Best place to buy a foredom?

9blades

9blades

Joined
Dec 29, 2012
Messages
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Well I want to start making knife scales so I need a rotary tool.
Any one got a supplier?
Any help will be Appreciated thanks.
 
Good choice on the Foredom. I used a Dremel (single speed) for many years. Lucked out and found a Foredom at a garage sale. I keep finding more and more uses for it, even non knife making activities and projects. I use it much more than my Dremel.

One of my friends got one many years ago when he was a professional jewelry maker/designer. It's probably over 20 years old and still going strong.

Check out some local hobby shops or jewelry supply places. Some of the industrial places like McMasterCarr would probably have them too.

Ric
 
I'd love to buy one locally but thers only home Depot and lows around here:barf: so it's the web for me.
Thanks for the help though!
 
How do you plan to use this for making knife scales? There may be a better tool for the job.
 
Yes for making scales and some other small projects
What's better i don't what to spend more than $300.
 
Check out that big online retailer named after the big jungle river :confused:, they carry the foredom. Don't know about naming the place, don't want to violate the rules. Did a google search and they were one of the suppliers listed.

Omar
 
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he means amazon :D. you might check into ryobi rotary tools. they make some with quite a bit of power and you can get a flex shaft for it. just google ryobi rotary tools.
 
The river is in the AMAZON jungle.

Omar
Click to expand...

Ya and I got the refrence the first time hence the;)

he means amazon . you might check into ryobi rotary tools. they make some with quite a bit of power and you can get a flex shaft for it. just google ryobi rotary tools.
Click to expand...

I what to start making knife scales as a small biz for some knife funds.
And I whant to have somthing of very high quality the ryobi is ok
Thanks though.
 
Are you planning to engrave the scales? Jigging bone? What kind of knife scales do you plan on making? What other tools do you have to work with?

I have a Rigid Oscillating belt/spindle sander (Home Depot) that is my primary knife handle shaping tool after I cut them to rough shape on a bandsaw. I also use it to finish profiling blades. I think it cost around $200. I have a Dremel the only time I recall using it making scales is to rough up/dimple the back of the scales before glue up. I work with wood, Micarta and G10 handle material.


Greg
 
Well I'll be working mostly g10 and micarta and playing with a little aluminum.
I'v had a dremel but From what I hear the foredom is like a
f-150. old proven reliable versitile with plenty of power.
The dremel contrary to popular belief it's more of a jeep nija that works ok until you hit a turn and fly of the road and it dies. The only other power tools I have are a hand drill a drill press and other hand tools hack saw clamps vice grips ect...
Thanks.
 
The Foredom does not run as fast as a Dremel. For myself, running at a lower speed gives me a little more control and I don't burn the material as easily. Since it runs a little slower, it removes material slower. The Dremel goes fast. Mine runs at 25k rpm. I like using it with the abrasive cut off wheels when cutting metals and materials that don't melt or burn.


Don't worry about having a lot of power tools. Many of us here started out with some hand tools. It just takes b bit longer. My first few knives were made with hand tools and used a drill press at work to drill holes to pin the scales on. I find that Micarta is fairly easy to work with and tools. You might pick up a coping saw to cut out the scales (they can follow curves better).

Do you have some files? You can do a lot of rough shaping pretty quickly with coarse files.

Ric
 
Phydeaux said:
The Foredom does not run as fast as a Dremel. For myself, running at a lower speed gives me a little more control and I don't burn the material as easily. Since it runs a little slower, it removes material slower. The Dremel goes fast. Mine runs at 25k rpm. I like using it with the abrasive cut off wheels when cutting metals and materials that don't melt or burn.


Don't worry about having a lot of power tools. Many of us here started out with some hand tools. It just takes b bit longer. My first few knives were made with hand tools and used a drill press at work to drill holes to pin the scales on. I find that Micarta is fairly easy to work with and tools. You might pick up a coping saw to cut out the scales (they can follow curves better).

Do you have some files? You can do a lot of rough shaping pretty quickly with coarse files.

Ric
Click to expand...

Ya I'm no stranger to files and I do have a coping saw.
I could make some with the tools I have now but I think I'd like to get my hands on the foredom before I start.
So I think in the next moth or so I'll have some WIPs up.
Thanks.
 
Check out woodcarving supply houses. A quick google search will show you many of them. I've had good luck using a cushion sander on a drill press for shaping scales in the past too. A foot pedal to control the speed of the Foredom is a nice addition to the machine itself, that allows pretty precise control of the bit speed.
 
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