sonic carving knife

[Steve Tiedman]

I was just watching an Adam Savage (Myth Busters fame) utoob clip, and at the 17:52 mark he talks about a sonic carving knife tool, and I thought some folks here may want to see this. I know nothing about it. I do not own one, nor do I have interest, but it looks pretty interesting. Edit- OUCH! $3100 for the full setup as you see it. Not for me.

NSK Nakanishi Sonic Cutter ZERO

The replacement for NSK Nakanishi's discontinued Sonic Cutter has arrived. Introducing the NSK Nakanishi Sonic Cutter ZERO ultrasonic cutting system.This ultrasonic cutter unit vibrates at a very high 40 kHz giving it the very smooth cutting action these units are known for. This new unit uses...

www.artcotools.com

You'll probably have to fast forward to 17:52, I don't think it let me copy at that time stamp.

View: https://youtu.be/-3SgDTOg1GA?si=-FwCxEpyr4DvlJxo

 

[Michael Nathal]

This is very cool. Too bad the price is so high. There was a different brand on their website at half the price, but still too high.

 

[Michael Nathal]

I have started more research into these things. Ultrasonic cutters are now available for as low as $150. Cutting wood is possible but not a strong point on these inexpensive ones.

 

[Darryl Fective]

I'm curious about the source for the magnetic flexible work light he talked about just before it.

The sonic carver does sound cool, but $3k for a tool like that is out of my reach. Looks pretty slick, though.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

I don't pierce, but I have seen a number of demos. @Donna Banfield in particular gave a very good description of what you can and cannot do with the various drills. A Dremel will only go to about 30,000 RPM. An NSK dental tool is more like 300,000 RPM. You can do embellishments with a slower tool, but for piercing, you will need 300k RPM or better. Donna can correct me if I got some of this wrong.

 

[Russ Braun]

I don't pierce, but I have seen a number of demos. @Donna Banfield in particular gave a very good description of what you can and cannot do with the various drills. A Dremel will only go to about 30,000 RPM. An NSK dental tool is more like 300,000 RPM. You can do embellishments with a slower tool, but for piercing, you will need 300k RPM or better. Donna can correct me if I got some of this wrong.

Kent, your vessel better be thin walled or 300K speed will take all day long and smoke like that cigar in your profile pic, haha!!

 

[Donna Banfield]

I don't pierce, but I have seen a number of demos. @Donna Banfield in particular gave a very good description of what you can and cannot do with the various drills. A Dremel will only go to about 30,000 RPM. An NSK dental tool is more like 300,000 RPM. You can do embellishments with a slower tool, but for piercing, you will need 300k RPM or better. Donna can correct me if I got some of this wrong.

Kent has recalled correctly the information I shared when I did the demo he is referring to in TN earlier this year for their annual Symposium. A rotary powered tool and bit can make a hole in the wood (and your walls need to be thin, 3/16” or less) but the slow speed means you are fighting to control where the bit/burr is going. It will follow the path of least resistance, and that will never be the path you want. So turned works you see that have larger misshapen holes is a sign that the maker tried to ‘pierce’ the turning using a slower speed rotary tool, which I would define as anything less than 90,000 rpm. To have the most accurate control, you need 300,000 rpm, and that will be a pneumatic dental drill.

 

[Donna Banfield]

Kent, your vessel better be thin walled or 300K speed will take all day long and smoke like that cigar in your profile pic, haha!!

Even with thin walls, the pneumatic dental drills will create smoke. It’s impossible not to. Which is why dust collection is an essential piece of equipment when doing this work. It pulls dust and smoke away from your eyes, nose and mouth.

 

[Donna Banfield]

I was just watching an Adam Savage (Myth Busters fame) utoob clip, and at the 17:52 mark he talks about a sonic carving knife tool, and I thought some folks here may want to see this. I know nothing about it. I do not own one, nor do I have interest, but it looks pretty interesting. Edit- OUCH! $3100 for the full setup as you see it. Not for me.

NSK Nakanishi Sonic Cutter ZERO

The replacement for NSK Nakanishi's discontinued Sonic Cutter has arrived. Introducing the NSK Nakanishi Sonic Cutter ZERO ultrasonic cutting system.This ultrasonic cutter unit vibrates at a very high 40 kHz giving it the very smooth cutting action these units are known for. This new unit uses...

www.artcotools.com

You'll probably have to fast forward to 17:52, I don't think it let me copy at that time stamp.

View: https://youtu.be/-3SgDTOg1GA?si=-FwCxEpyr4DvlJxo

I watched the video and admit, I want that tool. If it happens, it will be my second most expensive acquisition, second only to my Robust, American Beauty.

 

[Russ Braun]

Waiting for the price to come down…the question is, what would I be willing to pay for this? I’d like to see it in action…which means I’m waiting for Donna to rep this tool in Raleigh (which means I’d be sold on it)!!

 

[J. Paul Fennell]

I'm curious about the source for the magnetic flexible work light he talked about just before it.

The sonic carver does sound cool, but $3k for a tool like that is out of my reach. Looks pretty slick, though.

Darryl,
The magnetic flexible work light is called a "sewing machine light" and available on ebay. I have 2 of them and are very handy on the lathe, as they can be located anywhere. 60 LED's and extra long gooseneck. Around $50 each but worth it.