Last week I received a ‘Craftsman Club’ catalog which was promptly relegated to my outhouse reading’ pile. Today while scanning the pages I came across something of interest. Craftsman is offering a ‘CompuCarve Computerized Carving Machine’ for ONLY $1700. Has anyone seen this carver?? Has anyone USED it?? I’ve got to assume it is a three axis router mounted inside a small cabinet. It will accept wood up to 14.5″ wide and 5″ high (no length given).
Considering 1… you get what you pay for, 2… I could find lots of interesting things to do with it, and 3… I know the ‘boards’ general lack of appreciation for anything from Craftsman, I’d like to know if I should spend any time trying to locate one or just spring the mega$$ for a really good one.
SawdustSteve
Replies
That showed up here a couple of weeks ago. Check out this thread: 33404.1
I think there was also some discussion about it over in Breaktime.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Thanks, Mike... That thread is the info I was looking for. I will also look at the web-site. A group of us make toys for 'special' tots, kids who are medically fragile. We try to put EACH childs name on the toys we make because they can not (should not) 'trade' toys around to minimize health problems. There is always the discussion... should we paint the names on, should we 'burn in' the names or, for certain projects, 'engrave' the names on. This MAY be one possible answer for our problem.
SawdustSteve
Sounds like a great way to put your time/skills back in to a really rewarding task! Kudos.
In my neck of the woods, one of the guys who works at the local Woodcraft Supply (I think) owns a laser engraver and will do something as simple as engraving a name for a few bucks. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd do names for you for free, considering the cause. Maybe you could find someone near you with the machine who would donate the service. That way you could use the $$$ you would have spent to make more toys!
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
Trend do letter template routing kits which cost a LOT less than a CNC. I think a CNC system is overkill for your purposes
Scrit
Thanks for the input, Scrit.
It may be a bit expensive but please remember...
The older the boys, the more expensive their toys.The last batch of 'stuff' we made was 26 'treasure boxes'. Now do 26 names with 5 to 8 letters per box and that's a LOT of lettering to do. I've done a similar project, and let me say that after the fourth or fifth set of names, it is not fun any more. Anyone can go out and buy another drill press or scroll saw, If I can be the first guy in the 'gang' to get on of these, I've got bragging rights for a while. Besides, If I get one I can always design all sorts of cool stuff that MUST be run on this machine. SawdustSteve
The compucarve that is being sold by Sears is really the Carvewright machine. I've had one for about a year now. It is now being distributed through Sears. The fellows who invented it are 3 former NASA engineers from Texas, their company is LHR industries. There is a Carvewright forum that a lot of good info is there. Just Google Carvewright and it should come up.
Bob
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