Carving and other forms of freehand woodworking have undergone revolutionary changes in recent decades. The use of electric tools in these applications has been adopted much later than in other areas. The Australian company Arbortech has played a major role in ensuring that they have now become established.

Drive units

Arbortech offers three different power tools that are perfectly matched to the comprehensive range of tools and accessories. The Power Carving Unit is a further development of the angle grinder, which is particularly suitable for the requirements of mechanical carving due to its high motor power (1000 W) and variable speed. For more delicate work, including in narrow or hard-to-reach areas of a workpiece, wood sculptors and carvers like to use the Mini Carver.

Unlike these two machines, the Power Chisel does not remove wood by milling or grinding. Rather, it cuts chips like a classic gouge – but it is electrically powered and therefore requires significantly less effort. This is particularly noticeable in larger projects, but the Power Chisel is also great for achieving textured surfaces. It comes with seven matching gouges and chisels.

The cutting tools

Arbortech offers various cutting tools that have been developed from the classic cutting and grinding discs for angle grinders. Accordingly, they are used with the manufacturer's Power Carving Unit.

The Turboplane is a universally applicable routing disc. It can be used to create large flat surfaces, convex and concave shapes and flat, finer cuts. The surface quality is often so good that subsequent sanding is not necessary. The Industrial Woodcarver is particularly suitable for working with very hard woods. It can also be used to make straight cuts. The Ball Gouge is designed for more delicate work when used with the Power Carving Unit. The ball-shaped tool leaves a textured surface and is designed to hollow out a workpiece to a depth of 70 mm.

The Precision Carving System, which consists of an adapter and three cutting and grinding tools, offers even more versatile options for intricate designs with the Power Carving Unit.

Arbortech - History and Foundation

Arbortech was founded in 1983 in Nannup, Australia, by Kevin Inkster, who still runs the company today. The company was a classic start-up long before the term existed. Kevin was looking for a way to make furniture without the usual straight edges and right angles, and developed a tool for it that could be used with a normal angle grinder. Success confirmed his idea, and from these beginnings, a product range developed that satisfies all desires for freehand moulding and processing of wood.

Arbortech tools are now sold worldwide and are also very popular in German-speaking countries. This is not least due to the fact that the manufacturer attaches great importance to occupational safety, which is always very important when working with wood freehand. This is where the original Arbortech products stand out from the many imitation products on the market.

Have a look at Arbortech in action