Page 12 - Australian Wood Review №103 2019

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
Arbortech Power
Carving Unit
$299
Reviewed by Andrew Potocnik
Arbortech have now developed
their own angle grinder which they
say is ‘specifically designed as the
recommended power unit to optimise
all our attachments’. The unit has a soft
start and variable speed switch and
comes with two separate housings,
a chip catcher and a levelling guide
both of which may be used with the
included sanding pad or turbo plane
attachment. The latter is not included
in the kit and costs $159 but was
loaned for review purposes.
Both housings attach to the grinder
via two screw fittings also used for
positioning the low vibration handle on
either side of the body – simplicity in
design! Although made of plastic they
are sturdy and well finished, creating a
look of quality.
As a sanding machine the unit performs
very well, however the combination
of the turbo plane and the newly
developed soft-backed sander pad
opens new horizons, especially coupled
with dust trapping capabilities of the
vacuum attachment which takes this
tool to another level in terms of dust
retention. In a way this is a four way
comparison – the freehand carver using
the turbo plane and sander, followed by
the levelling guide using the turbo plane
and sander.
Put to use straight out of the box I
tested the levelling guide on flat planed
wood with the 240grit sandpaper that
was already fitted to the soft backed
pad. The guide followed the surface
with ease and coupled with the no.2
speed setting left a cleanly sanded
3 how well shavings were cleared
12 Australian Wood Review
1
surface without overheating the wood or
burning the disc when run at top speed.
The guide adjusts with the twist of a
knob so you can rough sand with the
60 grit velcro backed discs progressing
to 120, 180 and 240 discs that are
provided. Change over is simple.
To smooth a roughsawn board I
changed from the sanding pad to the
turbo plane which allows for a controlled
depth of cut. The chip tube and a small
finned insert fitted behind the turbo
plane suck shavings away from your
work and can be directed into a bucket,
or hooked to an extraction system.
I placed a plastic bag over the end of
the tube and was surprised at how well
shavings were diverted and collected.
It was far better than I expected.
Changing from the levelling guide to the
chip catcher via two screws is simple.
The shroud fits snugly against the body
of the grinder and you’re ready to go.
I opted for the turbo plane first, keen to
see whether the chip tube and catcher
would restrict movement or get in the
way. Neither did as the hose fitting
swivels with ease and the chip catcher
offers ample exposure of the plane to
do its job. Again I was impressed with
away and collected in my
trusty plastic bag.
For sanding in the same mode
I hooked up a standard household
vacuum cleaner which also
surprised me. With the hose
connection on the right of the
disc it is easy to see how dust
can be directed into the chute,
but even when using the left
2
side of the disc, I could see dust being
sucked away trapping most of it.
The soft backed pad allows shaping of
contours, and with speed settings which
range from 2,000 to 11,000 rpm you can
make optimum use of this power unit
either when shaping or sanding.
Andrew Potocnik is a wood artist and
woodwork teacher who lives in Melbourne.
Email: andrewpotocnik@telstra.com
Review tool supplied by Arbortech,
see www.arbortechtools.com
1. Showing the power carving unit in use
with the soft backed sanding pad, chip
catcher and chip hose witht he vibration
reducing handle visible. In this mode, the
grinder is turned down to 2 or 3 on the
1–6 variable speed scale.
2. The levelling attachment with turbo
plane fitted created the flattened surface
on a roughsawn myrtle board. Set up
according to instructions the turboplane
sucks aways shavings via the chip
hose, leaving minimal residue – no dust
extraction here, the fan does it all.
3. The soft-backed sanding pad may be used
in freehand mode with the chipcatcher, or
with the levelling guide.