Having issues with finding the right tool for the job

[Granite]

I'm trying to clean up these lines.

Because of the angles of cuts, there is so many changes in angles and end grains. I'm having an issue with tearing out chunks.

Typically I use a flexcut stub sloyd knife. I find I can cut through the hard woods I carve better than my Dremel can.

I keep trying different bits and I keep returning to my knife.

To clean up and extend my rough triangles I can't fit my knife in.

I tried small files and they're just plugging up on me. I couldn't find a wood rasp small enough for purpose.

I think I must be using the wrong Dremel bits... I can't remove any meaningful amount of wood without dulling the bit.

What Dremel bits would you guys use to carve ebony?

Is this a job I should use a chisel on?

[Nebraska]

I would suggest using a fine rasp or course file. Also, I often take a small file and wrap it with 80 grit sandpaper to clean up tight areas.

[DiLeon]

I had to laugh at your choice of wood, ebony is just plain insane and takes a very long, long time to carve for the reasons you explain. Can be difficult to work due to its extremely high density. Has a dulling effect on cutters and bits so yes you will need to buy new ones at another cost of carving this wood. Tearout may occur on pieces that have interlocked or irregular grain. Due to the high oil content found in this wood yes, it will plug up files that need to be cleaned often, In other words, it is a pain in the rear end, and you have to really have major patience and experiment to work with it.

I have carved it a few times but have no plans to ever carve it in the future. It can be done but it will take tons of experiments and tons of patience to find what works. I own just about every kind of Dremel bit there is...just keep on trying knowing it will take you lots of time to do one simple thing. And all you can do is take off little, little chunks of wood at a time. Files and rasp and even sand paper will plug up and will have to be cleaned often. Cleaning your files can be found on a search engine so you can decide which method is best. The way I clean my files is not recommended and is known to damage files so I will keep my mouth shut about it and let you do your own search. All I got to say your project is on its way, you just got a ton of work ahead of you....patience, and more patience are needed with this wood.

Only plus of this wood is will last forever and it is a very, very beautiful wood once carved. I did not use chisels on this wood, to hard plus with the oil in the wood hard to control direction and depth.

[DiLeon]

Found a great video carving this wood....I will note as you see the bits and methods only take off bits of ebony as very fine sawdust and not chunks of wood. Good luck in this venture it is worth it, if you hang in there. Also, buy more bits, I get mine on Amazon.

[Claude]

Great video!

[Eddy-Smiles]

In addition to the hardness of the wood you're also working totally across grain. I would imagine that the best way to accomplish what you're trying to do would be to using a power scroll saw or a hand coping saw where you would drill a pre-hole, insert the saw blade, and then saw away from there.

[DiLeon]

This is a weapon cane the top was made of ebony, can say it was a bear to carve. This is Akasha was the first vampire in existence. She is known among vampires as The Great Mother and queen of the ****ed. A jewel was embedded at the breast line. One thing about ebony the black shine will make all details disappear so you want to keep it sort of simple.

• I can say it was among one of hardest woods to carve. So hang in there and keep on trying

[DiLeon]

Another note some hardwoods break easy, .... On those, I sand vs....carve. So I use sanding drums to take down the wood...yea it takes a long time to do that but breakage is minor. You may want to test that and see if it works for you. As far as bits it has been so long ago I do not remember which burrs worked and which do not, as I work in a very wide range of hardwoods. As you can see with my cane there is some pop-out breakage...and I got sick of trying to repair it so it was left alone.

[NoDNA]

Ask any dentist office if they would give you their old throw away tools, I have found many have very small files on them,. Sort threw them . Good luck and keep it up you'll make it.
The harder the wood is areal challenge too.

Chuck

[NoDNA]

Found a great video carving this wood....I will note as you see the bits and methods only take off bits of ebony as very fine sawdust and not chunks of wood. Good luck in this venture it is worth it, if you hang in there. Also, buy more bits, I get mine on Amazon.

DiLeon, That is a great vid. and now I have an idea for my piece 1-1/2 in dia by 8" ,, Thanks
Chuck

[Granite]

I was afraid that the answer was going to be perseverance.

The way the angles cross the end grains due to the triangle and hexagon shapes... Is much harder to carve than the other pieces I've completed with ebony.

One of these days I'm gonna try a soft wood like oak (joke)... Betcha I slice my thumb right off.

I've found that I can carve stone easier then this ebony.

I like that video and I really like how any piece made out of ebony almost instantly become a heirloom.

The first knife I put against wood was ebony... The blade was ruined in 2 minutes and I hadn't even scratched it. (Cheap $60 beginners knife set).

I Think this piece is my eternity project. I started it like 9 months ago; work on it for a couple hours in-between finishing other projects and then put it down again.

I'll have to look for some proper rasps online or in another town... We have nothing applicable where I live.

Are there any brands that a higher level of quality then others?

[DiLeon]

I was afraid that the answer was going to be perseverance.



The first knife I put against wood was ebony... The blade was ruined in 2 minutes and I hadn't even scratched it. (Cheap $60 beginners knife set).

I Think this piece is my eternity project. I started it like 9 months ago; work on it for a couple hours in-between finishing other projects and then put it down again.

?

Yip this is about the whole ball game...LOL keep trying it is worth it in the end and yea there is a lot of stone that carves easier than this. The only thing about stone although one wrong wack of the chisel and you can lose a nose, half the head or a leg, tail and etc...LOL Ebony does not seem to crack whole pieces off.

Go to the tool section and then find the thread called. New files and microplane. Ed always had good threads and reports on rasp. Also....You can find more information on files and rasp on the search box at the top of the page.

[Glenn Jennings]

Looks like a coping saw migh be just the thing, followed by pieces of a soft er wood shaped to the shape you want to sand and wrap sandpaper over it and sand until you are happy with it. this way you get exactly the shape you want in those tight corners. Have used this method a lot and find it works well.

[Claude]

The main burr he seemed to use in the video was gold colored and a cylinder. This could easily be a Kutzall structured carbide bit (fine). From what DiLeon said above, the Fine would seem to work easier, almost like sanding, versus a Coarse burr that would try to take bigger chunks off. He also appeared to use a couple of diamond burrs to get into tight places.

Claude

[Granite]

I looked up kutzall, I'm gonna give that a try.

I'm almost embarrassed... I don't think I ever would have thought about carving my own sand paper 'forms'. I use toothpicks on occasion. But custom forms, great idea.

[squbrigg]

I would suggest a set of diamond files, they should work just perfectly for you. They aren't expensive either. I do quite a bit of work with Ebony on my ship models and the diamond files are my "go to" for fine finish work.

Bob