power carving by Frank Russell

[artsyfartsy]

Hello again,

Thought I should come over to this folder for my next question.

I went to look up Frank Russell on Amazon to order. However, it says right on the description that it is power carving with a Foredom or is is Foredon?
Anyhoooooo, I only have a Dremel (actually two of them). Does he go into the right bits for this tool? or are they interchangeable? I saw in another thread that you need a 1/8 kutzal for shaping, ruby flame for details, So do these bits go on many different brands?

And lastly (for now, lol) will my dremels even work? do they have enough power Scotty?

Multi Pro, variable speed
5,000
30,000
1.15A

Model 395 T-5

Multi Pro
5,000
35,000rpm

Model 395- T6

Why do we have two very similar Dremels? I have no idea, honestly. Well, maybe cause my Hubby is a collector of all things power tool related. A three car garage with an additional shop and he had to have a 30/40 metal barn! O.K. so the boat goes in there too, but he has tools in there too, lol

Oh, should one be better than the other(Dremel), which one? Oh, and when I buy a Flex Shaft, will it fit both?

Thanks a million

[BobD]

Greetings,
Frank uses a Foredom.

Your dremels will use any bit with a 1/8"-diameter shaft or smaller (may require a different collet).

Frank, who also writes for us on occasion, uses the Foredom flexible shaft tools (lots of power, not quite as much speed) to hog out wood, and switches to a "micro-motor" to do detail work (high speed, not as much power).

To be honest, you should be able to use the dremels to do what you want. Frank may use a bit with a 1/4"-diameter shaft for really hogging out wood, but you can use a 1/8"-shaft bit; it will just take a bit longer.

Light touches, allowing the Dremel to keep up it's speed, and you should be fine.

Bob Duncan
Technical Editor

[artsyfartsy]

Thanks Bob,

I am going to order those dvd's. "May need a different collet"..... This must be the collar type piece that the bit goes into? No worry, I'll start studying my dremel handbook and watch the dvd's. I've got a lot to learn before I put dremel to wood. Well, I have actually touched one to wood before. ate the dickens outta that baseboard.... obviously had on the wrong bit. This is going to be a very fun journey into wood working.

Hopefully the dvd's will clear up the mystery over the bits. I went a lookin for the kutzal bit.... so many to choose from. I could not find a ruby bit with the word "flame" next to it. Now I see that a sanding mandrel appears to be a completely different machine? Good night, Did I really think I could just whip out my dremel and make pretty. Hmm, I think I did. No matter, learning is half the fun... here I go.

Thank you for the info....

[BobT]

If you go here, Search results
you can see Foredom's Frank Russell collection. ou don't need all of those. It may help you identify some bits though.
I carve in a smaller scale than Mr Russell so I scaled my selections down in some cases. I have a Foredom but it seems like a sledge hammer to me. I use a Dremel like sized tool most of the time and choose appropriate bit sizes. I learned a lot from his DVD's
BobT

[artsyfartsy]

Thanks BobT, I just ordered the DVD set.

[Keoma]

I do all my power carving with a Dremel. They arer good, but the brushes do wear out. A flex shaft is a novel idea, but it gets too hot to hold in my fingers. I love my multiPro. I also have the lithium cordless...it is fantastic for detailing and lighter work. Good luck! Please post photo's of your work

[artsyfartsy]

That's good to hear Keoma. I don't want to sink too much money into it with new equipment. I may or may not enjoy it enough to continue on. I try many things. I don't always stick with em. Quilting would be a good example of that. ugh. May I never sew another quilt. But I gave it a try. It was fun putting the colors together and that is where it ended.

I'm sure to be posting a picture all right, probably with a "help" label attached, lol. I have it all carved in my mind..... now putting it to practice will be the test.

You all are a bunch of talent here. I have peeked at the work posted. So at least I'm in good company!

[artsyfartsy]

Hey Keoma, Just read your bio, you are from California. I am from there too... I miss it. I am first from Sacramento. Then moved to Southern Ca Coast area. Ojai. Have family as far as Redding.

I garden too. Organic. Been tough learning the ropes in this Texas clay/sand combo we got going here. Phew it is humid here.

[susieq]

Frank also happens to be a Foredom representative and does demos of their tools at a few of the big carving shows..... so any equipment that he uses in his DVD's will be Foredom.

As Bob D says in his post, Dremel is a good tool. Not as large or powerful as the Foredom flexible shaft unit but it has a higher rpm which is nice. Before I owned a Foredom unit, I made do with a Dremel for several years and I got a lot of good out of it. The higher rpms do help compensate for the lower power. Let the rpms do the work for you....

The DVD's will be very helpful in teaching someone to power carve. To show you what the different bits do. I would recomend them to anyone just starting to power carve.

[artsyfartsy]

Thanks Susieq. I have them ordered (dvd's). I am excited to get started.