Reciprocating Carver?

[lramlow]

Hello all!

I'm new here, both in the carving world and the forum. I've been making nature and wildlife themed sculpture boxes for about 5 years now, beginning like all other bandsaw box makers do, then advancing to my own original designs, and finally making them more unique by caving them. These 3 boxes are my first attempts at carving, and I have to say I'm hooked! To the point that I don't want to make the box part anymore, I just want to carve! So I'm switching gears and moving toward doing some larger pieces, both in the round styles and relief carving. I'm thinking mantels, doors, wall pieces, etc.
Enough blah blah background, on to my actual question: I already have the following tools:
Foredom SX with 44H handpiece and kutzall and Saburtooth bits
Assorted Dremels and bits
Proxxon min-angle grinder with Saburtooth ex-coarse "donut" wheel (Love this thing!!!)
I'm looking to get a reciprocating carver, and am leaning toward a dedicated unit instead of the handpiece attachment that goes on the Foredom. I love my Proxxon, but have had to return it twice for major repair (yay for the 2 year warranty!) and from what I understand it isn't as heavy-duty and doesn't have as much power as the Automach from Japan. I have the SK set of Flexcut gouges, etc. so with the SK adapter I can use these with either body. I find I'm not as crazy about the Foredom as I thought I'd be - the flex shaft seems rather cumbersome. For my smaller detailing bits, I prefer the Dremel with the "pistol grip" detailers attachment over the Foredom-it seems more comfortable. But I'm not opposed to the Foredom handpiece if it's a good tool - certainly a cheaper option to go that route!

I should also mention that I use Michigan hardwoods - walnut, cherry and curly maple, mostly. I burned up the sheath on the Foredom while making the boxes below, as I didn't have the Proxxon yet. Too many big bits for too long, I guess.

SO....FINALLY: Opinions! Please! Right now I'm probably going with the Automach, but I'd love to hear what y'all think. About all of it! Ready, GO!

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Lisa
Lisa Ramlow Fine Woodworking Home Page

[AL...]

Hi Lisa
Welcome to the fourms
Those carvings are beautiful Ive never seen anything like them and thankyou for sharing.

Cheers
AL

[dogcatcher]

They are beautiful!

[llc1952]

Can't give you any answer on the recip carvers but can tell you those sculptured drawer pieces are amazing! Gorgeous work.

[Tommy Taylor]

Welcome Lisa and those look great.I envy you for the tools you have.Power wise all I have is a Dremel 300 and intend on burning that thing up cause I'm hooked too.You did a beautiful job.Looking forward to seeing more.

[Ron T]

Hello and welcome, Lisa. Those are beautiful and quite unique.

You can do a search on "reciprocating carvers".

[idigjars]

Hello Lisa and welcome to the forum. I don't know about the recip carvers but I sure like the looks of your boxes, very beautiful. I've never seen anything quite like them, very unique and cool looking. Thank you for sharing the pics with us. Paul

[Curly Early]

Lisa, First of all, your carvings are beautiful and wonderfully done, finish, design-everything. I have three recip carvers and I mainly hog off waste wood in getting down to close to finish, but I finish with gouges, or sandpape. With a bunch of power is the Automach and I think after several years of use, well worth the cost.

[Donsexton]

I have two of the automach carver’s very high quality but they will get hot in your hand that is why I have two. I use mine to carve small to medium size carvings in my lap while sitting in my recliner. You can do what is equal to mallet work without a work positioner or a mallet. The other thing I like is no dust just chips carve for hours and cleanup is easy. I tend to agree with you on the flex shaft tools I have one and I much prefer my die grinders, but the right angle grinder attachment is great. I have the foredom and weecheer right angle hand piece they are great. The automach will get hot in your hand after 30 minutes of continuous use so I recommend buying two of them and the flex-cut blades work great.

[lramlow]

Thank you all for the kind words! It's quite lovely to get compliments, as well as constructive criticism, from folks in the field. I'll be sure to post more pics!

As far as my decision on the tool, I think I'm gonna buy the best one to start with, a lesson I think I'm finally learning. Too often I end up having to "regroup" because I tried to go cheap. So the Automach it is. Thanks Don for your advice - I was hoping to hear from someone who has one. Can only afford to get one right now, but I think that'll be OK. I'll be on the lookout for an electric die grinder in the future, as I think I like that idea better than the Foredom for the running the big bits.

Thanks again to everyone who responded - I greatly appreciate the encouragement!

Lisa