Piercing tools

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

I would be interested in hearing what piercing tools there are out there. I use an Axminster one and a Dremel, both with flexi drives but think I need/want something faster.

[georg]

Hi JOHN  I bought Diane a MASTERCARVER MICRO PRO a while ago, I think we got it from Classic Hand Tools.

     Di used to use a flexi one but had a lot of trouble with the weight.
     The masterncarver is quite light easy to control and as its own speed control.up to 45000rpm
     Hope this helps
     Tony.

[Philip Green]

Here's a review of the Master Carver: http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/page.asp?p=2557

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

Thanks guys.

[Bryan Milham]

John,

if you have an Airline in your workshop, you can purchase an air powered dental tool holder on eBay quite cheaply, they run much faster than any motor powered system.

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

Yes I've seen them. The only air line that I have is for my airbrush and I don't think that will produce the volume required but that would be my ultimate dream.

[Eric Harvey]

I have a B+Q one that`s about 8-9 yrs old now,was sold as a plasterboard trimmer,with added flexydrive,it has a 700 watt motor,and i just got a Dremel chuck adapted at an engineering co. to fit the thread on my flexydrive,cost £29 but worth it with the time it saves changing collets.The speed range is 20.000-35.000 rpm,I`ve found the Proxxon solid carbide mill/drill cutters work really well at these speeds and no heat build up like you get with highspeed steel,I use the 1 mm and 2 mm cutters,found the 3 mm cutters do their own thing as their to hard to control without the router adapter fitted.

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

Thanks Eric,
               I agree about the 3mm cutters, they do seem to have a mind of their own so i don't bother using them.
    When I first started doing pierced work I would use different size drill bits and then "join the dots" but as things progressed I got a Dremel and now have one of the Axminster thingys with a flexi drive, which is Ok but now I think I need a faster tool(revolutions wise not work wise) because I want to do finer work than what I am doing at the moment.

[Andy Coates]

I use V1 of the unit sold by John Woods at www.woodart-products.co.uk Great tool.

I use the burrs from Ian Metheringham


http://www.woodart-products.co.uk/3_rotary%20handpiece.php

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

Thanks Andy, a bit out of my price range I'm afraid.

[Eric Harvey]

Joey Richardson reccomended an air rotory tool,but with the compressor and evrything it worked out at over a £1.000 for the kit,and the new veins for the handpiece I think were around a £100 each when one wears out,would love to try one though,see how different they work at 360.000 rpm instead of 35.000 rpm of my one.