Building the Copy Carver ™.....

It's a straight forward weekend project.  An evening to read the plans, a day to round up all the parts needed and an afternoon to cut the pieces, assemble and start using your woodcarving duplicator.  Actual build time from start to actually using it averages under 4 hours. 

Basic woodworking skills, common hand tools and an accurate table saw are all that is needed for this project.  Accuracy is the key to building this machine, both in following the measurements provided in the plans and cutting the pieces to size.  If you follow the well written plans and take your time cutting the pieces to size you will have a three dimensional carving duplicator with precision accuracy.  

The plans contain a material list of everything needed, including a cut list for the wood components.  Each step of construction is outlined with pictures and computer drawings to aid in assembly.  

My machine I use now was the final prototype made years ago.  It was built from standard 3/4" birch plywood, drywall screws, piano hinges and some left over paint.  Not much to look at but a real work horse.   

Over the years I have received pictures of machines built using red oak plywood, brass screws, brass piano hinges.  The wood was sanded, stained and sealed like that of fine furniture.  The builders tell me the extra cost of using premium materials only added $40 on average to the final cost of the project and when they were done it looked like something purchased commercially, as opposed to my mine which looks like a old school woodshop project.  

If you are one that takes great pride in how well something's looks as well as it performs make the upgrade now and enjoy showing it off to friends.  There are times when I kick around building a high end "show off" machine, but those notions quickly fade when I am done for the day and I hang it on the wall with no regard for it getting scratched or banged around.  If it was a furniture grade piece I would feel guilty and need to dedicate an area in the shop to leave it set up on display.  Both have their advantages, but for the moment the "casual look" fits my use better.

~Ed

Copy Carver User Testimonial

"Ed, I purchased plans for your copy carver several months ago.  We have always had problems carving complex curves in our trim which goes on the house of our custom sportfishing boats. Sometimes we make them wrong and have to start over again. I got the idea to make the initial part out of trim segments and then use the copy carver to duplicate the part into our teak wood.  A piece of teak large enough to make one of these corners cost several hundred dollars. If you make a mistake not only do you waste the wood but all of the time involved.
Anyway...The project was a great success.
Made 4 of the main corners and 2 more smaller front corners and ended up with 100% usable parts and one of the best looking trim rails that we have ever done!!!
Hope you like the pictures."  ~John Whiticar
ps.. you can see more of the project on our web site...    http://www.whiticar.com/