Thread: Arboertech power chisel

Tony,
what type and size of carving does your better half want to do?
you mention mallee root (tough stuff) I would suggest something a bit friendlier , maybe white beech or huon.

She is the 'artistic' type looks at the peice and waits "till it talks to me" good grief man. Be in control I say but you know these wood whispering women.

Anyway she ain't into the traditional type of carving what ever that is.
There is the remains of a mallee root in the shed thats about 300mm across by 700 tall.that when finished will be person pouring water over
a waterfall with pool in the base.(Told you she's different) Loves pushing her own boundries.

This was done with both Arbortech grinders and lots of work with the poxy burrs on the dremel.
hope that gives you more idea what she's on about.

I'm very new to carving (i.e. I've bought the tools), and this is very useful information to me. Great work!

Originally Posted by griffithpark

I'm very new to carving (i.e. I've bought the tools), and this is very useful information to me. Great work!

have you used them yet if so, got any photos of your work, love photos
use the gallery

G'day,
I'd be more concerned - or equally concerned - with getting the right wood. Carving into a chunk of coolibah is hard work. Sure the right tools will help but best to start off small and easy and see how she goes... pine, camphor laurel, banksias or the like would be a sensible starting point.
As for tools, I'd go down to Bunnings and get myself one of those chinese dremel knock offs - GMC or Ozito - they'll vibrate more and rattle a bit but gets the job done. I bought 2 for about $10 each on special a while back and still use them a fair bit but the dremel is a far superior tool.
After she's had a few plays see if she wants to try chisels. Here wood is really important... soft workable timber would be the go.
You can get these really nifty dremel like attachments ... flexible shaft 42" long and a reciprocating carver with interchangeable blades and profiles. I find these hard to control especially on fine or deep work.
If she's totally addicted lash out on the proxxon reciprocating carver ... the motor is connected directly to the chisel... no flex shaft and easier to control and built to German precision. Expensive, but if she really enjoys carving and does a lot of it, that's the bees' knees.
As for the arbortech I'd rule that out unless she's up to chewing out red gum, working on big scale and working with a noisy but efficient (and tiring) industrial scale gadget. I find mine exhausting and don't use it much unless it's just roughing out big stuff... then I reach for the dremel and chisels.
There. That's at least two bob's worth.

That's beautiful work,

Was interested to read the question about a woman using the arbortech chisel. My experience has been that the tool is much to heavy for me to hold comfortably and too large for my female hands. My wrists became sore and I couldn't achieve the results I wanted with this recipricating chisel. I use the arbortech industrial disc and mini-grinders, then foredom etc. The foredom does have a recip. handle attachment which of course is a lot smaller than the arbor version, but great for detail.
Hope that's helpful from one woman woodworker to another,
Clare.