A new tool

[peter.coombe]

I have recently discovered a new tool for hogging out wood. I have been using a rotary chisel for 20 years for rough carving and it works fine, but is no longer available. It is an Australian designed and manufactured tool that was made by a sole trader who decided to close up shop. It fits into an angle grinder. Arbortech make something similar that is based on chain saw blade teeth, but IMHO it does not work as well as the rotary chisel. In September at the Working with Wood show in Canberra I saw an Arbortech man demo a new tool they had developed and it looked very promising so I bought one. Have been trying it out over the last few days and have converted. Massive improvement on the old Arbortech devices and IMHO is a significant improvement on the rotary chisel. It makes a much smoother cut, and seems to produce less dust which has to be a good thing. I also seem to be able to hog out a top or back quicker as well, and there is less work with finger planes after rough carving because it cuts much smoother. They call it a "Turboplane".

Here it is, and here is a picture of a Maple back straight off the tool.

[sunburst]

Looks good!
Can it be resharpened, or does it have replaceable cutters?

[peter.coombe]

It can easily be resharpened. All you need is a diamond stick.

I forgot to time how long it took to carve the outside, but it took me just 7 minutes to rough carve the inside of that Maple back.

[Marty Jacobson]

I'm more interesting in the two point Coombe... :-) Is that another L&H inspired instrument in the works?

[peter.coombe]

I'm more interesting in the two point Coombe... :-) Is that another L&H inspired instrument in the works?

Yep.

[Rick Lindstrom]

There's a pretty sweet little mini version that looks like it'd be good for delicate work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b4ojHGSEVw

[jim simpson]

Here's the blade on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Arbortech-Turb.../dp/B008NA2IJ0

[GaryTimmons]

Looks interesting. How well will it work on spruce or cedar?
Thanks

[peter.coombe]

It works well on Spruce. Have not tried it on Cedar. I already have the extension arm and sanding pads, but it vibrates so much I almost binned it and won't be using it. Whether mine is faulty or not I don't know.

[sunburst]

I already have the extension arm and sanding pads, but it vibrates so much I almost binned it and won't be using it. Whether mine is faulty or not I don't know.

Can you expand upon that? Something must be out of balance, and if so it is faulty.

[Marty Jacobson]

Could be the bearings in your angle grinder that are faulty (or worn out).

[tom.gibson]

The Arbotech demo at the Brisbane wood show persuaded me to get one as well, and I'm really glad I did. The turboplane is a great tool. It's very controllable, has a nice smooth cut and generally makes the job of roughing out a breeze. I do it in the garden so the shavings add to the mulch.

[peter.coombe]

The angle grinder is fine. Both the turbo plane and the rotary chisel work with no vibrations. I think John is correct, the extension is faulty.

[pfox14]

That is one very cool power tool. I am curious if you had any difficulty gauging the depth of each pass and determining if you've hit the right thickness (when to stop)?

[tom.gibson]

I am curious if you had any difficulty gauging the depth of each pass and determining if you've hit the right thickness (when to stop)?

If you depth drill contour lines (or rough thickness depths on the inside of the plate) the tool is controllable enough to carve pretty close to the bottoms of holes, leaving only the fine shaping for fingerplanes/scrapers/sanding.

[peter.coombe]

As Tom said.

[StuartGold]

Can you use this tool with a drill press and a depth stop?

[Rob Grant]

At $159Au a pop, I hate to be as "tight as a rat's," but I may have to wait until the Chinese start production on this one. I don't believe I paid that much for my last new 100mm angle grinder!<G>

[Michael Lewis]

Rob, stay with quality cutting tools. Cheap tools are a frustration. Pay the price for a good tool and you will enjoy it for many years, but you know that.

[theCOOP]

Looks fun. I believe angle grinders could be used with a speed adjusting foot pedal or other?

Would like to see this on a die grinder.

With some work a pendulum affair would be fun.

There's been something on the market for a few years with a depth adjustable foot and vacuum boot et al for shaving the likes of clapboard siding...this might be easier to use.