REVIEW FIELD TEST
Power Carving Manual
here’s a pretty good chance that, if
you’re reading this, you’ve got access
to a rotary tool, whether that’s
a Dremel or other brand. Did you
know that you can use these tools for
wood-carving? There’s a range of bits
designed for this, including burrs in all shapes and
sizes. If you’ve already got a rotary tool, you can get
the basic bits you need to get started power carving
for under £10, (although you can certainly spend
more as you need a wider range of bits).
The Power Carving Manual takes you through the
basic techniques, and then on to a range of projects.
Each is well photographed and easy to follow. We
struggled to reach the level of detail that the authors
did, but that’s to be expected – we’re new to the
craft of power carving.
Although this reviewer isn’t a particularly skilled
traditional wood-carver, he is at least familiar with
which end of the chisel goes into the wood, and the
experience of power carving is hugely different from
chisel carving. Not least, because the grain is far less
important. While it is relevant, the carving bits on a
rotary tool are much less enslaved by the particular
properties of the wood, and you can almost treat it
like a homogeneous material.
The tearing of the burrs leaves a very different
finish to the smoothness of chiselled wood. This
isn’t necessarily better or worse, just different.
We thoroughly enjoyed learning, or at least
beginning, the art of power carving with this book.
Not only have we developed a new hobby, but
we’ve also gained more skill with our rotary tool that
we can use for more practical purposes.Power Carving Manual
VERDICT
A fun way of
gaining more
control over your
rotary tool.Woodcarving Illustrated Editors £12.98 woodcarvingillustrated.com9 / 10
By Ben Everard @ben_everardT