Power carving tools

[pjreilly]

I'm interested in carving my turnings - mostly fine, detail work - and have come across two high speed, turbine carvers: the Powercrafter and the Turbo Carver. Has anyone used either of these tools? Can you tell me anything about them, good, bad or otherwise?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Pam

 

[Mark Mandell]

Hi, Pam,

The two you mention are basically the same except the Powercrafter has to be oiled at the start of each session whereas the Turbo Carver II is oil free. I bought the oil-free (about $60 less as well) Turbo Carver II, but without the water mist accessory that is used with hard dusty materials like egg shell and bone. These hyper-speed tools are more in the line of engravers than carving tools as they have very little torque and will bog down and stop if you try to hog off material; these are light touch tools for sure. The burrs are sold in sets, but you'll do better to buy them individually because while the set may be a bit cheaper, they'll always put one in that you (or most others) have no use for. There is a pointed flame burr that does very well for signing a piece, and I've several others to do light texturing in rings and rims. You can also get free burrs from your dentist

I also have a 18,000 rpm Foredom flex shaft that will take carving burrs, but which I have "converted" to a reciprocating power chisel carver that does Very well for texturing turnings.

Hope this helps.

Mark