Woodworker's Journal 1994-18-6, страница 22

switch operation lacked the smoothness and precision of the latter two. Overall, the Koredom appeared to be a better-quality tool than the other three, but expect to pay a bit more for it.

Several companies offer flex-shaft attachments that fit an electric drill or drill press. While they're relatively inexpensive (between SI5 and S30). these attachments aren't nearly as efficient or durable as the dedicated units discussed above. For one thing, few drills or drill presses develop enough speed to remove stock efficiently in this manner: the attached flex-shaft operates at between 800 and 6,000 rpm, generally considered too slow for can ing applications. For another, the drill must be secured to the benchtop, which can be cumbersome. Also, most portable drills typically aren't engineered to operate continuously in the ON position. If you do buy one of these flex-shaft units, make sure it has sealed ball bearings at each end of the shaft like the one shown (photo 5). This unit sells for S29.95 through Woodcraft.

Reciprocating Carvers: A Different Approach

The purist will contcnd that power-carving with rotary tools isn't really carv ing wood but grinding it. For those of you who are used to using chisels and gouges in your work, you may find a reciprocating carver more to your liking. These fools produce the "hand carved" look of hand tools, but with a lot less effort. First introduced as the Automach by Sugino. a Japanese firm, these tools convert rotary motion into a reciprocating action. Automach makes three versions of this tool: two "motorized" units and one flex-shaft unit. The Handcraft Tool (model HCT-30, photo 6) has a miniature brush motor built into the handpiece, much like a Moto-Tool, and plugs directly into a

Photo 6: Automach HCT-030A, reciprocating carver(at right) comes with five different cutter*, wrench, and tool hanger (about $290). Jacobs-stylc chuck attachment converts tool to a rotary carver, Vutoniach flev-shaft attachment (at left) fits electric drills and drill presses with 'A" or larger chuck capacity; it accepts rotary handpiece (bottom left). Photo courtesy Sugino Corp.

use. Even if you apply pressure to the blade with your fingertip, the blade won't cut you unless you'v e honed the blade to a razor edge. But when you apply the blade to wood, it cuts like a hot knife through butter at 10,000 spm. I had no reservations about letting my 11-year-old daughter work with the tool (under parental supervision, of course).

During my tests, I found it difficult to bog down the blade, even when taking deep cuts. The Automach comes in a kit form (HCT-030A. about S290). which includes the tool, five different cutlers, w rench, and tool hanger. Optional features include over 20 different blades and a rotary-head attachment. The second version, a lighter-weight hobbyist's model (HHD-10). sells for about 5180.

Automach also makes a flex-shaft version, the WCS-100. The carver head operates in the same manner as the

Photo 5; Hex-shaft attachment from Woodcraft Tits drills and drill presses u ith %" or larger chucks. It sells for about S3Q. Photo courtcsv Woodcraft.

110-volt outlet. A unique "floating ball" iocatcd ahead of the motor s reciprocal cam activates the cutter only by applying pressure to it. Otherwise, the cutter remains idle even with the tool switched on,which makes it exceptionally safe to

Photo 7: Automach W CS-100 woodcarver kit consists of a reciprocating handpiece connected by a flevible shaft to a quiet induction motor, which is housed in a metal carrying case. The case provides storage for the handpiece, shaft, and \arious accessories <alKjut S435).

Novcmber/Decembcr 1994 Woodworker s Journal