Reciprocating Carver?

[davidinsarasota]

I have the the Foredom reciprocating handpiece (55T?). It will get into tight places and remove material when I have no wiggle room for a gouge. It's also good for long stroking removal cuts. I prefer the manual Pfeil gouges for most work of this kind since they are quite and meditative. Do you use regular gouges?

[lramlow]

David,

I am really quite new to carving, having created my first pieces (I made the polar bear, giraffe and moose at the same time for a gallery exhibition) about a year and a half ago. I have a part time job, and a business with 2 other artists (Bear Track Studios) and we are working toward being able to eek out a modest living on our own. So that being said, I haven't had time to practice much at all, it's been a "jump in and sink or swim" kind of endeavor. All summer is spent doing the art show circuit, and in addition to making my own work I make the frames for both the girls. So I need to be able to create my pieces in a reasonable amount of time - as anyone who does any kind of woodworking knows, there is a ton of work involved that the customer just don't understand.

To answer your question, I have done very little with hand tools-some whittling of basswood ornaments and magnets, cleaning up on my power carving stuff. I find that for whatever reason I'm more confident with a power tool, at least right now, but my plan is to learn how to use hand gouges as well. I'm completely self-taught all the way around, so I'm looking to join a local carving club to help me on this journey, as well as scouring this forum for tips and techniques from all of you!

Thanks,

Lisa
www.beartrackstudiosllc.com
www.lisaramlow.com

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by 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

WOW!!! ain't it amasing what some folks can come up with?

[davidinsarasota]

So I need to be able to create my pieces in a reasonable amount of time - as anyone who does any kind of woodworking knows, there is a ton of work involved that the customer just don't understand.

True dat! on most customers not comprehending how much time/work goes into a piece. Similarly, since I have not sold carvings I am clueless about all the work/time that goes into the business end. Much admiration here for your lovely creations and energy in moving them.

Personally I have not found a reciprocating carver to be any faster than hand tools, but it will remove harder woods that the gouges are only able to chip away at.

Keep in touch with Don Sexton about the Automach. He is the expert on that machine as well as other power tools. And he's a really helpful dude.

[watereerat]

I, too, am researching reciprocating carvers--found this link and must add my praise to all othes here. Fantastic 'boxes," if that's what you want to call them. I'd call them marvelous works of art. Kudos for such beautiful work.

Re the reciprocating carver, I've had a Foredom for about four years, have used it less than 8 hours, total, and replaced the so-called flexible shaft three times. Bought it when I first decided to learn to carve (ignorance is bliss). Needless to say I am less than happy with the whole thing but have been considering purchasing the reciprocating handpiece. Social Security being what it is I can't afford to go whole hog on an Automach right now.

As for the grinder, after carving with a professional (doing faces) I purchased a Makita die grinder a couple years ago for about $100. They're a little more expensive now, but I've really put that thing through the wringer on all types of wood and it's holding up well after about 60 hours of hard use at this point. I'm pretty aggressive in the roughing out stage.

A caution to women in particular, don't brace the back end of the grinder against your "chest." I use my grinder outside, with a big fan blowing from behind me which also blows most of the dust away from me. Take my word for it, the hot air blowing out of the back of the grinder--which comes in handy to blow dust out of the crooks and crannies of your carving while you work--will create a blister in a most tender spot. And if you go for your "female" checkup a couple days later, your doctor will want to know how in the world you managed to get a blister there! Fortunately for me, my physician already knows I'm able to injure myself in the most unusual (creative, maybe?) ways. !

[torpidhummer]

Lisa, your projects are definitely outstanding,being a tool junkie,I use a proxon and a recip-carver,the other is a recip- attachment to my dremel and I use both to hog off some of my larger raptor project both have been going strong for the last five years and I am very satisfied witheir performance.
Oscar

[lramlow]

Jacki,
Thanks for the warning! An electric angle grinder is on my list of tools to purchase, as my pancake air compressor isn't strong enough to run the air grinder I have. I have a TON of big 1/4" shank bits my dad got for me at a garage sale, and I don't trust the Foredom to run them happily.
Oscar,
I've been playing more with the recip-carver, and I'm liking it! Also going to try the flex shaft for the couple of dremels I have kicking around - I have the 44T handpiece for the Foredom, and it's a little too cumbersome for me if I'm using smaller detailing bits.

[Donsexton]

Originally Posted by lramlow

Jacki,
Thanks for the warning! An electric angle grinder is on my list of tools to purchase, as my pancake air compressor isn't strong enough to run the air grinder I have. I have a TON of big 1/4" shank bits my dad got for me at a garage sale, and I don't trust the Foredom to run them happily.
Oscar,
I've been playing more with the recip-carver, and I'm liking it! Also going to try the flex shaft for the couple of dremels I have kicking around - I have the 44T handpiece for the Foredom, and it's a little too cumbersome for me if I'm using smaller detailing bits.

You need one of these for the 1/4" bits Makita variable speed die grinder 7 amps plenty of power and made for pros working in industry.