Bonzai Woodworking Artist :: Mike Rogers

"When I ran across the ARBORTECH mini grinder, it so closely resembled the main idea of the tools of
b oth masters, that I purchased one. This grinding angle and the power of the machine and design of
the cutting wheel, makes it far superior to any tool I had used previously."

I have been caring for Bonsai for about 25 years. I have used die
grinders from the Sears brand to the Makita, and of course, Dremels.
In all of the books on carving by Kimura, who is the best Bonsai artist
in Japan, and later by Cheng, the silk carver from Taiwan, they both
had a grinding tool that they independently designed themselves.

Both tools were similar in that the rotary grinding wheel is straight out
from the tool, in alignment with the arm,making the tool an extension
of the arm, not at a perpendicular angle to the arm. This being the main
drawback of the Dremel and the die grinders, working at an awkward
angle from the material being carved.

When I ran across the ARBORTECH mini grinder, it so closely resembled
the main idea of the tools of both masters, that I purchased one. This
grinding angle and the power of the machine and design of the cutting wheel,
makes it far superior to any tool I had used previously.

It cuts through both hard and soft wood so easily that no undue pressure has
to be applied; thereby keeping the tool under control is a breeze. The design
of the cutting wheel also allows the removal of wood, even live wood that
normally clogs the grinding burrs, without the slightest bit of clogging. The
grinding wheel is also easily sharpened and reused many times.

These things, a cutting wheel that won't clog with wood debris, the power
to cut through the hardest wood with ease, even buttonwood, and a
comfortable working angle, makes the ARBORTECH mini grinder the most
superior carving tool that I have used to date. Also, the tool can achieve a
surprising detail in carving, making a smaller tool not necessary on most
carving jobs.

- Mike Rogers