AusBonsai

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?

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.

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

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

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.

Grinder with attachments and blades.

Grant

Dont forget burins!!!

Grant Bowie wrote:

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

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??

Dremel.

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

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.

Doesn't anyone use Burins?

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.