Power-Carving Bits

Cleaning, Sizing & Purchasing

When cutting performance declines, don t assume that your bit is worn out. More likely, it s just loaded up with wood fibers and resin. Cleaning probably will revive it.stones. For diamond points, buy an inexpensive dressing stone. For longer bit life, store them with their shanks standing in holes drilled in a block of wood.

A brass-bristle brush, about the size of a toothbrush, cleans light buildups from everything except stones. Heavier buildup usually yields to oven cleaner. To quickly clean a clogged Kutzall, blast it for a few seconds with your propane torch, then brush away the burnt wood.

A crepe sanding-belt cleaner works fine on stones. For diamond points, buy an inexpensive dressing stone. For longer bit life, store them with their shanks standing in holes drilled in a block of wood.

When buying bits from a catalog, you may find the diameter designated by a three-digit ISO number, such as 018 or 070. To convert that number to millimeters, insert a decimal point between the second and third digit. Thus, the 018 bit in the example is 1.8 mm diameter and the 070 is 7.0 mm.collet. Most handpieces will, most rotary hand tools won t.

Shanks are 3/32" for most bits, 1/8" for some. Big carbide bits and Kutzalls have 1/4" shanks. Before buying one of these biggies, confirm whether your rotary hand tool or flexible-shaft handpiece will accept a 1/4"

If you can t find the bits you need locally, try these mail-order suppliers. Call or write for a catalog.

Christian J. Hummul P.O. Box 522 Nescopeck, PA 18635 800/468-7070

Wood Carvers Supply, Inc. P.O. Box 7500 Englewood, FL 34295-7500 800/284-6229

The Woodcraft Shop 2724 State St. Bettendorf, IA 52722 800/397-2278

To learn more about outfitting your woodworking shop, visit the Shop Tools and Accessories section in the WOOD Store.