The finest cutting bits are man-made stones which produce a smooth surface. These bits remove wood fast, but leave a rough surface. The most coarse and longlasting bits feature aggressive carbide points bonded to a metal shaft. These materials vary greatly in cost, cutting speed, durability, and the smoothness of the surface they leave behind. Use to round edges and create lumps and bumps when bird carvingīits are made from a variety of materials.Use to undercut feathers and make channel cuts.Use to make V-cuts for feather barbules and hair.Use to create concave cuts and to hollow out areas.Use to round edges, create lumps and bumps, and make concave cuts.Use to access hard-to-reach and angled areas.Use to round edges, make concave cuts, and access hard-to-reach areas.Creates a cut similar to a U-gouge when using its side and a V-tool when using the tip.Use to make concave cuts and V-cuts, and to recess areas.

Smooth-end or safe-end bits are the most useful.

Hold the tool at an angle and use the top corner to make V-cuts.

Creates a cut similar to a knife or straight chisel.

Use to cut flat areas, round edges, and make stop cuts and V-cuts.

Creates a cut similar to a U-gouge with the top and a knife cut with the side.

Use the side to cut flat areas and round edges.

Use to make concave cuts and hollow out areas using the top.

Many of the shapes have very specific purposes, but we tend to use the ball, cylinder, flame, and pear-shaped bits the most. Larger bits are generally used for roughing out a piece and smaller bits are used to add details. The larger the head, the more wood it will remove. The shape of the bit’s head determines the contour of the cut. When inserting the bit into your rotary power carver, make sure the shank is as far into the tool as it will go.īits are grouped into a few general shapes. Use the largest bit you comfortably can for the area you are carving. Generally, the larger the size of the bit’s head, the larger the diameter of the shank. Air turbine machines use only friction bits with a 1/16″-diameter shank. Micro motors typically accept 1/8″- and 3/32″-diameter shanks, although, optional collets can be purchased for alternate size shanks. Flexible shaft machines accept any of these diameters when equipped with the appropriate collet. The head of the bit is formed around the opposite end of the shank. One end of the shank is inserted in the rotary power carver.

By breaking down the categories and taking a look at the performance of the different types of bits, you can choose the best bit for the job. The sheer volume of bits available can be overwhelming. Power carving bits go by names such as burs, cutters, carvers, stones, and discs.īits are manufactured from a variety of materials and are available in many shapes, head sizes, and shank sizes. The power carving tool, such as a flexible shaft machine or micro motor, spins the bit at a high speed and the cutting surface or abrasive on the bit removes the wood. In power carving, the bur or bit is the part of the tool that does that actual wood removal. This article was first published in issue 48 of Woodcarving Illustrated. Photos of bits in use courtesy of Foredom Make smart purchases with a basic understanding of the cutters available

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