bwinslow
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Member since August 2013
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Post by bwinslow on Oct 1, 2013 22:43:55 GMT -5
My wife just bought me a foredom for my bday, and I was wondering if people would share their techniques in carving? Anyone have any advice to give I'm all ears. I'm going to be setting up a work station this weekend. Excited to get started.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2013 7:54:29 GMT -5
Great gift. I was just trying to find a conversation about building a vacuum work station but I could not find it. Maybe one of the other people that were more involved in it will speak up. You have to be pretty careful about breathing the mist that is thrown off when grinding. It is possible to grind dry but your burrs will wear out faster and the dust is hard to deal with. I am not trying to discourage you because I am always happy to hear that someone new is getting into carving but I just want to warn you about breathing the nasty stuff.
If you go back to the carving section and look for Kurt (KK), who carves with a fordom, he has posted some excellent tips and methods that he uses. He does some awesome carvings and you can learn a lot from his posts. He will probably get on here and give you some advice. He is in Hong Kong so his hours on the computer are a little different than ours.
Good luck and good or bad make sure you keep us informed on how you are progressing.
Jim
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bwinslow
starting to shine!
Member since August 2013
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Post by bwinslow on Oct 2, 2013 9:50:39 GMT -5
Thanks Jim, I plan on setting up some kind of drip system. I read that someone used a lemon aid jug and added a spout and valve to it to control the flow, and I think I am going to try something similar. I was thinking about trying to figure out a way to set up the shopvac and have that running while I was working and of course eye protection and dust mask. Do people use a vice or something to hold their work piece or do they hold in their hand?
Brian
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bwinslow
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Member since August 2013
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Post by bwinslow on Oct 2, 2013 12:29:27 GMT -5
What Grit Burr do people use for carving? Should I buy a variety?
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bwinslow
starting to shine!
Member since August 2013
Posts: 36
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Post by bwinslow on Oct 2, 2013 13:16:21 GMT -5
do people actually use a respirator or just a dust mask?
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Oct 2, 2013 13:35:58 GMT -5
When I carve with a Foredom I have a container of water that I dip the workpiece into often. The water stops flying rock dust and washes away any "mud" so you can see how the piece is progressing. A drip system might be handy but I haven't bothered with one.
As for grits, a variety is necessary. You'll want several different shapes too depending on the contours of the piece you're working. You start with coarse grits for stock removal and shaping, then you go over the entire carved area with finer and finer grits to prepare it for polishing.
Sometimes I clamp the Foredom handpiece (I use a #30) into a special handpiece holder made by Foredom (MAHH-30) that attaches to my workbench. It allows the workpiece to be brought to the tool. It's handy for various carving jobs.
Carving requires patience and attention to detail. Just be sure that all the scratches are removed from the previous process before going to a finer grit. Polishing methods depend on the type of material being carved.
Rick
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2013 14:07:20 GMT -5
Another thing to look out for is getting discouraged because your first pieces look like crap. We all went through the same thing. Start with small abstracts that do not have to look like anything. It is very good practice and a time to get used to the fordom. The absolute last thing you want to start with is a face. Many of us that have carved for a while still have trouble with faces.
Jim
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bwinslow
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Member since August 2013
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Post by bwinslow on Oct 2, 2013 14:26:21 GMT -5
thank you Jim and Rick, any and all advice is very much appreciated.
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bwinslow
starting to shine!
Member since August 2013
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Post by bwinslow on Oct 2, 2013 14:27:11 GMT -5
Do you guys use the foredom motor hanger or do you have it rigged another way?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2013 14:30:14 GMT -5
You can hang it from anything. I have wire hooks on the front of my lower shelf and that way I can move it from one end of the table to the other.
Jim
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Post by Rockoonz on Oct 4, 2013 11:27:25 GMT -5
There are lots of ideas on whether to clamp the work, the burr, or neither. I think that with practice you will decide which you prefer. These folks sell a dandy little vice at pg7-8 of the catalog and a nice magnetic water drip setup on page 18. I have both and use them a lot when Elizabeth will give them up. sphereproducts.com/sphereproducts.com/sphere-products-catalog.pdfLee |
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bwinslow
starting to shine!
Member since August 2013
Posts: 36
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Post by bwinslow on Oct 4, 2013 22:25:48 GMT -5
Thanks Lee. Good stuff.
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