Carvings, as these pages endeavour to show, come in many forms, styles and sizes.  One significant development of recent years has been the growth in the use of power tools for carving, and especially the use of chainsaws and other aggressive machines.

Whilst the art of power carving by these means will remain a somewhat robust activity, the Arbortech carving discs have certainly done a lot to make this absorbing activity much more accessible and rather safer than can be the case when using a chainsaw and its derivatives.  Indeed the Arbortech carvers have won the tough German seal of safety with their unique limited cutting depth design that reduces the damage caused if ever tool and flesh were to make contact.

Woodturners too are turning in ever-greater numbers to using these versatile tools to create sculptured and textured surfaces on their work.  Used with discretion, such techniques can lift a piece into another class, adding a touch of artistry which is often visibly lacking on plain finished items.  Care is required when using this technique and it may take a little time to learn and apply appropriate techniques (try and watch someone like Jimmy Clewes, Nick Agar or Les Thorne doing this style of work) but the rewards can be high when it is applied with skill.  The example shown, left is by Les Thorne and shows a textured bowl rim that has been further enhanced by scorching.  Note that an oil finish is generally most successful with this technique.

And for the traditional woodworker - what a boon this machine is for carving out seat forms and similar large bulk removal tasks.  Forget sweat and let the brain muscle earn its keep a while!

The Arbortech range includes a number of items appealing to both carver and woodturner alike.  The Pro-4 Woodcarver Kit is designed to turn almost any 4" or 41/2" (100 mm or 115 mm) angle grinder into a powerful carving and shaping machine.  The kit comprises the Arbortech cutting disc, the Pro-4 guard which does much to make this a safer tool in use, along with mounting hardware.  Replacement blades are also readily available. 

For smaller workpieces and confined spaces, Arbortech produce a "modified" angle grinder which effectively converts this into a smaller scale machine carrying a 50 mm woodcarver blade.  The complete angle grinder with the mini blade mounted, is pre-assembled to a powerful, 700 watt, 240 volt grinder, ready to use and is supplied with two mini-blades and a selection of sanding discs.  For carving harder materials a TCT-tipped blade is also available.

When it comes to removing wood at a rapid rate there is little to beat a carbide burr.  The same technology is capable of creating a cutting tool which leaves a fine smooth surface ready for final finishing. The Saburr Carbide Rotary Tools harness these benefits and deliver them in a range of tools which are fast-cutting, non-clogging, smooth running, easily controlled and which have a very long operational life.  The technology creates a cutter which has regularly-spaced, distinct and separate cutting points with clear space in between, giving these products their characteristic freedom from clogging and free-cutting characteristics.

We offer a range of these products including mounted points in a choice of shank sizes, cutting discs to mount on mini angles grinders (such as the Proxxon and Arbortech types) or on rotary carver hand-pieces, larger diameter (4 inch) versions for use on standard angle grinders, and sanding drums, complete with mounting arbors.

Whilst great for cutting wood, these burrs are also effective on rubber, plastics, bone, ice, fibreglass, epoxies, acrylic, graphite, soap stone and alabaster.  In other words, these are tough and versatile tools!  (Please note, however, that these tools should not be used on metals or ceramics.)  In all cases eye protection should always be worn.

©1997-2010 P. Hemsley.  The information on this website is the copyright property of Peter Hemsley. 
Coeur du Bois and The ToolPost are trading styles of Peter Hemsley.  Whilst reasonable efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, no liability can be accepted for errors in this information nor for contingencies arising therefrom.  If you are inexperienced in any aspect of woodworking, we would strongly counsel that you take a course of formal instruction before commencing to practice