Want to give itpower carving a try.

[bigbob7777]

Hi all,

I've been interested in power carving for a while. Just never really tried. I carve mainly caricatures (6-10" tall and 1 1/2" wide).

What carver and accessories (bits, etc) would you recommend? I am fairly ignorant as to what I need. Money is not a big problem; I just don't want to waste my money.

Also, I can't seem to find an answer to this: Where do most of you carve in your home? Anyone carve inside? If so, how do you keep all the dust from going everywhere? Do your work areas have a kind of enclosure to keep chips from going everywhere? Just looking for some setup ideas.

Hope these Q's aren't too dumb.

bob

[torpidhummer]

Hi Bob,it's difficult to answer your question as to what each person uses as far as power carving tools. Tell you how I started using power tools,I didn't have access to folks that carved,either with knives gouges etc and no knowledge of power tools. First I can tell you what not do,don't go out buy any tools that you think will do for you,then later decide,you want to buy another,believing it will make you a better carver as I did. I went to a dermal first which in fact is a good power tool but awkward to use without a flex shaft,I basically went through about three cheap tools before I settled down.

I hear you say that you have no idea what power tool and accessaries to purchase,well I would surf down this thread on the subject of Power Carving. You will find all kinds of useful information on power tools,in fact recently there was a poll as to what power tools were mostly used. After spending all the money on cheap tools, I purchased a Foredom TX flex shaft,a Ram 45 that I'm very happy with except the Ram 45 burns out brushes about once a year.

I have everything from caricatures to owls and other raptors of what I am now doing. This thread has great folks that have carving many years with knives,gouges and power tools that are eager to assist you in any way they can. I recommend that after you research the topic on the forum about power carving you will be able to make a choice as to tools to buy as this subject has come up many times. Then after you have decided the tool that will be best for you and what you intend to carve,folks on this thread can inform you what burrs and bits work them,as I mentioned there is no specific answer,

Good luck in your new adventure in live as carving is both intoxication and very addictive.

Oscar

[torpidhummer]

By the way power carving creates a whole lot of dust, make sure you protect yourself with a face mask and a dust collector. Not to many people carve in their living rooms,dens or bedrooms,unless they don't mind dust all over the place because that 5% of dust that is not collected settles everywhere. I have tried a commercial dust collector,a table top and a bench dust collector in my small shop and is still dust every where.

Oscar

[GeneWebb]

Bob, ive been teaching power carving for sixteen years. Also handle tools and supplies. Been carving since I was ten years old. But im not very good with these computers.So feel free to give me a call at 865-660-1110 I will be happy to anser any questions, if I can gene@genewebbcarvings.com

[bigbob7777]

Great replies - Thank you. I've been thinking of the Foredom 5400 kit. I just don't know if most people prefer a hanging unit or a table top one.

If I don't carve in the house, I have to do it in my garage. Here in Houston, that can get very uncomfortable in the summer. I'd hate to lose interest just because it gets warm outside. That's why I asked about "inside" carving.

Gene, thank you for the phone offer. I just may take you up on that.

[susieq]

Power carving is wonderful...but please, do not power carve inside your home. It's a danger to yourself and anyone else living with you. The wood dust you generate will be very fine and penetrate every part of your home. Breathing wood dust is VERY unhealthy. Please carve out in the garage/screened in porch or other area and for your own sake, please wear a mask and get a dust collector. You said that money is not a problem.....so no excuses, be safe and get some protection for yourself.

[wildhare]

I like the power carving but also like the knives and gouges. I use power to get into the areas my gouges don't reach as easy. You can use a knife or gouges about anywhere but you definately don't want to use a power carver in the house unless you don't mind saw dust that is as fine as flour EVERYWHERE.
Wear a mask and use some kind of dust collector.
Wanda

[Callynne]

I do all my power carving inside, my carving room is right off the livingroom and I don't find the dust any big problem.....but....I do run two dust collectors when I'm carving. One is a tabletop one, the other an 'in lap' kind. I have the 'in lap' one set up directly in front of the tabletop one.

I find that the in lap grabs most of the dust, what it doesn't is sucked up onto the filter of the tabletop one. When I'm really hogging off a lot of wood, (the real dust maker!) I keep my sweeper setting off to the side and periodically turn off the tabletop one and sweep off the filter.

This set up works well for me and really keeps the dust down. I also always....ALWAYS....wear a dust mask. Eye protection too and you should also wear ear protection....I sort of cheat on that one, got noise canceling ear phones....that way I can be listening to my music or watch a movie while I work!! Life is good! Deborah

[Hexhead]

I think it depends if you want to remove wood in a hurry or detail. I have a Proxxon power carver with a min chain saw (2" 8 tooth) carved a really hard burl the other day and it cut like a big boy. I also have carbide kind of cones for it and a few sand paper flapper disc. I'm still a little wallaby from the price I paid 138.00 (caught on sale) viable speed, it's scary fast, but when I came to realize how much time and labor it saved me, I started to heal. I've heard the Abortech blade will fit on it but don't quote me. It's by far (made in germany) the most well built piece I'v ever purchashed, and ought to be.

As far as fordome I've heard several say they like the table model. I've got a old HF one that's been running for years (go figure)

Bill

[susieq]

OMG! Deborah, you really carve in your house???? ack. You must have some real super dooper dust collectors! I always warn against carving inside one's home and will continue to do so...... I am absolutely paranoid about the dangers of wood dust and try to get others (especially folks new to power carving) to be the same way. I am not going to second guess you on your situation but as a rule, it's not a good idea....at least in my humble opinion.

By the way, you had asked me to report how I liked my new air cleaner that I bought last January...or was it February. That time period is a blurr because of all the other stuff that was going on with my parents at that same time. Anyhow, I love that thing. We hung it right over my carving station and I run it when ever I carve. It has cut down on the dust that used to settle all over everything.....the real fine stuff "puffs" out of the dust collector bag everytime I turn on the dust collector....now the air cleaner with the heppa filter and the electrostatic filter, pulls all of it in. That was a good investment. I highly recomend them. Mine is a JDS brand but Delta and Grizzly make them too....and Jet.