A Purchasing Guide for Power Carving & Texturing
With the seemingly endless number of tools available for woodworking, particularly carving and texturing, it can be very difficult to choose the tools that are right for you without wasting a lot of money. So here is a guide on the different texturing and carving tools you can buy, what they do and how they work.
Also, at the end of this guide are my suggestions for which tools to purchase if you are just starting out or looking to expand. In addition to this guide I will also be creating some more demo videos so you can see exactly how each tool works and what you can create with it.
Also this guide will be updated regularly, so feel free to check back in from time to time to see what’s new. Any questions just let me know.
Mini Carving Bits - These mini carving texturing tools are an awesome way to texture timber and are able to create a wide variety of textures and carvings. They feature carbide cutters that are long lasting and are also replaceable. The mini carving bits are easy to use and fit most rotary tools with 1/8 and 1/4 shank sizes.
Carving Disk Blades - These have sharp cutting blades instead of teeth that actually cut or shave the wood. The result of this is that they give the smoothest finish of all with a lot less dust. They do however have more of a learning curve to master them properly, but they are the fastest at reducing excess stock. These blades are great for sculpting or carving and in my case, texturing on medium to large pieces.
Small Burrs Bits - These usually have carbide points or teeth, are long lasting and come in a variety of sizes and shapes. I use these all the time for small carvings as well as a variety of textures on all sized pieces. They usually come in two shank sizes, 1/8-inch (3mm) for smaller rotary tools and 1/4 inch (6mm) for larger rotary tools like die grinders.
Carving Burr Disk - These also have razor sharp teeth and are great for carving forms of all shapes and sizes. They are also great for creating textures on medium to large pieces. Because they are a lot bigger than the smaller burrs they will take off stock much quicker but not as quick as the disk blades. On the plus side they are easier to control for beginners but still give a smooth finish. They also come in a few different sizes and grades to suit the tools you have and the smoothness or finish you require.
Hook & Loop Sanding Pads & Disks - I use these all the time in my handheld drill or on my grinder to finish of the inside and outside of turned items as well as flat or contoured pieces. They can be used with various grits of sandpaper which can give you your desired final finish. Some softer ones will conform to contours in the wood and help make sanding faster and less painful.
Flap Discs - These are cheap, fit onto any standard grinder and easily obtainable. They are great for some fast sanding and I like to use them for my line based textures.
Tungsten Carbide Burr Set - These are the cheapest way to get into texturing and small carvings, they also give a clean smooth finish. The downside though is that they are slower to remove stock and can easily burn the wood, not that this is a bad thing, sometimes : )
They come in a large variety of shapes and are available in both 1/8 inch (3mm) and 1/4 inch (6mm) for both small and large rotary tools. I do use these for a lot of my textured pieces.
Rotary Tool Mini Disk - These are great for very fine line work and line based texturing. They can be somewhat fragile so always wear your safety glasses.
Arbortech Ball Gouge - This is a unique product designed and manufactured by Arbortech. As you can from the video you can use this tool for carving as well as texturing. It is a very versatile tool that attaches to any grinder.
Rotary Tools - People ask me all the time as to which rotary tool they should purchase, and my answer is, that it doesn’t really matter which one you choose. They all spin and they will all give the same result in the end. The only advise I do give is that if you are going to use them for long periods of time then get something that is small and light, one that is also comfortable in your hand. There are some cheaper vesions out there and most of the time there is nothing wrong with them. Just be sure that whatever you buy, it comes with a warrenty.
Grinders - This is where I do find there is considerable difference between price points and brands. The cheaper versions are often not as well built, are very noisy, have a lot of vibration and are generally not worth considering. I would advise you spend your money on a reputable brand and once again if you are going to use them for long periods of time get something that is small, light and comfortable in the hand. Also, some of the better grinders out there have electronic speed control that are really useful.
Wire Brush Wheel - Great for adding texture., you can experiment on different types of timber to see what you can come up with.
Suggested Setups
Budget - This is all you need to get started with small carvings and texturing, particularly if you have never done it before.
Small rotary tool of your choice
Tungsten Carbide Burr Set 1/8 inch (3mm)
Medium Budget - This setup will allow you to create a large variety of forms and textures easily.
Small Rotary tool of your choice
Tungsten Carbide Burr Set 1/8 inch (3mm)
Small burr bit set 1/8 inch (3mm)
Mini Carving Bits
100mm Grinder of your choice
Carving Disc - Blade or Burr
Flap disks
High Budget - This should be all you need to create anything you like.
Small Rotary tool of your choice
Tungsten Carbide Burr Set 1/8 inch (3mm) and 1/4 inch
Small burr bits 1/8 inch (3mm) and 1/4 inch (6mm)
Mini Carving Bits
100mm Grinder of your choice.
Die grinder of your choice.
Carving Disc - Blade or Burr disk or both
Flap disks
Sanding Pads