[Papawhip]

Hi folks! I'm from Derby, Vermont. I've been carving off and on for 4 yrs. I've worked without power equipment for sometime, however I think I could do a better job with a grinder/burner equipment. Looking for some advice on best models out there. I'm currently working on two fish (sunfish and walleye). My sunfish is near complete with exception to scales and painting and the walleye was doing great except my cat took off with a couple sets of fins. She won't tell me where they are, so I guess I'll have to do more carving. My goal is to move up to carousel horses after a few more fish carvings.

[Scar-fingers]

Welcome. Sounds like you are not so much a rookie as new to this site. I am relatively new to the site myself. It appears to be a friendly group. Enjoy. I look forward to some pics of your fish.

[mikeg]

While I can't help you with your question about power tools, I'd like to welcome you to the group as well. It's nice to see somebody else from VT on the board, there aren't very many of us.

Have you joined the Green Mountain Wood Carvers yet? I know that at least some of them carve with power so you might be able to see and feel some first hand.

mikeg

[RussL.]

Welcome.
I am also a Vermonter.
Both sets of parents grew up in Saint Johsnbury, one set of grandparents moved to East Haven after retiring from Fairbanks and I spent a couple of summers on Salem Pond (Lake!).
This place is an excellent resource...

All the best,

RussL.

[Mottles]

Welcome, my power equpiment consists of a Foredom Power carver with two hand pieces. One that will hold 1/4", 1/8" and 3/32" bits. My other hand piece is smaller and holds only 1/8" and 3/32" bits. I find I use the large hand piece for roughing and the smaller one for detail work. I have a Razor woodburner with duel settings my pens are spear shader, writing tip and a blender/shader.
I would be remis if I didn't advise you if you are considering powercarving please use some kind of dust control. I have a Penn State Dust Collector and it's work really great.
Kathy

[susieq]

Greetings and welcome to the forum...
You have come to the right place for help and especially opinions....
There is quite a lot written recently on here about power carving tools. Check in the power carving Section and also in some of the other sections. You may have to spend a little time going through posts but you will find a lot of information on power tools...flexshaft units, burners, micromotors...which bits different folks prefer....the whole works.
Good luck and have fun.
susieq

[slather]

Welcome to the forum
Al

[Eddy Smiles]

Welcome aboard Papawhip!

My kinfolk hailed from your neck of the woods too. Most of them are buried in and around St. J. Pretty country and plenty of wood to carve.

My suggestions is that you go up to the top of the page to the search engine and type in "Foredom." The good Lord knows that there have been enough discussion centering around your very same question!

[GeorgiaCarver]

Welcome to the forum, good to have you active on the site.

Greg

[Donna_T]

Welcome to the neatest place to find out more about carving...and about anything else. Our oldest daughter (and two of our granddaughters) lives in Brattleboro, so we're out your way once or twice a year--georgeous country.

I've carved one fish by hand--then started using power and it sure is lots easier with power. I started with an inexpensive Dremel with a flex shaft and 1/2 dozen bits (including some sanding drums) and it sure made a much more professional looking fish. Then I added fish scale burning tips to my Colwood wood burner (the Cub) and it really made the fish look real. Then, I added an Paache airbrush and I think my carved fish look more like taxadermied real ones. So...it all depends on how deep and how real you want your carving to look.

Glad to have you join us. Come back often.

Donna T