[Claude]

In a word, no!

Claude

[squbrigg]

What is generally considered "power carving" (in the carving world) is the use of a rotary tool designed for carving by hand, such as a Dremel, a Foredom, a Micromotor, or a Turbocarver. There are lots of different makes and models, but a router is considered too powerful for hand carving, and are usually used only in duplicators or roughing out backgrounds in relief work.

Don't get me wrong, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and style of carving and tools to use. There is no such thing as right or wrong in carving. If you are enjoying what you do, and are happy with the results, then, don't let what someone else does or says, bother you. We may disagree in our methods, but I've served in my own country's armed forces, as many of your countrymen and women aboard here have, just so that you and I have the right to disagree in an open and honest debate.

Have fun carving.

Bob

[arapsang]

If the last piece of steel your work sees, before you finish it, is separated from you by a machine, then you are a machinist.

Peter Connor

[Doug Ridley]

Then all so-called power carvers and chainsaw carvers should be called power machinists and chainsaw machinists?

[Ashbys]

wow I would guess that would make almost every relief carver a machinist . Because usually the last thing done to a carving is putting on the mounting hole .

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Why would anyone be mad at you? You just asked questions, we all do that! Problem is, I don't think their are many that are cnc carvers and like me probably don't know a thing about them lol.......good carving!

[AlArchie]

I'll chime in with Hi Ho, Rick......I don't think anyone is upset with you bringing this subject up. This site seems to be an excellent spot for airing differences of opinion and open discussion in an amiable fashion.

Most of my carving is done with a pocket knife (or at least a bench knife) but I am open to and interested in technological changes in our way of working materials.

There may well be advantages to the new systems, but here's a personal take on it. I like the FEEL of working with my hands! It's a tactile thing I suppose, and even though these modern machines can do repetitive precise operations and the operators must learn whole new methods of working, they seem to lack the basic understanding of the material the way hand operations demand.

A machine operator cannot know or understand the feel of the wood or the way grain and figure enter into the carving process. The same holds true with metalwork. It is possible to design machines to cut, stamp, grind and finish metal with no human intervention once the coordiantes are punched into the computer, but the operators have no idea of the intricasies of exactly how the metal responds to those slicings, poundings and heatings.
It's obviously possible to turn out many, many more units with the modern technology, but it just seems to me that somewhare along the line, something is lost in the process. The tactile input and individual attention to detail. I suppose.

I still like the idea of creating on the computer, though......whole new area of creativity!

Good discussion topic.

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

It doesn't seem anyone here is upset, it seems you are upset? And what I said about the cnc still goes for the router...I don't think many here do signs with routers......and again, that doesn't mean you are not welcome...just lighten up a bit and enjoy the site! Most of us have routers, myself included, but I use it for my router table, as I am not very steady with them freehand.

[brianh]

I have a cnc router a shopbot with a 4x8 table, I use it for signs and furniture inlays ect, I usually finish my work up by hand, after an initial design is done I can reproduce parts easily, but most of the time with signs it is a one off design.

At the other end of the spectrum I chainsaw carve I can do a carving with the chainsaw faster than the cnc taking in design time and fixturing.

I believe anything created from the mind is art how you get to that point is up to you.