Electric Tools

["George Graham" <georgergraham@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

Geri,

I to, learned to carve with hand tools, and prefer them still. I like to use
a point to rough out , and when I've identified an area that is ready to be
cleaned up, I use a grinder with a 20 grit carborundum wheel in place of a
claw . Its just a faster and easier way to clean up so I can see what I
really have to work with. Inevitably, I go back to hand tools to further
refine and define. I don't think that power tools are better , just time
savers when I've go a lot of rough stuff to clean up.

I too, confess that I've felt the sting of sintered diamond blades. I didn't
have my guard up. Sorry about the pun, but I can't help it. I've worn out
quite a few blades and have never had a electroplated blade come apart. It
just gets dull and useless. The sintered diamonds  always start to come
apart when  it has worn down and exposed the underlying regular steel blade.

If you are working in granite, the blade will start throwing sparks. That's
a dead giveaway that its time to throw it away. Regularly inspect the
cutting edge for cracks, and use any grinding and sawing blade with the
recommended rpm's.
George Graham