I'm relatively new to carving, mainly working on miniatures for my wife's architectural modeling business. I have well-equipped workshops both at full and 1/3 scale, where I primarily use hand tools from Veritas like planes and chisels. However, I've found a powered tool that I love—the ultrasonic knife. It's fantastic for fine details in hard or figured woods, but I need to be careful with the power settings to avoid scorching. This tool uses a regular utility knife blade that oscillates at 40,000 cycles per second, making it super effective for cutting various materials. I'm curious to hear if anyone else has used these or other powered tools for carving and how they found them useful!
1 Answer
I hadn't heard of ultrasonic knives before, but they sound amazing! I definitely think I need to check them out.
There are several good brands out there. I use a Magicutter which was entry-level but works like a charm! Honestly, it was a little nerve-wracking at first since you can't see or hear it cutting, but it really does glide through materials effortlessly. They’d be great for anyone working with styrene too!