wood carver

[Marc]

Hi all, i'm looking to buy a wood carver. I hear about this dremel from a few places, are they any good? who uses them? what price can I expect to pay for new or 2nd hand? anyone have any complaints about them?

If not this dremel, i know it's an electronic carver, but if not one, are there others that are good?

Anyone know anyone interested in possibly selling one?

[Asus101]

a dremel will cost form about $100 to $350. the bits range from $9 to about $35.
They are good for smallish work, but when removing large amounts of wood, there are better.

[Dave54]

Hi M.
I use a Dremel, but only with the small "sanding tubes" around the rubber spindle. I have had the same dremil since 1998.
If you want to take off serious wood quickly. Buy a "samurai" attachment which fits on to a die-grinder.
Don't like to undermine our nurseries, but there is a bloke who sells on e-bay at a fraction of the price and the tool is a genuine article.
They are brilliant !!!
cheers
Dave

[Grant Bowie]

Attached is a photo of a Die Grinder and some cutting tools. A larger and more powerfull version of the Dremel. The best cutters are expensive but worthwhile for large carving/trunk hollowing etc.

Grant

RIMG0302.JPG

RIMG0304.JPG

[aaron_tas]

i also find a grinder with an arbotech blade good, or even an electric chainsaw...

..but obviously not on shohin

i have a digi multi speed dremel with an array of cutting bits that is great for shohin, and detailed work.

i find the grey rubber wheel the best for "smoothing" the sharp edge out of the carve.

[Grant Bowie]

RIMG0300.JPG

Grinder with attachments and blades.

Grant

[Asus101]

Dont forget burins!!!

[Pup]

RIMG0300.JPG

Grinder with attachments and blades.

Grant

Arbortech also do a reciprocating chisel which is good for large work.
There is also an extension like the dremel, that takes a reciprocating chisel for shohin work, it fits on the Dremel .
Tomorrow I will take some pics. Pup

[Marc]

I'd hate to say, but for large work i've used a bow saw...

so it seems most people have both a dremel and / or a die grinder eh?

for me, larger work is not so much of an issue, i guess medium to small work for me. so i'll check out both the dremel and the die grinder and see what deal I can come up with.

if I were to go just one, which one would people say, if you could only get one??

[Grant Bowie]

Dremel.

Spade Bit.jpg

[Grant Bowie]

Sorry Marc,

I am having trouble with the internet today and it kept dropping out.

I got a new Dremel with flexible shaft, variable speed and some tools for around $130 last year at Bunnings.

Spend another $30 or so and get the spade bit pictured as it can do a lot of heavy work; more than you would think. You may need to order it in but it is worth it.

It is good for plunging into fresh wood stubs like pines.

Grant

[Marc]

Thanks Grant, yeah, seems to me I've heard dremel mentioned more than others so that might be the purchase...

thanks all for your input, much appreciated.

[Asus101]

Doesn't anyone use Burins?

[Marc]

Well, bought myself a Dremel 300 series, very happy. Has a heap of attachments, but seems does not have a specific wood carving router bit. It says some of the other bits can be used on wood, like the grinding stone, however I reckong that'd clog up pretty quickly.

anyways, we'll see.

Thanks for the tips guys.