see what the squirrels were doing. He trotted back in a few minutes later and as was his custom, walked over and rubbed up against me just to say hi. He was wet from the rain and we both got a tingle from it. He jumped away and I mentioned it later to hubby. He started checking the electrical wiring out in my shop right away as that tingle should not have happened. Turns out there was a faulty ground somewhere and it got fixed pronto.

I do want to say that I have used a Foredom and the big Dremel, along with the smaller Dremels and micromotors, and never had a problem anything like what you experienced so I hope you will try again. If this same thing happens again, maybe it's not the Foredom.....maybe, like my shop, something in the electrical wiring needs fixed. Good luck with your next effort......may the force be with you.

[SeaChips]

We have heavy duty wiring in the carving area, so we feel pretty confident that it was the Foredom. We've never had a problem there with any other electrical equipment, and since the Foredom wouldn't shut down, we think it was the switch. After taking it back to Klingspor, they felt it was a faulty switch as well. But, I agree with you, that's always a possibility, and that was the first thing we checked out after the incident. Oh, I'll continue to use my Dremel rotary tools and bought a flexible shaft with carving blades for it to hold me over until I decide what I want to do. I might be interested in a bench mounted system. Oh well, I'll continue my search. Thanks for your interest in my lil problem here.
Gwen

[susieq]

Gwen,
Just out of curiosity, are you using tools without shafts? Or are you using shafts and hanging the motor about your workspace just over your shoulder? Where is the motor part of the tool you are using when you use it? This has nothing to do with the electrical problem...I am just curious how most folks set up their power carving stations on here.

I always take for granted that folks hang the motor in a location near their right or left shoulder (depending on being right or left handed) and work with the shaft near a dust collector. This has always been the best setup for using Dremels and Foredoms and any power carvers I know locally have similar set ups. Just being nosy.....

[SeaChips]

Susie,
Since I am left handed, I hang the motor over my left shoulder and work near my dust collector. I really didn't know the "proper" set-up technique, but I thought that would work best for me. I hung it so that there wouldn't be a lot of curve in the shaft, yet close enough not to create a pull while I am working. I don't know any power carvers, and I've never seen any other set up, so I'm at a loss regarding other people's work stations. I've converted my sunroom into my carving room... so, I'm still in process of making things better as I go. How do you have yours Susie?
Gwen