I just bought a Foredom flexible shaft grinder...

Phillip Patton

Phillip Patton

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jul 25, 2005
Messages
5,383
...so, tell me, what all can I do with this thing? I do have some ideas, and definite plans, but tell me what those of you who have them use them for.

Thanks,

Phillip
 
Hey Phillip-


What one did you get???

I've been using dremels, a 56,000 rpm HF air rotary giz-whiz, and a 400,000 rpm Turbo Carver for quite a while. I let them sit for the last couple years as I decided it was better for me to solidify building a clean knife rather than a pretty clean one that was carved.

You've got the clean, solid thing down, so carve away :)

David Broadwell has a video on carving and it would show you ALL KIND OF STUFF you could use it for!!! :D

I have been thinking I need to spend some money lately and I found an outfit on Ebay that does a "buy it now" for the new spank-tastic 1/3HP Foredom!!!

I am torn though, as the reversible model would probably be better for me since I'm left handed and the rotation usually fights the way I want to naturally hold stuff while working on it. Problem is the reversibles don't come in nearly the same HP.

I actually think Broadwell's unit is like an Enco knock-off which can be had for cheap.

One thing is for sure, show us what you come up with!!! :D


Oh, and don't do whatever it is to your Js set ;) :p
 
NickWheeler said:
Hey Phillip-


What one did you get???

I've been using dremels, a 56,000 rpm HF air rotary giz-whiz, and a 400,000 rpm Turbo Carver for quite a while. I let them sit for the last couple years as I decided it was better for me to solidify building a clean knife rather than a pretty clean one that was carved.
Click to expand...

Hi Nick,
This is the one I got:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110237478535&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=001

It just came in the mail today, and I turned it on, so I know it works. :thumbup:
The chuck key is missing, and it didn't come with any burrs, so I won't be using it for a little while....

400,000 rpm?! Yikes. Does higher rpm really have an advantage over lower? I suppose it must, or they wouldn't make them :foot: but it seems like you would just burn up bits faster.

Do you use this sort of thing for carving steel? I know you can for wood, but it would be great to do steel too. I've always been enamoured with Larry Fuegens carved steel, and I'm wondering how he does it. Anybody know?


You've got the clean, solid thing down, so carve away :)

David Broadwell has a video on carving and it would show you ALL KIND OF STUFF you could use it for!!! :D

I have been thinking I need to spend some money lately and I found an outfit on Ebay that does a "buy it now" for the new spank-tastic 1/3HP Foredom!!!

I am torn though, as the reversible model would probably be better for me since I'm left handed and the rotation usually fights the way I want to naturally hold stuff while working on it. Problem is the reversibles don't come in nearly the same HP.

I actually think Broadwell's unit is like an Enco knock-off which can be had for cheap.

One thing is for sure, show us what you come up with!!! :D


Oh, and don't do whatever it is to your Js set ;) :p
Click to expand...

I'll see about getting Broadwells video. Thanks for the suggestion!
Since I have the basics down fairly well, I'd like to start dressing things up some. But don't worry, I won't experiment with my JS knives. ;)
Actually, I did get the machine partly with the JS knives in mind, but I just want to use it for getting rid of scratches that I can't get rid of via other ways.

TTYL,
Phillip
 
I have the foredom 1/4 hp one and use it all the time. It has its purpose and nothing else will get where it will go. Mostly it replaced my small wheel attachment for the burr king for finger grooves and inside curves.
 
I use around ten different flex shaft units, spread out through the various shops. The one you have is a lighter duty ,general use unit. It will work fine for most things, and the #30 hand piece is versatile. There are bigger ,more powerful units ( two of mine are 1/3HP), but unless you are going into wood carving, you won't need that much power. Get carbide bits and burrs whenever possible. Learn all about using Cratex wheels. NEVER step on the foot switch while the chuck key is in the hand piece. When you upgrade this unit, get a reversible 1/4HP unit.
If you need more hand pieces, I have a drawer full of them that are no longer suitable for diamond setting, but are fine for general use. I'll be glad to send you a couple.
Stacy
 
I have two of the variable speed Dremel shaft grinders. I keep a small cutoff wheel on one and a microchuck on the other one for small drilling jobs. I made a gadget that will hold the handpiece on the carriage of my Taig lathe so I can use one as a miniature post grinder. Also comes in handy for precision radial drilling chores on the Taig.

They also come in handy for teaching you how to cuss more fluently at times too. If I'm using a carbide bit it will sometimes chatter so hard it hurts my fingers. Also has a bad tendency to hop unexpectedly and happily skip across your work chopping out big divots on it's merry way.

Dremels are probably a gunsmith's best friend. Well meaning, but fumble fingered amateur gunsmiths can do expensive-to-repair damage to a fine firearm in no time at all.

Ken
 
if you use the flex shaft for going after scratches you will have little washboard surfaces. flexshafts are the tool of a thousand uses
one caution, if you are using a cutting bur and you back down the speed while in contact with the work piece sometimes the bur will take off across the piece (and fingers)
Page
 
Sunshadow's advise is excellent.
Use the flex shaft at high speed when using cutting burrs. If the burrs are burning up, you need to switch to carbide. When training apprentices to set stones, I would tell them not to take their foot off the pedal until the burr was out of the seat. If the RPM's drop and the teeth can bite into the metal, it will take off like a race horse. Fingers are no match for tool steel burrs.
Stacy
 
I have a Foredom and a Pro Craft foot controlled Dremmel. The Foredom is one I've owned for probably 15 years now. Its one that just keeps going and going and going. All I ever have to do is change the brushes about once every two years.

The Pro Craft is my newest one. I got it from the dealer where I got my Foredom years ago. He assured me it was everything the Foredom was at half the price. Not only that but I got a bigger more powerful motor and still didn't spend the same money I'd have spent for a same size smaller Foredom or anywhere near. So far I'm seeing that he didn't lie to me. I also see why his shop is completely converted to all Pro Craft now. His shop is a jewelry shop where he makes custom stuff beyond belief. I love my Foredom and I won't get rid of it but I use the Pro Craft just as much. I do love having two variable speed foot controlled dremmels in the shop though.

I use mine for everything from an occasional second drill press with the press attachment I got from Foredom which works with either the Pro Craft or the Foredom and also to run my cut off discs, hand piece burrs polish wheels, and grinding wheels along with a host of other jobs. The two are two of my most used tools I think. I mean when the Foredom quit working and I thought it was just old but found out later it was simply the foot control wore out I had to have another which is what led to the replacement so it was something I can't go without even for a day. I found another foot control on ebay and got back up and running so that now I have two. For years I used these to cut locks out on liner lock folders using small cut off wheels when I mounted them in my drill press attachment and clamped my table down. I simply attached the lock side to a vise and held the vise with my gloved hands running the dremmel by my foot. Its amazing what you can do with these if you set your mind for it. You'd never know those locks were cut that way to look at them either because it cut nice clean straight cuts with precision. Just took a while.

http://www.grobetusa.com/ProductDescriptions/series695flexshaft.html

STR
 
I have 3, and could use another.
They're the only game in town for hand-held rotary tools IMO.
 
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