Power carver blade compatibility question

[Kalia Kliban]

I have a funky but functional Cummins 6109 power carver that I picked up at a garage sale a few years back and I'd love to get a few more blades/bits/tips/gouges (what are they called for this tool?) for it. I don't know which blades will be compatible and haven't gotten any response to my emails to Treeline or Flex-cut. The Cummins company doesn't seem to be around anymore. There were three blades (with 2 different tang styles) in the case and I'm including a photo in hopes that someone who knows these tools can tell me which currently-available brands might be compatible with this tool.
Kalia

 

[Mike Selser]

Possibly Ryobi https://www.amazon.com/Ryobi-pieces...ocphy=9032419&hvtargid=pla-440285781962&psc=1

 

[Chris Lawrence]

I buy all my gouges for my power carver from treeline usa. https://treelineusa.com/power-carving/power-reciprocating-gouges/ The flex cut brand holds an edge for a long time. If you don't have this strop i recommend it for sharpening carving gouges. https://treelineusa.com/flexcut-slipstrop/

 

[Kalia Kliban]

I buy all my gouges for my power carver from treeline usa. https://treelineusa.com/power-carving/power-reciprocating-gouges/ The flex cut brand holds an edge for a long time. If you don't have this strop i recommend it for sharpening carving gouges. https://treelineusa.com/flexcut-slipstrop/

Treeline was where I went first, but they haven't responded to my 2 emails asking about compatibility with my carver. Sharpening isn't an issue. I've got all the stones and slips and strops. The issue is whether what they sell will fit my tool. I hate having to pay double postage (here and back) for tools that won't work for me when they could simply tell me up front.

 

[Kalia Kliban]

Possibly Ryobi https://www.amazon.com/Ryobi-pieces...ocphy=9032419&hvtargid=pla-440285781962&psc=1

That groove down the center does look like one of the ones I have.

 

[Chris Lawrence]

I just went out and measured one of my flex cut gouges. The part of the flex cut that goes into my handpiece is 7/32 wide and 11/16 long. If your carver locks it in with a collet and nut the indentation does not matter. The gouges that came with my wecheer handpiece had that same indentation. Hope that helps.

 

[Kalia Kliban]

I just went out and measured one of my flex cut gouges. The part of the flex cut that goes into my handpiece is 7/32 wide and 11/16 long. If your carver locks it in with a collet and nut the indentation does not matter. The gouges that came with my wecheer handpiece had that same indentation. Hope that helps.

Thank you, that does help! My carver does use a collet and nut, and the round opening in the collet allows both the groove/ridge style and the 2-bumps style tang. Sounds like the flex-cuts will work just fine. Much appreciated!

 

[JeffSmith]

I've got an older Weecher carver that uses the same style blades - I've found that the Flexcut fit fine, as do the Ryobi blades. The flexcut are better blades, sharpen nicely and hold an edge longer - at least for me
As for the Cummins brand, I think that was a brand setup to liquidate older stock of relatively low grade tools. I'm not surprised that you may have found them unrespondant since there was little organization behind it.

 

[Kalia Kliban]

I've got an older Weecher carver that uses the same style blades - I've found that the Flexcut fit fine, as do the Ryobi blades. The flexcut are better blades, sharpen nicely and hold an edge longer - at least for me
As for the Cummins brand, I think that was a brand setup to liquidate older stock of relatively low grade tools. I'm not surprised that you may have found them unrespondant since there was little organization behind it.

It wasn't (the non-existent) Cummins folks who weren't responding, but Treeline and Flexcut, who I contacted to ask about compatibility of their products with my tool. I've got a couple of small Flexcut handled gouges and have been quite happy with the edge quality, and since Chris Lawrence gave me the measurements of the Flexcut tang, it sounds like those blades will work for me. I'll use the old Cummins machine until it poops out, which will let me see if I like power carving enough to upgrade to a better tool.

 

[Kalia Kliban]

As long as we're all talking about power carving, the one complaint I have about it is that the tools can be on the loud side. It's really lovely to be able to hold the work in one hand and carve with the other, but the noise gets a little much after a while. Are any of the reciprocating carvers noticeably quieter than the rest of the herd?

 

[Chris Lawrence]

Right now i use the wecheer handpiece with the harbor freight flex shaft motor. Its the same design as the original foredom. Its loud but not loud enough that i need ear protection. Its variable speed with a foot pedal so i don't have it running full speed all the time. Most of the noise comes from the action of the reciprocating handpiece. I would imagine all would be about the same.

 

[Hugh]

Kalia,
I have an Automach carving tool. I use the Flex Cut gouges/blades. But, I have to use the little brass shim that Flex Cut makes and sells so the Flex Cut gouges/blades will fit in my Automach. The shims are just a small folded over thin piece of brass. But, it is just enough to fill the space in the Automach tool.
The Flex Cut gouges/blades will fit in the Ryobi carving tool without the shim.
I have not idea about the Cummins tool.

All of the reciprocating carvers are loud. You need to wear ear protection. If you don't wear ear protection....you may become as deaf as I am.

If you like the Flex Cut blades........they make a very nice set of them for all your carving needs.