3rd Attempt

[OutoftheWoodwork]

Well, actually, it was the 4th. The 3rd attempt was an owl, and I failed miserably. In my defense, I was carving into that hard-@$$ wood I got from my daughters property (SO badly wanted to make an owl for her out of that wood....) But ended up pulling out a 4x4 pc. of cedar I had marked up to do a gnome, and changed my mind. Having a hard time finding real step-by-step instructions for power carving. Knife carving is all over the place.

The YouTube channel I'm using, (in my opinion) the guy is not the greatest teacher. It's hard to follow when he's going so fast, and when you pause the video, it's got a dark screen with the controls on it. The rest of them, (for the most part) all they do is have music and them carving. No instructions, but the title says "how to carve" or "beginner's blah blah blah" and it's not. Ah, well. I'll figure it out somehow.

Oh Yeah! I got some bits! I called the store Ken got my first bits from to see if they were still carrying them, and they said they had some, and that they were 30% off. (Red flag!!) I asked "why", and was told the store has to move. Owners sold the building out from under them, and they have to be out come the end of April, so they have everything 30% off. Awesome deal for me, but they have no place to go (as of yet.) I love this store, and the people who work there are amazing. The places they've found have been either too small, or would cost too much to renovate to get up to what they need. The 2nd picture is the bits I got. Accidently got one with the 1/4" shank, but oh well. Ken is going back and getting the rest of the 1/8" bits. At the price, you can't beat it. Also picked up a BucketBoss laptop bag for like $30. Hope it lasts longer than my other bags!

P.S. Ken turns Heinz 57 today! Celebrated Saturday at our daughters, then came home to no power. Wind took out power all over the place Saturday afternoon. Didn't get it back till a little after noon yesterday.

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[HandyDan]

Looks good to me Barb. I would need a grind by number kit to be any good at carving.

[Herb Stoops]

That one came out good,looks pretty straight grain,no knots cedar. too bad about the owl, you are learning fast.
Herb

[Cherryville Chuck]

Excellent job Barb. What are you using for power? My dremel type tool would struggle with those despite it being the same wattage as a Dremel.

[DaninVan]

I don't know if this is of any interest to you, Barb...
https://www.chippingaway.com/shop/woodc ... light-dvd/
Should be way less expensive from a US source.

[OutoftheWoodwork]

Excellent job Barb. What are you using for power? My dremel type tool would struggle with those despite it being the same wattage as a Dremel.

Dremel 4000 and 4300 with a flex shaft. I also have the Stylo, but it bogs down and shuts itself off if you use any real pressure, so I use it for just sanding, and light touch work. The burrs help quite a bit. I also have the bits I got off Amazon that look like spears in different sizes. They actually cut pretty well. I've used the carbides for some cuts. I think the key is to make sure I don't use dense and hard wood.

[Herb Stoops]

Have you ever tried the electric carving chisels?
https://www.amazon.com/electric-wood-ca ... ing+chisel

A big Happy Birthday to Ken, I celebrated 50 years of smoking when I turned 57!

HErb

[OutoftheWoodwork]

Have you ever tried the electric carving chisels?
https://www.amazon.com/electric-wood-ca ... ing+chisel

A big Happy Birthday to Ken, I celebrated 50 years of smoking when I turned 57!

HErb

Ken said "Thank You" and no, on the power chisel. The Dremel is where I started, actually. Besides my first campsite sign, I did cork-boards and that, as well. Then Ken got me the scroll saw, and I did things that way for almost 10 years before I decided I wanted to try my hand at using a router because I thought that I could save time making things. I can look into the power chisels, but IDK....

[Herb Stoops]

You are doing fine the way you are, Barb, I was just curious. My limited knowledge with the vibrating hand tools are they can raise heck with a persons nerves and muscles, not good at as we get older.
Herb

[honesttjohn]

Gotta be careful with those vibrators!!

[DaninVan]

Gotta be careful with those vibrators!!

Yup, using them can get outta hand...

[Biagio]

And you can land up exercising muscles you have never used before - repetitive strain injury.

[CharleyL]

Barb,

A Dremel tool doesn't spin fast enough for easy carving. There's too much side pull at low speeds that makes it difficult to follow pattern lines. Air powered die grinders using the same and different bits will make it much easier because they spin faster, and they get colder with use, not hotter.
One like this -
https://www.amazon.com/Pneumatic-Pencil ... B07H3NC775


For really fine work, I use a modified Dentist Drill, also air powered, but with 1/16" shank dentist bits, and they spin at 2-400,000 RPM, so no side pull at all. There are other and cheaper versions, but this is what I use.

https://scmsysteminc.com/power-carver/

The cross was cut on a scroll saw, but then the leaves and vines were cut back and shaped with my 1/16" carver.

Charley

[Herb Stoops]

Read all the reviews and roll the dice, on the first one.

Does it emit hi pitched noise?

HErb