Читать книгу Woodcarving Illustrated Issue 68 Fall 2014 - Группа авторов - Страница 16

Woodcarving Illustrated

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SUMMER 2012

14

product

review

By Bob Duncan

Woodcarvers Supply has redesigned their Pro Champion micro motor

to give it a higher top speed and greater power (torque). The tool now

features a top speed of 46,000rpm.

The Micro Pro kit eliminates the foot control. I never use the foot

control with a micro motor, and I don’t know many carvers who do. The

speed control dial and power switch are in convenient locations, and the

handpiece is balanced and comfortable to hold. The kit comes with 3/

32"-

and "-diameter quick-change collets, and the handpiece uses sealed NSK

bearings. It also features an integrated handpiece holder.

To test the limits of the tool, I chucked in a large carbide-point bit

and grabbed a piece of hard maple. I pressed the tool against the wood

and gradually increased the pressure. I was surprised at how much

pressure I could apply and how much wood was removed before the tool

bogged down. Within a few minutes, I reduced half the chunk of maple to

shavings and sawdust.

The Micro Pro is not meant to replace a flexible shaft tool for

roughing out carvings. However, this tool has a substantial amount of

power, which allows me to switch from the bulky flexible shaft tool to the

more comfortable micro motor at an earlier stage of carving.

The Micro Pro Champion is available for $199.95 from Woodcarvers

Supply, 800-284-6229, www.woodcarverssupply.com.

When you sharpen gouges and V-tools using oil stones or

waterstones, the tools can wear a groove into the stone,

which makes it difficult to sharpen flat tools. That’s why it is

important to flatten, or lap, your stones regularly.

To lap a stone, you need to use a second stone that is

more abrasive and flatter than the one that needs to be

flattened. Several stones are designed for lapping. Alternately,

some people use coarse sandpaper or an abrasive paste on

plate glass. However, after using the Dia-Flat™ Lapping Plate

for a few stones, I won’t use anything else.

The Dia-Flat consists of an indestructible coarse-

diamond coating on a heavy 4" by 10" plate, which should be

large enough to flatten any stone. The plate is guaranteed

flat to 5/10000". The stone is abrasive enough that I flattened a

cupped waterstone in five minutes; a cupped oilstone took

just a few minutes more.

The Dia-Flat Lapping Plate is an investment at $199, but

it will last a lifetime. Visit www.dmtsharp.com or call 800-

666-4DMT to purchase one or to find a local retailer.

DMT Dia-Flat

™

Lapping Plate

Micro Pro Champion micro motor

The Micro Pro Champion micro motor

packs power into a small unit.

Flatten your sharpening stones quickly

with the DMT Dia-Flat Lapping Plate.