[Lol999]

I don't personally use my Dremel clone for anything other than sanding, but at this price it's almost a no brainer just to try!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wood-Chisel-Carving-Tool-Attachment-For-Electric-Flexi-Shaft-Machine-UK-SELLER-/322264921416?hash=item4b087c7548:g:apYAAOSw4shX3Xjw

 

[cobalt]

A flexi tool is very handy for texturing and adding final touches and handy to have

 

[CV3]

Be sure to pay attention to the max recommended rpm's suggested for the hand peice. Run to fast will damage the tool quickly.

 

[cobalt]

a cheap leather power strop always handy. he is running the wheel in the wrong direction

 

[Gloops]

Using a Dremmel with a range of Saburr Tooth !/8*" shank rotary burrs you can power carve stick toppers, the rate of material and controlability is pretty impressive, and using Diamond burrs you can add fine detail. I have started using mine a lot more regularly as the old joints are complaining if I do too much knife carving. It's the ideal portable power tool for me at the caravan and it does all I ask of it, roughing out, carving the shape and contours, sanding down prior to texturing, setting the eye sockets, and final texturing.

The main thing that has to be done by hand is the sanding down of the transitional area down to marry to the shank this is done using strips of Abranet of decreasing grit grades.

 

[Lol999]

I have to be honest in that I'm just starting work on a handle made from red oak and it is diamond hard. I fancy some Dremel sanding action to get it down to rough proportions because it just laughs at the Microplane rasp.