ONE OF A GRIND

RELIEF CARVING WITH POWER!

- MIKE BERNER

An angle grinder is a simple, affordable and endlessly versatile tool. With the right attachment, you can grind, cut or polish metal, masonry and stone. You can also quickly sand wood, cut tile and clean away rust from metal.

I recently discovered a new attachment for my grinder: power-carving wheels. With these new wheels, I can shape wood and create reliefs and contours with ease. I had a rough slab of cherry that seemed unusable and was headed for a campfire. It was perfect for a power-carving test run. After a dusty day of carving, I ended up with , a unique piece of art.

TAKE SAFETY SERIOUSLY

The angle grinder is a handheld tool that spins at 10,000 rpm or more. When a spinning carving wheel hits the wood, the dust and wood chips will fly everywhere. A face shield is a must, and I prefer to add safety goggles and a long-sleeved shirt. Because my hands are so close to the wheel, I always wear gloves and keep the side handle in place. Clamp down your workpiece and make sure the chips are flying away from anything they can harm.

1 DRAW THE CONTOURS