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Trent Bosch or WoodcutPro?

Bryan Field

Bryan Field

Joined
Apr 3, 2023
Messages
127
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Location
Peterborough, NH
I'm in the market for a carving stand that will work with my lathe chuck, rather than a face-plate type. If you worked with either or both of these I'd appreciate some feedback on which would be the better buy for me. I'd mostly use it to embellish platters and bowls
 
I faced the same decision a few years back. Here's a thread discussing pros and cons of each: https://www.aawforum.org/community/threads/woodcut-pro-mount-carving-stand.16280/

I ended up with the Woodcut because it's set up to use with vacuum chucks, thus can hold natural edge bowls when carving feet. I've been happy with it so far.

I bought mine from Woodchuckers.com. It looks like they are out of stock now. https://woodchuckers.com/products/w...2&_sid=36e0b4575&_ss=r&variant=39292565979201
 
i do alot of carving and piercing on hollow forms and bowls, about 2 years I bought the Trent Bosch carving stand and i would buy it again it works great, easy to position and solid also like you i was looking for something that would allow me to carve without removing the piece from my chuck,
 
I went through this process ~6 months ago. The Bosch stand was dropped first due to 1 adj handle releasing all axes of movement. I much prefer separate handles for rotation and position. That left the Woodcut and BestWoodTools products. I chose the BWT product based on total cost, positive comments on this forum, and the bench mount method (my primary use). The woodcut bench mount does not appear to be as robust as the BWT, but it may be just fine. After I figured out how to position the middle axis (to the left so downward pressure tightens the joint - instructions that I did NOT read say this), it has worked great.

I think all 3 are good products and will work. Spend some time imagining how each will work for you for different mounting methods and work adjustments. I don't use vacuum chucks, so that was not a consideration.

I see the current BWT sale just ended 5/30, but I think it goes on sale often.

BWT https://bestwoodtools.store.turbify.net/

Woodcut https://woodturningtoolstore.com/product/woodcut-pro-mount-carving-stand/
 
I use and like a Veritas carving vise which mounts to a bench. vise chuck adapter It has one handle but because there are detents at 30* intervals on the horizontal axis rotation you can loosen the handle and rotate the work on the vertical axis without losing the other axis setting. It has a number of posts available including a carver's screw and one for a pin vise and you can mount auxiliary clamps like a hand screw to the standard mounting plate.

The Woodcut vise with a post designed for vacuum chucks is a great idea, but the adaptation shown in Dave lander's post above is easily done.
 
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There was a woman here some years back who was a moderator. She worked at a trailer hitch place. She put one together using the standard ball hitch and a trailer hitch. Can't remember who though.

robo hippy
 
I have the Woodcut. Works well. No regrets. I chose it because of the two handle operation, but now that I've been using it I think that's less important. Your choice.
I mount my carving stand on the lathe bed. I don't have a proper bench, and lighting and DC are already set up. But I found that mounting in the banjo placed the workpiece way too high. I made an upside down banjo out of wood, and this mount has worked well for me.

M

Thread 'Lathe Mount for Carving Stand'

Carving stands aren't in ever workshop, but they are somewhat popular, so I thought I would share this idea. I recently bought a Woodcut Pro-Mount carving stand, which I am pleased with. But like most of the other varieties of carving stand out there it suffers one flaw if you use it at the lathe. By the time you add the chuck and mount the stand in the typical banjo the workpiece can be pretty high off the ground, particularly if it is a piece of any size. I was trying to use my Pro-Mount while standing on my biggest turning block. Then I had an idea. The "smoke stack" design of my...
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Bryan Field said:
I'm in the market for a carving stand that will work with my lathe chuck, rather than a face-plate type. If you worked with either or both of these I'd appreciate some feedback on which would be the better buy for me. I'd mostly use it to embellish platters and bowls
Click to expand...

I have now worked with either, but I have an opinion.

I considered the Bosch until I watched a video of him carving around a rim. Every time he rotated to the next position it took both hands to fumble, hold, and turn the thing since the single lever unlocked both the angle and the rotation.

After I saw the Best Wood Tools version in use by a well known turning genius I trust, I liked the two handles: one for the angle, and the other for the rotation. When working around the rim or even in the center of a bowl or platter it is far better (IMO) to keep the angle locked and rotating the piece axis independently. When sanding or otherwise working around the piece I often leave the rotation lever unlocked and rotate the piece by hand.

I've talked to others who have used both and far prefer the BWT. In fact, I like it so much I bought a second one when it was on sale for "just in case", as it just in case a second person in the shop is doing one thing while I'm doing another, or just in case a give it away in a weak moment, or just in case a grizzly bear breaks in and steals it.

The thing, like all of their other products I'm familiar with, is extremely well made. Comes with a mount to use it with a workbench but I just mounted it to block and hold it in the bench vise.

Carving_stand_IMG_7504.jpg

Refining surface with hand scraping.
scraper-shavings-IMG_7864.jpg

Rotate, lock, sand. Repeat.
IMG_7500.jpg

She's gently smoothing the surface of this piece with 600 grit on a pneumatic ROS.
sanding_IMG_20171212_094330_319.jpg

Just my opinion, worth what you paid for it!
As with many things in life and woodturning, what you like to make and how you like to work makes all the difference.

PS, I see it's even cheaper now that when I bought the last one on sale. (Pick the right thread size for your chuck at the bottom.)

JKJ
 
Been using the Woodcut stand for a long time now - it’s setup for vacuum and I use it that way most of the time - easily changed to using standard chucks when I want. I like the two handle approach, but find that if I haven’t used it in a while I need to re-educate myself on which handle does what (they are on the same axis). It also is easy to switch between bench mounted and banjo mounted. I typically mount it to my bench using a T-slot track and knobs. It’s been in frequent use since I bought it over a decade ago.
 
I have the Bosch stand. It is fine for carving, but not ideal when doing basket weave or something that requires you rotating the piece a lot. I ended up ordering the Best Wood Tools stand yesterday. It was on sale @ $139.95. For me I think the two handle version will work better for most things I do. Once I get the Best Woods stand I can decide if I want to sell the Bosch carving stand.
 
William Rogers said:
I have the Bosch stand. It is fine for carving, but not ideal when doing basket weave or something that requires you rotating the piece a lot. I ended up ordering the Best Wood Tools stand yesterday. It was on sale @ $139.95. For me I think the two handle version will work better for most things I do. Once I get the Best Woods stand I can decide if I want to sell the Bosch carving stand.
Click to expand...

The only downside, a minor one, that I found with the BTW stand is when keeping the upper handle loose during those time when I want continuous rotation, the handle can flop down and run into the lower handle. I deal with but thought about modifying it to provide friction or a way to keep the handle loose without flopping down, maybe shortening the upper handle to clear the lower and making a cheater bar/tube to make it tighter, adding an extension to always clear the lower handle, or temporarily replace that handle with a bolt and wrench when needed. Thought of some of these but haven't tried them since it's more a minor annoyance than a problem.

Besides that, I'm a true believer.

JKJ
 
@John K Jordan Most of the time I am rotating the piece will be in the horizontal position. Not sure if the handle position will be an issue. I think for my use the two handle will be a plus. Like you said earlier it takes two hand to rotate with the Bosch and is a bit awkward. I’ll likely sell the Bosch after I get the BWT stand. I didn’ think my chances were good to catch you in a weak moment.
 
William Rogers said:
I didn’ think my chances were good to catch you in a weak moment.
Click to expand...

Ha, I give away a lot of tools to friends, exceptional students, and people with far more promise than resources, mostly chucks, custom tools, hand scrapers, and an occasional excess lathe or bandsaw. I am blessed beyond measure with more than I need - and my addiction for acquisition often exceeds my questionable common sense. 😱

Note that everything from BWT is made by one amazing guy so when ordering I occasionally have to be patient if it's not in stock. A quick phone call could answer that.

JKJ
 
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