James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Mini Circular Saw & Angle Grinder Kit | Arbortech Carver Chainsaw Gouge for Hitachi, Makita & Ryobi
55 sec read
At last, real power tools for the woodcarver and sculptor. Arbortech’s Mini Grinder Carving Kit converts most 4- or 4-1/2-inch angle grinders into the machine equivalent of a carving gouge.
Until now the only carving options other than hand tools were chainsaws and grinding machines, and even though it’s amazing to see an artist work with either one, neither were engineered for the work of shaping wood freehand. The Arbortech Carving Kit uses either a steel or tungsten carbide cutting wheel to cut — not abrade — concave surfaces. Chip limiters built into the blades control the depth of cut and reduce the risk of kickback. The safety shield of the attachment allows a clear view of the work piece while protecting the operator from thrown chips. High speed means fast and efficient work, and the smaller cutting wheel diameter assures safe control. Use the Arbortech Carver to cut trenches, trim ends, and plane surfaces. A sharp carver blade even works smoothly in highly figured woods like burls. Maybe you have an odd burl or two laying around the shop but don’t have the year it would take to shape it with ordinary tools — find a way to hold it down securely and try out the Arbortech. You’ll save many hours of labor and find new creative possibilities.
The Arbortech Mini Grinder Carving Kit fits Hitachi G12SA, Makita 9524NB, 9521NB, 9520NB, 9523NB and Ryobi SG100, Makita 9504B and 9526PB angle grinders. See the Arbortech Power Chisel for the perfect companion tool to the Arbortech Carver.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
At last, real power tools for the woodcarver and sculptor. Arbortech’s Mini Grinder Carving Kit converts most 4- or 4-1/2-inch angle grinders into the machine equivalent of a carving gouge.
