Automach versus Arbortech PLEASE

[tucker1931]

Maybe I'm a little slow in the brain these days, but, I can't see the $100.00 difference between these two machines. If you have any info I'd sure appreciate hearing about it.
Cliff

[Alice in Wonderland]

Cliff I have my 2 Arbortech ,I wore the first one out I used it so much on Hardwood, it was more less the grinder which gave up on me ,when they came out they used the Bosh grinder ,now they come attached with their own.I love mine , I don't use anything else until I come down to the Dremels. I only use the Tungsten blade the one with just 2 teeth??? I like to see wood come off quickly :-)))))
Alice

[Colin-Partridge]

Cliff I have both the Arbotech is a work horse really powerful and carves like a dream. Only problem is that you have to oil the reciprocator every fifteen minutes with that purple oil. I also wore out the first one. What happens is that is will wear the cam and that will cause the chisels to wear on an angle. Also another negative is the selection of chisels for the arbortech is very limited. The Automach definatly needs to be greased every so often maybe after an hour or two of hard carving but not as much as the Arbortech. It comes with a limited number of profiles (6) These chisels are not very good although they will do the job just that they dont hold an edge very well. You can buy an adaptor for the Automach I have one that will enable you to use the Flexcut SK profiles with it. For bull work and hard woods the Arbortech and for small carvings definatly the Automach.Now the rest of you dont jump all over me this is just my opinion and my experience with both machines. Now if they still made the SKIL reciprocator I would take that hands down over both of them.
Colin

[Paul_Guraedy]

Colin, I have used an automach for several years. The only problem I have encountered is heat build up. Is this also true of the arbortech? I have talked to some others using recip-chisels and it seems to be the same for all of them.

But, the build up of heat is not sufficient to keep me from using the automach. I love the thing and would not hesitate to buy another. I too have adaptors to expand the limited gouges offered by automach. I have gotten into the habit of sharpening my tools every 15 minutes or so and do the same with the automach. This seems to keep them going for me.

[Colin-Partridge]

Paul yes the Arbortech gets extreamly hot. I also had a Proxxon I have since got rid of it and it gets hot as well. I have a Skil 1910 and I find that does not get hot at all because it is air cooled only problem is that they dont sell it anymore.
Colin

[tucker1931]

tHANKS GUYS FOR THE OPPINIONS ON THE 2 CARVERS. i DO THINK, IF AND WHEN i DECIDE, THE AUTOMACH WILL BE THE TOOL OF CHOICE, i DON'T INTEND TO DO ANYTHING REAL LARGE AND i ALREADY HAVE SOME FLEXCUT TOOLS TO FIT. Sorry about the caps, I don't check until I'm finished typing and then notice they were on. If I don't watch the keyboard, man, what a mess I can make.
cLIFF

[Alice in Wonderland]

Sorry ,I missed the boat I did not think of the chisel Arbortech ,I thought of the "other"
Alice