Carvetight Upgrade - Bits

[edereyes]

I bought a brand new machine, then turned right around and promptly sent it back to LHR and had the Carvetight upgrade done. They turned it around within a week, and it was back in my hands very quickly.

The day I took it out of the box and went to start carving, I found that I needed new or "special" bit adapters for the new head.

Question: I've looked all over for the new bit adapters. I've searched the CarveWright website and the web for the adapters, and didn't find any.

Where can I get these adapters? Without them, this machine is a $2500 boat anchor...

Thanks in advance,
Ed

[c6craig]

You can't buy just the adapters for carving and cutting bits, they are pressed on. The only adapter you can get is for the decorative bits. Here is from the CW website:

USING BITS & PROBE WITH CARVETIGHT:

•¼” Carbide (carving & cutting) bits feature hard pressed steel collars
•¼” Steel shank (decorative) bits require slotted steel collets and a rubber stop
•½” Steel shank (decorative) bits can be placed directly into chuck and will require a rubber stop
•New Scanning Probes will feature hard pressed steel collars
•Existing Scanning Probes can be updated with a slotted steel collet

Good luck,
Craig

[edereyes]

You can't buy just the adapters for carving and cutting bits, they are pressed on. The only adapter you can get is for the decorative bits...

Thanks, Craig. So I have 8 "old" bits that fit the non-carvetight modded machine. The bits that you describe here are for the machine with the carvetight mod?

Cheers,
Ed

[fwharris]

For the 1/16 and 1/8 bits they have a drop down list that you can select either the std bits or the ones with the pressed on sleaves for the CT.

All items can be found under the CarveTight heading in the store..

http://store.carvewright.com/home.php?cat=285

[c6craig]

Thanks, Craig. So I have 8 "old" bits that fit the non-carvetight modded machine. The bits that you describe here are for the machine with the carvetight mod?

Cheers,
Ed

Right,

The pressed on sleeves (adapters) are for the CarveTight (carving and cutting bits).
The 1/4" shaft decorative bits use the 1/4" collet adapter, which is not pressed on.
The 1/2" shaft decorative bits go right in with no adapter, but you use a little rubber stop.

The Quickchuck adapters are for the stock Quickchuck.

And the bits with no adapter are used for the Rock Chuck or equivalent.

Good Luck,
Craig

[edereyes]

Right,

The pressed on sleeves (adapters) are for the CarveTight (carving and cutting bits).
The 1/4" shaft decorative bits use the 1/4" collet adapter, which is not pressed on.
The 1/2" shaft decorative bits go right in with no adapter, but you use a little rubber stop.

The Quickchuck adapters are for the stock Quickchuck.

And the bits with no adapter are used for the Rock Chuck or equivalent.

Good Luck,
Craig

Great! Thanks - I just found and ordered them. I sure wish they had mentioned something when I got the upgrade - so much for "upselling"!

I appreciate all the help -

Ed

[wizer]

Maybe you should fit a rock chuck to your carve tight, then you on't have to worry about bit adapters....

[c6craig]

Maybe you should fit a rock chuck to your carve tight, then you on't have to worry about bit adapters....

It's my understanding you can't fit a Rock Chuck to the new CarveTight truck because the chuck and spindle are one piece, so no chuck to screw off. I may be mistaken though...

I was lucky, I have a Rock Chuck on my other machine, so I was able to remove the Quickchuck adapters from my existing bits and use them with my Rock Chuck. Had to remove all the adapters from the bit set anyway...

Craig

[wizer]

I kinda guessed that, but was highlighting why the Rock might be a better move...

[c6craig]

I kinda guessed that, but was highlighting why the Rock might be a better move...

Indeed, I assumed that's what you were getting at. I just didn't want to confuse the original poster.

I won't turn this into another endless chuck debate, it's all been said. I own both a Rock and a CarveTight and think any system that gets rid of the Quickchuck is a winner.

Craig