Power Carving Station idea...?

[Sieren]

I found this link awhile ago, and am thinking of trying to make a power carving station like this. What do you all think--does it look like it would work?

Build it Yourself - An Efficient, Portable Power Carving Station

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by Sieren

I found this link awhile ago, and am thinking of trying to make a power carving station like this. What do you all think--does it look like it would work?

Build it Yourself - An Efficient, Portable Power Carving Station

Of course it works!! Woodcarving Illustrated wouldn't print the article if it didn't, and besides it's very similar to the unit I made a bunch of years ago. But mine was of my own design.

[Merle Rice]

That looks like a good deal. I have a dust colector that will fit right in with that design and might give it a try. Let us know how yours turns out. Merle

[Jim S.]

Hello Dull Knife,
Just recently removed a spa tub from a bathroom remod.
I have read articles in the past about this subject and was wondering... would that blower motor off the spa tub work well for a power carving station?
Thanks in advance,
Jim

[Sieren]

Thank you much for the quick replies! I shall be enlisting my dad's help to get started on this shortly! I'll be sure to post pictures and let you guys know how it turned out.

[susieq]

The power station looks like a great idea IF you have a table top, counter top or shelves with in arms reach of it while you work....there simply isn't enough room on the station for me. I have a huge bit holder on a lazy susan base, and then a smaller one beside that. There are also several micro motors sitting on the work space that I switch back and forth between constantly while doing details. If I had to get up and go retrieve a certain too, bit, every time I needed it, I'd be spending way too much time getting up and down from the work station and not nearly enough time carving. Something to think about.

I have an old woodworking bench as a work station. Mike found it at a yard sale. It has drawer space and the top is long enough and wide enough for me to keep all my tools on it, handy to reach for. I have one of those little "in-lap" dust collectors and Mike put drawer tracks under my work surface that the business end of the dust collector (the lap board) slides in and out under the table top as needed. The hose from the lap board runs under the table top to one end where the motor/squirrel cage fan part of the dust collector hangs with the collection bag on it. Once I get back in behind my table, to the seat, everything is in easy reach and I don't have to get up for anything. So, what ever your set up is...make sure that you can have everything you might need within easy reach and don't have to be getting up and down all the time to go get things....

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by Jim S.

Hello Dull Knife,
Just recently removed a spa tub from a bathroom remod.
I have read articles in the past about this subject and was wondering... would that blower motor off the spa tub work well for a power carving station?
Thanks in advance,
Jim

I can't really comment on a blower motor off a spa tub.

I got my blower from a dealer. When I got it he said to me "do your self a favor and clean the dust out of the motor every once in awhile".

I replied that there won't be much dust in the motor as I had made arrangements to put a furnace filter in front of the motor. I just looked at the motor this morning and as usual, there is just a very small amount of dust there.

I also made sure that when I built the unit to put all the electrical wiring in side a dust proof box....to prevent the possibility of an explosion..... better safe than sorry.

[Jim S.]

Hello Dull Knife,
Thanks for the reply and the added info.
Appreciate it.
Jim

[jjtexas]

Hi Sieren

The power carving station works very well.

I built one 2 years ago using a discarded home furnace blower and have never had to use anything other than the lowest power setting.

I used hardware cloth instead of the a/c vent on the table top. I never did get around to making the plexiglass cover as I have not needed it.

Hope yours work just as well or better.

Regards

Joe

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by susieq

The power station looks like a great idea IF you have a table top, counter top or shelves with in arms reach of it while you work....there simply isn't enough room on the station for me. I have a huge bit holder on a lazy susan base, and then a smaller one beside that. There are also several micro motors sitting on the work space that I switch back and forth between constantly while doing details. If I had to get up and go retrieve a certain too, bit, every time I needed it, I'd be spending way too much time getting up and down from the work station and not nearly enough time carving. Something to think about.

I have an old woodworking bench as a work station. Mike found it at a yard sale. It has drawer space and the top is long enough and wide enough for me to keep all my tools on it, handy to reach for. I have one of those little "in-lap" dust collectors and Mike put drawer tracks under my work surface that the business end of the dust collector (the lap board) slides in and out under the table top as needed. The hose from the lap board runs under the table top to one end where the motor/squirrel cage fan part of the dust collector hangs with the collection bag on it. Once I get back in behind my table, to the seat, everything is in easy reach and I don't have to get up for anything. So, what ever your set up is...make sure that you can have everything you might need within easy reach and don't have to be getting up and down all the time to go get things....

My power carving station is quite large. I sit on a stool with my legs under neath the front part. I built this unit in December of 2002.

The back legs have wheels on them so that I can move the unit around in order to clean the floor.

The Master Carver unit that I have, has a foot operated reostat for controlling the motor.

The motor is mounted on to a floor joist, just above my head. My work shop is in the basement of our home.

The whole unit is enclosed on three sides with clear plastic. There is ample room on the top of the unit for all my bits and other stuff.