to Compucarve or not to Compucarve

I can say that they have had a pretty high return rate at my store. I would say more of the returns were due to improper use/insufficient knowledge of use then due to anything mechanical, but mechanical has had it's fair share as well.

I think even a non-salesperson would tell you the service contract is probably a good buy on this one. I know of at least two people who have had free replacements on theirs already. Of course, that is also dependent on how long/how often you plan to use it. It's a big investment if you're not going to use it enough.

I'm no woodworker and I have very limited knowledge of these tools, but I work in pretty close proximity to our tool department, and from what I've seen I would certainly set out with caution when looking to buy one. Gathering information as you are is certainly one of the smartest things you can do.

There is a good-sized learning curve in using one of these machines.

But, oh the beautiful/ detailed work one of them is capable of!

I wonder how well one of those machines could do a line-art self portrait of me?

Yes I am trying to gather as much info as possible before I buy this...much as I want it--with all the ideas I have in mind-I still don't want to be without it for weeks on end while it's away being fixxed...and I will admit my experience with related gadgets is is not real established. If you're saying a lot of the probs you've seen were user related, I'd likely be a posterchild example of your point.  I dunno, I am trying to narrow my business down to landscape architecture/cabinet-making as opposed to basic construction/handyman  so a couple grand would come in handy tooling up with routers, jointers, pocket screw and bisquit machines, etc.  Well if I do get the compucarve, Adam, I'll take your pic on here and carve it out! Thanks for input, please keep it coming! These gift cards may go bad after a while of sitting in my old sixpack/football cooler :)

We're trying not to break the machine, AdamO. LOL! Just kidding buddy. I don't really know too much about the turnover rate or the usage but I've seen the results. They're amazing. I'm not sure if the headaches would be worth it if a lot of people are having issues with them.

The really fun feature is having a highspeed "draft" mode to proof your carving artwork, with a final carving mode that's, let's just say go get some coffee/ lunch, higher resolution.

I read on one of the reviews that you're not supposed to leave the machine unattended! lol  I'm just concerned that it might not work out as well as I hoped, my goal is to turn a buck carving portraits. And when it has been said that it's not for the novice, or anyone with no good computer skills, it worries me. I'm just not a computer-whisperer :)

Normally I just yell at computers. I tried whispering to a computer once and my wife was at the ready with a nice complementary jacket and a shot that makes you feel like you're in heaven all the time. She also told me that we were going to a place with pillows on the walls and floor. It sounded like such a delight. O_o

I no longer yell at the computers.

They "like" it.

I just hold up a hammer to the machine and in a very calm, almost "gentle" voice, whisper; "Your choice..."

Well, what do you know, it's working MUCH more better, now.

"Good choice..."

Lol...tried that one already...didn't work out too well.

Well... You don't actually "hit" the terminal.

That would REALLY slow down the thing.

It's just the implied doom that works.

Sort of like the Drill Instructors in Basic Training.

Technically, you knew they weren't allowed to strike you.

But, MAN!

They got some fantastic performance out of just about ... ALL of us!

Except BiBee.

How, do you flip an M-16's safety from "locked" ALL THE WAY OVER (180 degrees) to FULL Automatic?

BiBee kept doing it!

LMBO!!!! XD

What does LMBO mean? Sorry, I thought I might know. :)

Laughing my butt off. It's the "PG" version. ^_^

Don't leave the machine unattended?

In high-res mode, that bad boy can take up to 45 minutes to carve a single panel!

Ok.

If I get one of those Compucarve's, I'm gonna need a Craftsman C3 Radio, and a Kenmore Coffee maker, Big Time!

...I'll stick to my Nintendo DS and Playstation Portable :)

Oh! My wife had these pills, called Vicadin, that allowed her to just lead me around by the finger, while I just drooled a lot.

But, I don't think I'd like to visit the Critical Care unit for a couple of weeks again, to qualify for "more pills".

Although you "could" control the machine directly from its on-board keypad, more finese can be had by plugging the unit's PCMCIA card into a supplied docking port, connected by USB to a computer.

Then, you can really get more "fancy" results out of the carver.

I studied a little on the unit, until we found out they had sent us a demo-dummy store display unit.

LOL!

Ok, so...I can purchase this thing that will require me to achieve grad-school level operating skills, or I can just take my gift cards and have a shopping spree at Sears...you know, I bought one of those fancy tool boxes at Lowes, you know the one with the "beverage" cooler and pioneer sterio...I could fill it with craftsman tools, they say it will hold 4000 lbs of stuff--decisions decisions

The Compucarve would encourage "creativity".

The storage container would encourage "organization".

The shopping spree would probably encourage more "creative-organization" to house all the new tools.

suprised you didnt order parts for it LOL