• Congratulations to Bernie Hyrtzak, People's Choice in the January 2026 Turning Challenge (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to David Croxton for "Geri's Basket Illusion" being selected as Turning of the Week for February 2, 2026 (click here for details)
  • AAW Symposium demonstrators announced - If the 2026 AAW International Woodturning Symposium is not on your calendar, now is the time to register. And there are discounts available if you sign up early, by Feb. 28. Early Bird pricing gives you the best rate for our 40th Anniversary Symposium in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 4–7, 2026. (There are discounts for AAW chapter members too) For more information vist the discussion thread here or the AAW registration page
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Power carving tools

P

pjreilly

Joined
Apr 28, 2004
Messages
9
Likes
3
Location
Southeastern MN, USA
Website
turnedoutfantastic.home.att.net
I'm interested in carving my turnings - mostly fine, detail work - and have come across two high speed, turbine carvers: the Powercrafter and the Turbo Carver. Has anyone used either of these tools? Can you tell me anything about them, good, bad or otherwise?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Pam
 
Hi, Pam,

The two you mention are basically the same except the Powercrafter has to be oiled at the start of each session whereas the Turbo Carver II is oil free. I bought the oil-free (about $60 less as well) Turbo Carver II, but without the water mist accessory that is used with hard dusty materials like egg shell and bone. These hyper-speed tools are more in the line of engravers than carving tools as they have very little torque and will bog down and stop if you try to hog off material; these are light touch tools for sure. The burrs are sold in sets, but you'll do better to buy them individually because while the set may be a bit cheaper, they'll always put one in that you (or most others) have no use for. There is a pointed flame burr that does very well for signing a piece, and I've several others to do light texturing in rings and rims. You can also get free burrs from your dentist ;)

I also have a 18,000 rpm Foredom flex shaft that will take carving burrs, but which I have "converted" to a reciprocating power chisel carver that does Very well for texturing turnings.

Hope this helps.

Mark
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top