Anyone have a CNC wood-carving machine?

[shilala]

Like the Shopbot or a Carvewright or Compucarve or Rockler, etc.?
I'd been considering the Carvewright and now I'm seriously thinking on the Shopbot, and I wanted to hear some experiences.
Maybe family or friends have something?
Thanks!!!
Scott

[jjirons69]

Is there anything you don't do, Scott? You're a wild man.

[shilala]

No, Jamie. I get bored easy, so I do all kinds of stuff. I like to learn and keep busy.
I love working with wood. I always intended to retire to a shop so I could make birdhouses till I was old and dead. I just never imagined I'd retire so soon.
I'll be able to make some incredible stuff with one of these machines, I've wanted one for years now. The shopbot is way more intense than what I was looking at, but it's really the same thing on a larger scale.
I was just hoping someone had some shopping experience. I'd far rather trust our brothers experiences than a bunch of anonymous reviews, ya know?

I had to tear down my shop when I got married and moved out here, and I just got started rebuilding it. I'm a long ways from turning out any projects, or finishing some of the dozen I have started, but I'm getting there. I have to finish shelves in the garage, build my sweet baby a great big deck, and finish off the basement first, but I'll definately be cranking out daily projects by Fall, if not sooner. I think.

[nofeardiver]

i have a buddy that just bought a CNC machine i have no clue what brand but i can ask him...

[BTcigars]

Looks pretty slick. You may consider making your own CNC depending on what you are planning on using it for. Could be a lot cheaper!

[shilala]

Originally Posted by nofeardiver

i have a buddy that just bought a CNC machine i have no clue what brand but i can ask him...

Thanks, Dan!!!

[shilala]

Originally Posted by BTcigars

Looks pretty slick. You may consider making your own CNC depending on what you are planning on using it for. Could be a lot cheaper!

I looked at the Zen stuff and gave it a thought for about two minutes. I don't want to kit it out. Once I do my due diligence and read till my head hurts, it might become an option again. We'll see. I just don't want a headache, I want to enjoy this. If it costs more money to assure it's a pleasant experience, it's money well spent. That's pretty much what led me to ShopBot in the first place. Top notch equipment and support. They're supposed to be The King.

[BTcigars]

Check out youtube if you havent already. Real time video of dovetails being cut in about a minute thirty! Also there is a iphone app to control it....very nice!

[shilala]

Originally Posted by BTcigars

Check out youtube if you havent already. Real time video of dovetails being cut in about a minute thirty! Also there is a iphone app to control it....very nice!

I will definitely check that out. Thank you!!!

[shilala]

I've been looking at Stinger, as well.
They really don't stack up to shopbot, so far as I've seen yet.
I have to look at them a bit more, but I'm most likely to go with a Shopbot Buddy. I've gotta squeeze in lots of hours on the toolpath software first, and I'll see how each stacks up in their forums. It's a lot of time, this will probably get pushed back to the Fall, at least. I'm getting educated a bit, though.