It's all about the Tools!

My post this time around is all about the Proxxon Micromot Tools that I use in making Gourd Art. I do use them with wood but this is to show you how they can be used with gourds.

Jig Saw #28534 is ideal for gourd carving.

This very lightweight and powerful 12 volts machine is ideal for curved cuts in wood up to 3/8" (10mm), circuit boards up to 7/64" (3mm) and non-ferrous metals up to 3/32" (2.5mm) thickness. Its weight makes it easy to handle and thus allows for precise control of the cutting action. The specially balanced powerful permanent magnet motor with electronic speed control ensures variable speeds between 2,000 - 5,000 strokes/ min., stroke: 15/64" (6mm). With the flat plate removed and the additional, rounded foot for cuts installed it will easily make cuts over rounded surfaces and clean interior cuts. Ideal for gourd carving. It's a great tool for making gourd bowls and also for doing any curved cuts that you need on gourds. The blade is heavy enough to cut even very thick gourds. This is the tool you want to get the job done.

Yep this saw is what I use to do all of my cuts with a machine.

 Belt Sander

 Delta Sander

 Pen Sander

Sanders # 28594, 38536, & 38520 are all awesome tools! The Proxxon Pen Sander is used primarily for fine touch ups and small spaces and hard to get in cut outs that other Sanders can't reach.

The Proxxon Belt Sander is cute but powerful enough to tackle jobs where a lot of material needs to be removed, from leveling the bottom of the gourd to smoothing the top.

The Proxxon Delta Sander is great for removing the hard skin/shell of a gourd and sanding off blemishes.

 Professional Rotary

 Rotary

 Drill

The Rotary Tools # 28500, 28510 & 38481 are great for drilling, removing shell/skin and using a varied assortment of drill bits, burrs, and sanding drums to create all sorts of techniques on a gourd. With the correct burr you can even do amazing filigree work. Light weight and easy to use.  Rotary Tools # 28512 and 38472 are basically the same and do the same job as the ones above but offer the ease of a keyless chuck for quick change of the bits and tools used with them. 

The Flexshafts # 28620 and 28622 can be used with any of the rotary tools or drills. I consider either of the Flexshafts a must on my rotary tool, as they are very lightweight, little vibration and the pen shaped end that you hold onto is just awesome. This is my favorite Flexshaft by far.

Here is another must on my list of gourd tools, the Foot Switch. When you use it with either the Jig Saw, Rotary tool or Sander it gives you a lot better use of the tool that you're using. Takes the worry out of turning your tool off when you have it and the gourd in each hand. The Foot Switch can be used flat on the floor or mounted on a table leg to give knee control. If you sew then you know how it's used. Foot down, tool on, foot off, tool off.

 Large Power Supply

 Smaller Power Supply

Most of the Proxxon Tools that you use have to be plugged into a 12 Volt DC power source like the ones above. You can plug up to three tools into the large one and one into the smaller one. I personally have both sizes. I started out with the larger one and then got the smaller one to use. The smaller one is much lighter and easier to carry than the large one and it's great for taking to classes.

The tools that I've shown you here today are all terrific for using with your gourds in many different ways. If you have any questions about them don't hesitate to ask. I love my Proxxon tools and would recommend their use to anyone, but the tools that I use on gourds are extra special to me. I have attended eight Gourd Festivals in seven states this year and have demonstrated the use of these tools on gourds at them all. I hope to be able to show even more people next year what great tools they really are. Go on over to www.proxxon.com and check out the tools that they have to offer for the Artist, Hobbyist and Craftsperson, you'll be glad that you did.

Barbara