Thread: Which would be the better machine to purchase

Wood Carving Illustrated magazine sponsors a very diverse wood carving forum website.
I suggest that you join (for free) and ask in the Power Carving forum.
Probably the greatest number of experienced users, any where.
You could lurk in the archives for days. But, the Search function is as sloppy
as it is in most sites!

The guys in the diamond willow furniture shop down my street use three
big Dremel which look like clones of the Foredom, hangers and all.
Never hear any complaints.

I've used both. I honestly haven't experienced much difference between them. I know that Foredom owners are pretty keen on them but other than a reverse gear, I haven't really seen the advantage over the Archer unit.

The Archer has a bigger motor but I couldn't pick the difference between it and the Foredom in the timbers I tried. Both had plenty of grunt for what I wanted to do. Keep in mind that they are still largely 'detail' machines.. that is they are not designed to remove mountains of material from larger carvings.

As far as performance is concerned, in my experience it is at least as dependent on the variety and quality of the cutters, burrs, tips etc. you have as the machine itself. For what its worth I chose the Archer but I demonstrate the both for Carbatec regularly and would happily recommend either one.

Thank you people for your reply’s to my inquiry on which machine may be the preferred one for relief power carving since writing to the forum I have made a decision on buying a machine.
The machine is a 230V 1/2-HP MASTERCARVER® HANGING ULTRA 1 plus RECIPRO-CARVER PRO
Here are the details for your perusal
230V 1/2-HP MASTERCARVER® HANGING ULTRA FLEX-SHAFT SET. International Version. For use with 220-240VOLTS power only. New 1/2hp (0-30,000rpm max.) motor! Enjoy all the benefits of rotary power carving. The Mastercarver® flex-shaft machine provides the tools needed to carve better, faster & with less effort! The highest performance rotary flex-shaft set available, it includes everything you need to get started in rotary power carving, without compromise. Features: Heavy duty, 1/2 hp, 0-30,000rpm maximum speed motor with sealed ball bearings & reverse (great for grain changes & left handed carving) plus 38.5" flex-shaft & 2-handpieces. The first handpiece: StealthTM (internationally patented) has a key-chuck & adjusts 0-1/4" to accept accessories with 1/4" or smaller shanks, without collets! Great for roughing out! The 2nd rotary handpiece is the thin Detail Pro, hold it like a pencil for best control, perfect for detailing; it accepts 1/8", 3/32" & 1/16" shanks (collets included). Set includes: 1/2HP motor with foot pedal speed control (799001), 2-handpieces (792200 and 792300), *handpiece router guide, 9-burrs, manual & 2-year motor warranty. For use with 220-240VOLTS power only
Plus RECIPRO-CARVERTM PRO HANDPIECE Simply snap onto the end of your flex-shaft to convert your flex-shaft machine into a superior, reciprocating carver! Note: no tools are needed to replace handpieces. Compatable with all current Mastercarver®, Foredom and Pfingst machines plus all others that use the industry standard quick detach fitting. Selection includes 3/8" shallow gouge, 3/8" deep gouge, 1/8" chisel, 5/16" chisel and 1/4" V tool. For even more blades see our listing of Flexcut Reciprocating Power Blades. 792400 Recipro-Carver Pro
http://www.woodcarverssupply.com/230...ctinfo/797325/
http://www.woodcarverssupply.com/REC...ctinfo/792400/
Regards colbra

Whoa,,, jealous! 1/2 hp can whoomp it. Be safe and be mindful that the more hp the more chance of breaking the inner shaft. You might check the cable is heavy duty. They do come in different gauges. I've got a cheap Chinese 1/4 hp which is enough hp imo for flex shafts. I also have a foredom 1/6 hp.


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