[Woodcarver] Questions about rotary tools & wood burners

Wed Oct 27 20:27:58 EDT 2004

It depends on what you are doing with the burner as to the temperature of
the tip.  When I'm doing a course haired animal, like a bear for instance, I
turn my burner up as high as I can stand to hold it and burn fast.  This
chars the wood, which I then brush off with a coarse bristle brush, a false
teeth tooth brush I buy at Wal-Mart.  However, it does give great fur
texture.  I was taught this by Jim Wilsford, from Tennessee, a great animal
carver.  However, I know other animal carvers who burn very light and get
there texture from gouges, v-tools, and burrs.  I think it depends on your
style as to the heat you use.  

By-the-way, I didn't put this up to be contradictory.  It is just another
side of the coin and its just my two cents worth for whatever that is worth.
:o)

Loren Woodard

My carvings can be seen at http://www.woodcarvers-gallery.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net
[mailto:woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net] On Behalf Of Daniel Heine
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 5:51 PM
To: [Woodcarver]
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Questions about rotary tools & wood burners

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Good Evening,

 You should always use the lowest setting that gives you the results you
want.

Thanks,
Dan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sylda" <sylda at kansas.net>
To: "Woodcarvers List" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 9:13 AM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Questions about rotary tools & wood burners

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> click
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Hi! Since I haven¹t learned to power carve I can not address that side of
your inquiry.  However I have been woodburning for about 3 years and
probably have done well over a couple hundred pieces.  I use a Colwood
burner and hand pieces, the Nibsburner hand pieces will also work with it.
You can look the Colwood over online at www.woodburning.com.  Sometimes the
hand pieces get hot, but I have never had one that melted.  It sounds like
yours gets much too hot.  I had problems with mine not heating up enough
until I got a new cord from the burner to the hand piece and now it works
great.  I have problems with carpal tunnel and need to have a larger shape
to hold to keep my hands from going numb, so enlarging the hand piece solves
two problems for me.  I have problems with the hand pieces getting too hot
to hold.  I have wrapped some in vet wrap and have also used the curly shoe
laces.  Remember a few years ago when curly shoe laces came out < you could
put them in your shoes and not have to tie them and they would stay a tight
as you wanted them?  They work great because they can be spread out around
the hand piece so they keep your hands away from the heat and allow the hand
piece to ³breathe².  I have worn out some hand pieces, but not melted one. I
have worn out several tips which are removable from the hand piece.  I know
several people using Colwood burners and are very happy with their choice.
Let me know if I can help you any more. Sylda sylda at kansas.net

On 10/25/04 4:29 PM, "aliceleorabriggs at comcast.net"
<aliceleorabriggs at comcast.net> wrote:

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>
>
> Hello! I am very, very  new to wood carving, but have many more years 
> of experience than I care to recount with drawing and printmaking
>  (intaglio).   I hope you can help me with a question or two. I have
totally
> burned
>  out one Dremel and another is now fairly decrepid.  However, I 
> inherited
a
> Foredom from my father (a violin maker) who quickly rejected it for a
return
> to handcarving. It has survived my first two carved panels 5 feet x 4 
> feet
ea.
> I certainly plan to keep it, but I  like the Dremel's higher RPMs 
> (35,000  as compared to my Foredoms 18,000), plus the smaller 
> handpieces that  Dremel makes are best for my small hands. I tend to 
> use the Dremel for  all detail work. I lubricate the Dremels' flexible 
> shafts regularly, but
not
> too
>  liberally and am careful not to torque the shafts too much while  
> working. Is there something else I am doing incorre ctly, or are 
> larger  carving jobs just too much for a Dremel? I am working on 
> cabinet grade
Baltic
> Birch plywood (3/4inch) . What other options can anyone recommend for
carving
> on this scale?
>
> Also, I am  really fascinated by the high RPM tools used for detail 
> work
that
> are
>  now on the market. One is Turbo Carver another is Power Carver. They  
> do 400,000 to 450,000 RPMs. Have you ever used either of these? If so,  
> what do you think of them?
>
> I also use wood burning in conjunction with the carving. I have a
Nibsburner
> with a thermostat. It's great, except for the hand pieces. They have a 
> partially plastic housing near the tip with vent holes. The whole
arrangement
> melts if the burner is turned up past 6 (the top end of the register 
> is
10).
> Is this a normal problem? I am guessing it is since the handpieces are
only
> about $7 each. Are there other woodburners that you have been 
> extremely
happy
> with?
> Can you all tell me which rotary carving tools and wood burning tools 
> have been most successful for you?
>
> Please forgive me if I have asked questions that have been addressed 
> previously. I checked the Archives, but probably not as thoroughly as 
> I
might
> have. I have really enjoyed looking at some of your work on websites
provided.
> I don't have any carvings online, but I do have a gallery in Santa Fe. 
> You
can
> see my work (Alice Leora Briggs) at nuartgallery.com
>
>
>
>
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