I'm so glad I went ahead and invested in the Accessory Bit Set. I've used a couple of the ogees to do some edge routing and used the v-groove one to make a bunch of signs. But my all time favorite is the 3/8 jointing bit. I use it all the time to square up the ends of my work pieces. I'd be lost without these guys!!!

CarveWright CW0024 Full Carving Bit Set

I bought this tool a while ago and can't say enough good things about it. My day job is doing handyman and odd jobs for folks here in the Palm Springs area. The RockWell Jawhorse is one of the best tools I've ever invested in. The quality is incredibly high and I like how handy it has become.
I was using it the other day and thought about how many times I had struggled to hold something in place before I had this unique tool. It's portable, folds down to a manageable size and sets up in a snap. I especially like the Miter Saw Station Attachment. I can now use my WorkMate portable work bench the way it was intended instead of as a table to hold the miter saw.

Working as a solo guy has its advantages - and it's disadvantages. Now with the Jawhorse, I get the extra hands I need but none of the back talk. This is what all sawhorses should be and do.

Here's a short demo video I found. Hope it inspires you into getting one for yourself.
You WON'T be disappointed!! Watch and learn about the Rockwell Jawhorse.

nearly a month and a half ago i mentioned how i was not impressed with the process of registering the software.
up until a couple of days ago, i had been using a downloaded "evaluation" version of the software. finally, the eval period ended and it came time to register the software if i wanted to use it any further.
i tried and tried to get my version to register with no success. i tried everything and nothing would work. i finally decided to trash the whole application and install the version from my software distribution CD i got when i bought the machine. that part went ok and when i went to register everything went smooth as silk. i checked for any updates and there was one (from version 1.125 to 1.126).
i downloaded the new version and replaced the app with the newer version... again, no hitches. i then went to my shop computer and did the same thing (you can register and use the software on up to two computers). there too, the process was simple and painless.
i have no idea why the eval version gave me so many problems, but the distribution version was fine.
in a past occupation, i was a software developer and so i can understand why Carvewright wants to know who is using their software. it makes sense and by registering, it's an easy way to make sure your users are using the latest version. what i don't understand though, is why Carvewright doesn't just GIVE this software away. they have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to gain.
their machine is almost useless without patterns and projects - it begs for content.
give the software away and maybe there will be more people developing patterns, etc which will only help to spur more machine sales.

been experimenting with the software all this past week. for the most part i like it. i read manuals to learn how to do something. i find that it actually reduces the learning curve and i'm able to do more in less time. most people feel they are wasting time by reading and would rather struggle through something than learn how to use it the right way. my dad is like this and he is constantly asking me how i figured out how to do something. my response is: "I READ THE MANUAL". having said that, i spent a big portion of my free time learning how to use this software. i would open the application and size the window in the upper 2/3 of the monitor. i would then run the help application and size that window just under the designer window. then i would read the instructions and apply them in the window above. this actually goes pretty fast and once i have tried something, it tends to stay with me so it's not too often i have to refer back to the directions.
i developed this strategy when working in my old profession, testing software. you learn the software quickly, but you do run across a number of errors in the documentation... such is the case with this package too. most of the errors i ran across were nothing too big - mostly a lot of the wrong key assignments. i work on a mac and there was a lot of reference to the "control" key when in reality it should have read as the "command" key. i run into this a lot because most windoz programmers are not aware of the difference between platforms, so i won't get too bent out of shape with that. most of us mac users are aware of that oversight and just accept it.
one thing that i wasn't happy with though, was the fact that many graphics were not present. for whatever reason, there were many graphic holders that were dark. THAT is unacceptable and i hope that CarveWright will fix that.
CW has put up a number of video tutorials on their sight. i like the fact that there are both inline versions and downloadable ones as well. i think this is brilliant on their part. even if you have a dial-up line to the internet, you can start the download and go do something else while you are waiting. i would encourage everyone to download a version to their computer if they have the disk storage space available. if disk space is at a premium, i would still see if you could download one or two videos and then burn them to cd or dvd.
i make this suggestion for a good reason - convenience. the computer i use for making patterns, etc is located in my workshop basement. while my carvewright is cutting away on a project, i work on other patterns. this computer is not connected to the internet. if i should need to reference a tutorial, all i have to do is pop in a dvd and i have the help in front of me. it's a good idea to review these tutorials from time to time. you would be surprised how much you pick up AFTER you have used your carvewright for a while. all of a sudden, something you watched a while back now makes sense, or it inspires you to try something new.
my only suggestion to CW, is to make the type in the text boxes a bit larger. sometimes there is too much crammed into a box and it's hard to read what is being said.
the example below illustrates what i am talking about.

Finally unpacked my new CarveWright cnc wood carving machine!!! it arrived the other day but i wanted to wait till i could make a video of the whole process. i wanted all of you to share in the fun and excitement along with me.

i apologize for the fuzziness that crops into the video every now and again. i didn't know that was happening until all the unpacking was over with and then it was too late to re-do the video.

i know what i did (stand to the side and then the focusing didn't know what to focus on), and will not make that same mistake again... but hey, this is a tutorial, right? so i guess we ALL learn.