Power carver suggestion

[jmischel]

I suspect I'm treading over old ground here, but a search on the forum didn't give me the information I was looking for.

I'm in the market for a power carver. The old rotary tool I have is good for cutting things off and some very rough shaping with a sanding drum, but it's terrible for anything else. Having to hold that big ol' tool gets tiresome.

More than anything else, I'm looking to use the power carver for roughing out (i.e. removing waste wood after I've cut out a blank on the bandsaw) and probably for things that don't take a lot of detail. I don't expect to do fine detail with it, at least not yet.

I know there are lots of options, and like anything else I'll know more once I've worked with a tool. But I don't want to get something I can't use or that I'll be unhappy with. Pretty much everybody I've talked to recommends Foredom, or at least says that it's a good tool that I would be happy with. So I'm looking at Foredom and I have some questions.

In particular, I'm looking at the 5240 and 5400 kits. They come with the motor, flexible shaft, handpiece, speed control, some bits and burrs, and a 3-disc DVD set. Looks grand. The difference in price is about $70, and I'm wondering . . .

The primary difference seems to be that the 5240 comes with a 1/6 HP motor and the 5400 has a 1/3 HP motor. Is that the only difference? Will I be happy with the smaller motor, or will I quickly outgrow its capability and wish that I'd bought the bigger motor?

Looking around, I see that Foredom has a dizzying array of options. Do I want a TX motor? An SX motor? Something else?

The two kits look like good value, and I'm tempted to spring for the 5240.

So, opinions on which one to get? Or should I look at some other tools (Dremel, Mastercarver, etc.)?

[Bruce Bird]

I've got one of the new 1\2 hp Mastercarver grinder tools.Don't know the price in Texas but up here it was ok.I do a lot of fine detail work in my carving and its just a matter of using the correct bit and a steady hand. Hope this helps and does't complicate things for you.
Bruce

[GaryHanson]

I have the Foredom SR kit with the DVD, bits, bit holder, etc. and I love it. Got a pretty good deal from The Woodcraft Shop. These folks are great to work with.

I use mine quite a lot for rough out and some detail work. I would also suggest getting a #8 Handpiece. It's really good for harder to reach areas. The 44T handpiece that comes with the kit can be a bit cumbersome sometimes.

For fast removal use the Saburr Tooth or similar bits. It leaves the suface pretty rough but boy do they cut. For less agressive removal and a nicer finish fluted carbide bits or Dura-grit bits work pretty well. I use diamond bits for detail and some sanding and sanding discs and sanding sleeves for final sanding.

Hope that helps.

Gary

[GaryHanson]

Jim,

One thing I forgot to mention. I don't do many large carvings and the 1/6 h.p. unit performs w/o any trouble on the carvings I do. I use 1/4 shank Saburr Tooth bits without any handpiece heat up problems.

Gary

[Dileon]

Get the Foredom with DVD it major helps on information on how to use it. The SR is fine on basswood, the TX is a little better. If you are using hard wood and want to dig, you need a square shaft that is TXH. I have all three Foredoms flex shafts....have had problems with other brands. I buy from the manufacture Blackstone Industries and they are great on customer service and help. It is a major help you first time to have full instructions about usage of machine. It is worth the extra money. Also with the foredom SR and TX, you can use different brand hand pieces such as wecheer and mastercarver.

[telecarver]

Go with the MasterCarver, it's more versatile and you will be much happier with it in the long run. The Foredom is too slow.

[jmischel]

Thanks for the advice, all. I did some more looking around here on the forum and a few other places last night, and determined that the 5240 with the SR motor will be a good place to start. From what I've read, it looks like even if I decide later that I want a more powerful motor, the SR unit will still be quite useful.

Now I have to build or buy a dust collector . . .

[telecarver]

Originally Posted by jmischel

From what I've read, it looks like even if I decide later that I want a more powerful motor, the SR unit will still be quite useful.

Now I have to build or buy a dust collector . . .

Power is not the only factor. Unless you have a high speed micro motor to supplement the Foredom, I know that I would be disappointed with the slow RPM performance of the Foredom. I have three Foredoms and two MasterCarvers. The Foredoms sit in a drawer and I use the MasterCarvers extensively. I know that many people on this forum swear by their Foredoms but I wonder if they have ever worked extensively with a faster RPM tool. I have used both tools for thousands of hours and I am convinced that a faster tool is more versatile if you want to have one tool do as many operations as possible.
BTW, I have no connection with MasterCarver, I just like the tool.