Advice on bits

[chipper67]

I've never powercarved before. I recently bought a used Foredom at an auction. I'm looking to get some powercarving bits (burs) for it. I'm assuming this is pretty much like asking which carving tools should I start out with. Anyway, just looking for some advice on what some good overall bits I should have to roughout, add some detail and finish with? I was looking at Dura-Grit's woodcarving set. Any thoughts on it or other recommendations. Thanks,

Chipper67

[Neil A. Ward]

Chipper67,

Have you reviewed this article on choosing bits?

Woodcarving Illustrated - How To Magazine for Carvers - Choosing Power Carving Bits

Neil

[davidinsarasota]

What kind of stuff do you want to carve?

[chipmunk]

my first bit was a cut off drill bit but i like and use most is a barrel,round fuzzy balls, a 3/16 barrel cutter, and some small ball cutters,and a couple pointy cutters that can get u started and u can get more as u need them if u like me u cant have enough bits-cutters i use a dremel tool with 1/8 shaft with the tool u have u can use upto a 1/4 shaft
hope this helps with your tool buying check out my carvins in the gallery i do most all my carvin with power and clean up with a knife

[idigjars]

I'm a beginner power carver myself and have been taking some lessons from a friend. I learn alot each time we carve together. The advice on reading the article on choosing power bits will help you. I find that the bit needed depends on what I am trying to achieve so it's hard to give any specifics. I really like any of the Kutzall burrs for roughing out projects. Good luck with your new tool and safe carving. Make sure you wear gloves also. Paul

[Eddy-Smiles]

You can't go wrong with Typhoons and Kutzalls!

[chipper67]

Thanks for the advice. I really didn't have anything in particular to carve. Just looking what bits people like.

Chipper67

[Eddy-Smiles]

Chipper.... If I was you I'd start out slow and if you have any Flea Markets in your area stop by to see if any of them have tool vendors where some times you can find a good collection of bits and burs. In addition to the bits and burs that I've bought at Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers I also have a nice collection of carbide bits, sanding wheels, and diamond bits that I picked up at the Flea Market in Sweetwater, Tennessee.

[Donna_T]

Depending on what kinds of things you want to carve, I'd get 2-3 kutsalls or Typhoon bits for roughing out a carving. The size? I like to use as large a bit as possible for the carving I'm doing--less chatter and bumps and grooves. I have a long thin cylinder and a fatter one, a cone shaped one and I can do most of my roughing in with them. These are all big enough to use in my Foredom, which is what I do most of my preliminary roughing in work. For refining and detail work, I use smaller diamond bits that fit in my micro power carver--Ram.

Donna_T