[jonion]

i want to do relief carving and can't decide between a foredom or the less expensive wecheer....i only anticipate a couple of projects a year...any advice will be appreciated

[Paul_Guraedy]

I really think the first question you should be asking is whether or not you want to buy either one of them if your goal is relief carving. I do some relief carving but am primarily a carver of birds in the round and use more power than hand tools. I do occasionally use power on a relief carving; but, it is mainly because I already have the equipment and it is convenient. I could probably accomplish the same thing with my hand tools.

Unless you have a physical requsirement that would prompt you to use the foredom or wecheer, I would recommend hand tools. Especially if you are doing only a few carvings a year.

That being said, I cannot speak for the wecheer. As far as the Foredom is concerned....you can't go wrong. I still have my first one, that was purchased in 1980.


Paul

[Donna_T]

I'd have to agree with Paul. I have a Dremel with a flex shaft and an aging Foredom as well as a Ram. I have used the Weecher and it's great for light duty tasks but it just doesn't have the longivity with hard use as other power tools--in my humble opinion. It would be good for cleanup tasks.

I don't do many relief carving projects and about the only power carving I do on them is cleanup or undercutting--and that's because I have the power tools already and have arthritis in my right hand--so the power saves my hand!

Donna T

[Alice in Wonderland]

I have a Wecheer and I have all the chisels one can buy and I have used them all on a lot of hard wood and I mean USED them, I am hard on my tools as my husband tells me lol I only use power tools and Wecheer is the only chisel I have, I have done some relief but mostly in the round
I hope this helps
Alice

[arnie]

I would buy neither, I recommend for the "first"power flex shaft tool you look at the one grizzly tools sells for about 50 bucks. The wecheer hand pieces fit it so if you want to move up later your hand pieces will travel. The unit comes with a hand piece (and I used it a long time before I discovered th small wecheer ones for 27$) but it is kinda big and clunky. For a less than 10$ investment you can get the reciprocating hand piece with four chisels (that require major sharping before they are fit to use) I have been using my grizz. for four years (actually I have two.each st-up for diff, size bits.) with out any problems. Just my opinion. Arnie

[ngcarvings]

Greetings: I am looking for a larger power carver than my dentist drill. Do you, or can you give me more information on what you have? It would be greatly appreciated. I have the Grizzley Industrial catalog, but have not found anything in there. Have a good day. Nan

[arnie]

Nan,the flexible shaft grinder I use is model G9928 @ $49.95 on page 216 of the grizzly catalog I have. I have used mine a long time and think it's a good buy for your first unit,then if you use it a lot later buy a more expensive one if you want.Arnie

[ngcarvings]

Thanx arnie. I found it in the catalog. I doesn't appear to come with any bits, do they send you the info. where to order them too? I do mostly relief carving but the more I look at the Woodcarving Illustrated mags. the more I would like to try my hand at free standing carving. Hope you have a good day. Nan

[sawdustmedic9]

Does anyone have a preference between Foredom and Mastercarver? Is Mastercarver good, too? Thanks.

[susieq]

I have never heard anything bad about the Master Carver shaft tool. I think you are ok with it. Foredom is very good, you can't go wrong. Which ever you choose you will be fine with. I have Master carver micro motor and it is a great tool. I have heard from others that the weecheer and the master carver shaft tools are both quite good.