A flexible shaft machine is comprised of a flexible shaft, a handpiece, and a foot pedal. The flexible shaft has a drive motor attached to 36 inches or a long flexible shaft. The handpiece is the part you hold and is attached to the shaft, while the foot pedal controls the rotational speed of the bur. The higher the shaft turns, the faster the bur will remove wood. The speed is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm). The handpieces can vary in different sizes and shapes. Most of the handpieces from different manufacturers are interchangeable. The handpiece connects to the flexible shaft on one end and holds the bur or bit in a collet on the other end. With most handpieces, you can interchange the bits by changing the collet. Bigger bits/burs are great for roughing out, while smaller ones are good for shaping and detailing. (source)

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Flexible Shaft Machine companies worth checking out:

• Foredom

• Dremel

• Vevor

• MASTERCARVER

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An angle grinder is a versatile power tool that is commonly used in workshops and construction sites. It is a handheld tool that is typically powered by electricity or compressed air and features a rotating disc that can be switched out for various attachments depending on the job. The primary purpose of an angle grinder is to grind and cut materials, such as metal, wood, and stone. It is also used for polishing surfaces and removing rust and paint. The compact size of an angle grinder makes it useful for working in tight spaces and its adjustable guard keeps the user safe from flying debris. When using an angle grinder, it’s important to wear protective gear, such as safety glasses, gloves, and ear protection to prevent injury.

Overall, an angle grinder is a handy tool that is essential for any DIY enthusiast or professional contractor. The use of an angle grinder in wood carving removes a large quantity of wood quickly and efficiently using a large carbide disc or toothed chain. (source)

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Angle Grinder companies worth checking out:

• Makita

• King Arthur

• RYSF

• Metabo

• Bosch

• Black and Decker

• Porter Cable

• Dewalt

One of the major advantages of micro motor machines over flexible shaft machines is the speed. Micro motor machines can achieve speeds up to 50,000 rpm. The power is delivered via a control box that includes an off/off switch, a speed controller, and a floor control/manual switch. Although digital speed controllers are great for consistency, their cost is very high and not always worth it. Micro motors do not have a high torque in comparison to flexible shaft machines. In this case, they are not good for roughing out large carvings. Micro motors are good for detail carving and texturing. For most bird carvers, a micro motor machine is used for the highly detailed texture characteristics associated with that carving style. High speeds of micro motor machines also result in cleaner cuts. (source)

 

Micromotor Machine companies worth checking out:

• Dremel

• Foredom

• MASTERCARVER

• Maxima Micro

• Treeline

These self-contained units use interchangeable chisels or gouges to remove wood. Reciprocating carvers allow you to produce a tooled surface similar to what is produced by traditional hand tools with less effort. You can get a reciprocating handpiece if you have a flexible shaft machine. This can simulate a reciprocating handpiece function at a lower price. (source)

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IR Laser companies worth checking out:

• Arbortech

• AUTOMACH

• PROXXON

• Foredom

Wood carvers purchase air turbine machines with specific needs. They are great for removing a small amount of material faster and with greater precision. In addition to carving wood, air turbine machines are used to carve glass, egg shells, ceramic, metals, bone, and antler. Air turbine machines require an air compressor and can operate up to 400,000 rpm.

(source)

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Air Turbine Machine companies worth checking out:

• Powercrafter

• Turbo Carver

• Power Carver

• NSK

• Vortex

The official definition of a chainsaw is a portable, mechanical saw that uses a set of sharp saw teeth attached to a chain that runs along a guide bar. This setup creates a continuous motion of the teeth as the circle around the bar, resulting in a multi-sided cutting surface.

The chainsaw can be powered in a number of different ways, but the premise and operation is largely the same amongst all the different variations. Unlike other power saws that are either attached to a table or mobile, a chainsaw’s cutting action is vastly different, with the lone exception being a band saw, which also uses a blade that runs in a continuous loop. Since the chain blade on a chainsaw is made up of thick teeth, a chainsaw is not ideal for basic woodworking. Skilled sawyers carve designs out of things like tree stumps. (source)

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Chainsaw companies worth checking out:

• Husqvarna

• Remington

• Oregon

• Echo

• STIHL

• Makita