bits needed

[judyb]

I am seriously thinking of purchasing one of these machines but ahve a couple of questions.

is it better to buy from sears or directly from carvewright?

Should I buy the full bit set at the same time as the machine? Or can I do most project with the bits it comes with?

How long does a bit last? how many hours?

if I want to make a sign bigger than the max 14" can I brake the image in 2, carve both parts and have the 2 peices perfectly aligned to "glue" them together?

Is there anyone in the platsburg or burlington area that has one that I could possibly go see before purchasing?

thanks for your help.

Judy

[hotpop]

Judy,


is it better to buy from sears or directly from carvewright?
They are both the same machine. Sears has sales, saving $200 bucks or so.
LHR makes the machines and does all the service for both machines.


Should I buy the full bit set at the same time as the machine? Or can I do most project with the bits it comes with?
If it in the budget go for it.


How long does a bit last? how many hours?
That's a hard one to answer. At least 50 hrs. It will also depend on what your cutting. The bits are made of carbide. You are more likely going to break one before it wears out. The bits will show some wear if you start cutting a lot teak because teak has a lot of sand in the grain.


if I want to make a sign bigger than the max 14" can I brake the image in 2, carve both parts and have the 2 peices perfectly aligned to "glue" them together?
Yes! - I make a full pattern of a sign. Then place the top half of the pattern on one board the place the bottom half of the pattern on another board. You need to turn on the snap to grid feature to insure alignment of the halves.


Is there anyone in the platsburg or burlington area that has one that I could possibly go see before purchasing?

I give up where's that? What State is it in?

[judyb]

anywhere close enough to the quebec canada border. Vermont, NewYork, Maine...

[TonyToolman]

I wouldn't worry about the bits until you have used it a while, you may decide want to purchase the centerline text option. It is great for name plates and signs. If you do signs with lettering, you will want the 60 Degree V Bit or the 90 Degree V Bit. They make lettering signs much nicer. They didn't come with the basic machine, but I purchased mine over a year ago, so there may be different bits now.

If you purchase it through Sears, you can purchase an extended warranty, and you should expect to need it. I rarely ever buy those extended warranties, but this would be the exception. The very nature of the machines actions creates vibrations that most other tools do not experience. Those vibrations and movements can challenge the best of designs. They are fun when they are working, but frustrating if they go down. They have good support, but you want to ensure you are covered.

[Dyna Rider]

Hi Judy

My vote would be for Sears. If you purchase from Sears, if for any reason you are not satisfied, simply return your purchase in its original packaging with your receipt within 90 days of your purchase for a refund. Well, that’s what it says on the back of my receipt. Secondly if you purchase from sears you can purchase what they call a Master Protection Agreement for a 3 or 5-year period. CarveWright’s warranty is I believe 1 year or 200 hrs which ever comes first. If you purchase the Master Protection Agreement there is an added benefit of 10% off all parts and accessories for the covered products.

At present the CompuCarve on the sears web site is on sale thru 02/14/08. If you use you Sears Card they have a Special offer of 20% off on tool purchases over $400. Which ends 02/09/08. Which if sears stays true to form; they will most likely run again in the near future.

On CraveWright’s site all bits are listed as carbide, on the Sears site only the 1/16 Carving Bit and 1/8 Cutting Bits are listed as Carbide. The others, which look similar to CarveWright’s, are listed as, tip material: Steel. This may just be a mistake in the listing, but if it were not, I would need a good deal more then 10% off to buy the steel bits.

Which ever one you choose, remember to keep the packaging you will need it if you have to return it for repairs.


Hi Toolman



The very nature of the machines actions creates vibrations that most other tools do not experience. Those vibrations and movements can challenge the best of designs.


I don’t know of any rotating tool that doesn’t vibrate. At present mine is sitting on the top of my table saw. I have only done short runs, the longest 40 minutes. There is vibration, but it doesn’t walk. It’s in the same location when it finishes, as it was when it started. The planner I use has as much vibration and I would say encounters more stress.

Bill

[judyb]

I have asked the sears people and they confirm that the bit are made of steel... not carbide. So I bought the machine at sears, with the 5 year plan... but will be getting my bits from carvewright directly.

you have all been very helpfull. thanks!

Judy

[Jeff_Birt]

Judy,

All the bits CW sells are solid carbide (small bits: carving, cutting) or carbide tipped. I would not waste my money trying to use HSS (high speed steel) bits in the machine, better to get the carbide one. They will last you many hundreds of hours.

[judyb]

I fully agree with you. this is why I will be purchasing my bits from carvewright directly and not from sears. Carbide is the way to go.

it's kind of weird that the bits sears have for the carvewright would not be the same as the ones you buy directly from carvewright... especially considering from everything I've read, the machines are the same... why would they want to sell cheaper bits?

anyway... logic and business are not always aligned :(

judy

[lviele]

purchased some bits from sears, they are freud bits and I would bet dollars to donuts thats where carvewrigt gets them. woodworkers supply has the bits, be sure to look at the spiral bits, the 1/8" bit with 1/4 shank is about $19 at their web site. Only difference I can see so far is the carvewright bit has a flat spot on the shank

[lviele]

After sending you my comments on sears bits I went out to the shop and checked, the sears bits are carbitei

[Kenm810]

Yep your right, I had to look close myself
Sears bits are made with carbitei http://www.carvewright.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

[judyb]

weird that sears would have them listed as steel and the sales rep insisted on it as well...

[DrBob]

You can't tell by looking at a bit if it is steel or carbide.
you can tell by the weight, carbide is about twice the weight of steel. My 2 Cents

[pkunk]

Everyone's right.:p Those bits are steel, carbide tipped. The CW carving bit & the cutting bit are solid carbide.

[Kenm810]

Carving Bits and Cutting Bits http://www.carvewright.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

[Dan-Woodman]

That sounds typical for most retail locations. These people are just bodies to fill a need. I would say that a lot of them wouldn't know the difference between carbide and carbide tipped anyway.
later Daniel

[Dyna Rider]

Here’s the link to the sears web site. It’s hard to read in the screen shot
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00921781000P?vName=Tools&cName=Power+Tool+Accessories&keyword=00921775000P%7C00921777000P%7C00921778000P %7C00925930000P%7C00925931000P%7C00925953000P%7C00 925954000P%7C00925959000P%7C00921781000P%7C0092669 4000P%7C00926695000P%7C00921780000P%7C00921782000P %7C&resultsLabelText=Craftsman

Bill

[Kenm810]

Sure look familiar http://www.carvewright.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

[Dan-Woodman]

You can clearly see that these are carbide tipped bits . They look identical to the cw bits .
You can see in the picture that the tips are clearly not painted ,typical of carbide tips.
Not knowing that much about the chemical makeup of steel ,is carbide considered a steel?
In the sears spec on these bits it's says the tip material is steel.
later Daniel

[Kenm810]

$248.99 for a a set of Steel Router Bits,--- I wouldn't think so http://www.carvewright.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_confused.gif

[TonyToolman]

Hi Toolman

I don’t know of any rotating tool that doesn’t vibrate. At present mine is sitting on the top of my table saw. I have only done short runs, the longest 40 minutes. There is vibration, but it doesn’t walk. It’s in the same location when it finishes, as it was when it started. The planner I use has as much vibration and I would say encounters more stress.

Bill


Bill,
I realize that any rotating tool vibrates, but few face the bobbing action while rotating at a high speed. While the bit is rotating at high speeds it is thrust in and out of the wood and being pulled from side to side. I can’t think of any other tool that has to manage so many different forces at one time. From a physics point of view, it is amazing. That was my point. I believe that it is engineered fairly well to handle those forces. It would explain the challenges they faced in order to keep it running. It also explains why it was a couple NASA engineers that developed this tool.
Tony

[Dyna Rider]

Bill,
I realize that any rotating tool vibrates, but few face the bobbing action while rotating at a high speed. While the bit is rotating at high speeds it is thrust in and out of the wood and being pulled from side to side. I can’t think of any other tool that has to manage so many different forces at one time. From a physics point of view, it is amazing. That was my point. I believe that it is engineered fairly well to handle those forces. It would explain the challenges they faced in order to keep it running. It also explains why it was a couple NASA engineers that developed this tool.
Tony

Toolman

Since your deleted post, which is now somewhere in the Twilight Zone, it would seem that the tone of your posts has changed. I look at my Harley as a tool, a tool of transportation, and it sees more variation of forces each time its started in the first five minutes than this little toy will see in a lifetime. My little CompuCarve is an interesting little toy, but I don’t see much more then an inkjet printer, and perhaps that is why so many seem to have problems.

Bill

[ChrisAlb]

Oh, I don't know Dyna, I'm sure glad I see my Ultra Classic as a toy for simply having fun and relaxing. While my CW, now with over 160 hours and just about to finish a 13 hour carve is most definitely a TOOL...lol. It makes me money. It JUST now spit out a sensor diode (first problem with it) but will finish the 2 hour cut out ahead of it. My Ultra, it just costs me money...lol But I love them both.

Chris


Toolman

Since your deleted post, which is now somewhere in the Twilight Zone, it would seem that the tone of your posts has changed. I look at my Harley as a tool, a tool of transportation, and it sees more variation of forces each time its started in the first five minutes than this little toy will see in a lifetime. My little CompuCarve is an interesting little toy, but I don’t see much more then an inkjet printer, and perhaps that is why so many seem to have problems.

Bill

[Semper Fi]

TOYS??? My Springer Heritage is much more than that! LOL But I do have to admit my first Harley ran a race for parts dropping off with my Compucarve. At least the Compucarve doesn't leak oil!

[zman]

Not sure if this helps clear up the bit issue.I just received a shipment of the basic Bit Set and on the label it reads. All Carbide Bits

Zman

[TonyToolman]

Toolman

Since your deleted post, which is now somewhere in the Twilight Zone, it would seem that the tone of your posts has changed. I look at my Harley as a tool, a tool of transportation, and it sees more variation of forces each time its started in the first five minutes than this little toy will see in a lifetime. My little CompuCarve is an interesting little toy, but I don’t see much more then an inkjet printer, and perhaps that is why so many seem to have problems.

Bill

You are correct, my that my tone has changed. :confused: My machine has been down since before Christmas and I have been waiting for over a week to get help. The machine I bought has been down more than it has been up. After a year I have only been able to get it to run for 23 hours. I had purchased a 3 year warranty but that was from Sears, I guess that is why the support at Carvewright now wants money for support. I contacted Sears last Friday, and they are trying to figure out what it is and where to send it, and they have no idea. They have promised to return my call. Strangely enough, I still believe in the "little toy", and I hope that someday Sears will break down and exchange it for one of the newer ones. It seems that most people are having better luck with the newer ones. I have tried to work on my attitude in hopes that I will it won't cause my blood pressure to go up again.

As far as the Harley, I have to defer to you as to the amount of vibration. I would love to have one, but all my money is tied up in wood toys.

[Dyna Rider]

Oh, I don't know Dyna, I'm sure glad I see my Ultra Classic as a toy for simply having fun and relaxing. While my CW, now with over 160 hours and just about to finish a 13 hour carve is most definitely a TOOL...lol. It makes me money. It JUST now spit out a sensor diode (first problem with it) but will finish the 2 hour cut out ahead of it. My Ultra, it just costs me money...lol But I love them both.

Chris

Chris

You may want to reread your posts; by my count this would be your fourth problem, gear, traction belt, binding and now the sensor. Of course I could be wrong.

Bill

[Dyna Rider]

You are correct, my that my tone has changed. :confused: After a year I have only been able to get it to run for 23 hours. I had purchased a 3 year warranty but that was from Sears, I guess that is why the support at Carvewright now wants money for support. I contacted Sears last Friday, and they are trying to figure out what it is and where to send it, and they have no idea.


Hi Tony

After I purchased mine, I called Sears Protection Agreement to inquire about receiving agreement documentation, which I received in 3 weeks. After this call and one E-mail to customer services at sears I came to the conclusion that sears had no idea as to what this tool was, let alone how to service it. A second E-mail to sears customer services garnered a reply that all service work was done through CarveWright and I could contact them by calling 713-473-6572

Since you purchased the Sears Protection Agreement pack it up and return it to sears. Let them handle it, you paid for that service.

Bill

[auriclux]

Well, I broke my carving bit already. The adapter and machine are okay. I did happen to order a back-up when I got my machine, so I'm not stopped.

I found a couple threads on bits, and I recall a mention that a forum member has bits for sale, all of which leave me a little confused.

Is there a consensus of the best place to buy replacement carving bits? Sears? Precisebits.com? A forum member?

Thanks.