Flex shaft recommendations please

[Jamjar]

Hi everyone. Could you please give me recommendations for a good pendant motor, flexshaft, handpiece and foot pedal? I currently have a hand held Dremel (which I have mounted into a drill press) but the lowest speed seems to be too fast when accurately drilling holes using drill bits and setting burrs for flush set stones. I want something which can go more slowly and is more controllable.

Many thanks!

Jayne

[BarryM]

Well I only have experience of my Foredom and my Dremel 4000 before that. I really like the Foredom very controllable, good torque at low revs and lots of different handpiece options.

I now only use the Dremel for none Jewellery work.


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[Jamjar]

Thanks Barry. I do see the Foredom name mentioned a lot so I assume it's a good brand? Is there a particular model I should look for? Can't see any available through Cooksons - only Dremel, Proxxon, Milbro and one (which maybe is their own make?) - Rc308 Pendant Drill With Slim Hand Piece. Anyone have experience of any of those?

[ssssue]

I've got the "own brand" one as I couldn't afford any of the others but I must say, so far, it's been excellent. It makes such a difference to have the foot pedal for control. I've had it about a year now and (hope I'm not tempting fate here) it's great.


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[Wallace]

I no longer have my foredom pendant, as I went to a micromotor. However, when I did have one, it was a great item and worked for five years without any problems. The new owner stated it was still doing what it was supposed to do.

With foredom, the after service is wonderful. I have a hammer handpiece that is over 3 years old and it went wrong (apparently my cat sat on the box and it went from forward to reverse. I should have learned with my cat, when she was a kitten she chewed through the whole wire and detached the handpiece completely) Anyhoo - I wrote to foredom and they offered to make it well again, even after several diagnostics that led to finding out the misdeeds of my cat). Apparently, the hammer motor does not like to work in reverse and it dies very quickly if it happens. I was sent a replacement handset and returned my original one for repair. Cost of sending to and fro was infinitely cheaper than purchasing a new piece. I do not know of any other companies that offer such an amazing after service, even when the guarantee is no longer in place.

Think about that bit too. Good luck with what you decide to go for.

[enigma]

Ditto Barry, Ive only had a Dremel and a foredom but I do love my Foredom and the reason I switched was mainly down to the same problems you are experiencing - you will find the foredom a massive improvement for drilling and using burrs.
I bought this one:
http://www.suttontools.co.uk/power-tools/foredom-products/foredom-sr-series-pendant-motor-complete-kit.html

And a stand and hammer handpiece separately.

[Jamjar]

Thanks Enigma! I was looking at that exact Foredom kit on another site, but the one in your link is cheaper .. hurrah!! :o) Which hammer handpiece did you buy? Does that work the same way as the GRS ones I've seen, that can be used for burnishing the metal over when flush setting stones?

[enigma]

I think it was this one:
http://www.suttontools.co.uk/power-tools/foredom-products/foredom-no-15-hammer-handpiece.html
but I originally ordered the wrong one and the guy at Suttons emailed me to advise so maybe best to check.
Yes you can use it for burnishing although you need to shape the end and I don't think it works as neatly as the GRS system although can't say for sure as Ive never set stones with that only seen it made to look incredibly easy on a youtube vid!

[Aurarius]

I was looking at that exact Foredom kit on another site, but the one in your link is cheaper .. hurrah!!
It's even cheaper here (http://www.woodworkscraftsupplies.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=436_155_438&products_id=1609) (price includes VAT and delivery), unless you get a discount from Suttons.
The GRS system is air-powered, so it's really a different animal.

[CJ57]

It's even cheaper here (http://www.woodworkscraftsupplies.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=436_155_438&products_id=1609) (price includes VAT and delivery), unless you get a discount from Suttons.
The GRS system is air-powered, so it's really a different animal.
While doing work for the OS and filing down gold inlay and having problems settings stones, it was the first time in all these years that I wished I had a pendant motor. I realised how much time, filing, and effort, stone setting, I would have saved.
Thanks for the link Mark, what a great price. I think I see a treat doing on unless someone can advise on something better to meet my needs

[Aurarius]

Thanks for the link Mark, what a great price. I think I see a treat doing on unless someone can advise on something better to meet my needs
The other option to consider, Caroline, is the Foredom K1070 (http://www.woodworkscraftsupplies.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=436_155_439&products_id=739)micromotor kit. It's very light in the hand, you have no drive cable to contend with, and you don't need to suspend a "pendant" motor above your head to enable the drive cable to turn freely. If money was no object, though, I'd have the brushless micromotor (http://www.woodworkscraftsupplies.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=436_155_439&products_id=1051)with both rotary and hammer handpieces.
Mark.

[CJ57]

The other option to consider, Caroline, is the Foredom K1070 (http://www.woodworkscraftsupplies.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=436_155_439&products_id=739)micromotor kit. It's very light in the hand, you have no drive cable to contend with, and you don't need to suspend a "pendant" motor above your head to enable the drive cable to turn freely. If money was no object, though, I'd have the brushless micromotor (http://www.woodworkscraftsupplies.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=436_155_439&products_id=1051)with both rotary and hammer handpieces.
Mark.

I saw that but no! Unlike most others I've never needed one for polishing but I suppose it would be useful for small things and I bought a wee proxxon bench drill a couple of years ago so don't need it to drill holes. I could see a use for grinding, setting, as it became obvious to me that I can't do it properly purely by hand and I had real problems pushing over settings for bigger stones in bought settings and as I said grinding down inlays and soldered rivets. I would like to tackle settings stones this year and anything to aid me in that would be great.
The only problem would be yet something else to clutter up my bench but I suppose I could put up a wee shelf!

[ps_bond]

http://www.moleroda.com/acatalog/STRONG-Micro-Motor-system.html#SID=350 - know a few people using this, I've tried it and it's pretty good especially at that price. Compares well with my Foredom brushed unit. They have another higher torque one that costs a bit more too.

[Jamjar]

Thanks everyone for all your recommendations and suggestions. I have bought the Foredom SR pendant motor from Suttons (it was the cheapest supplier I could find) and am eagerly awaiting for it to be delivered! Hoping this will mean doing flush settings will now be a doddle :o) Thanks again x

[Jamjar]

Hi Enigma,

I now have my lovely Foredom pendant kit (the same one you said you have) but just have a quick question. Is there a special attachment for fitting in smaller drill bits as the H20 handpiece only seems to accept 2.35mm shanks. I already have a set of drill bits ranging from 0.3mm upwards but they are too small to fit into the Foredom hand piece.

Many thanks in advance! :o)

[ps_bond]

Not ideal, but a partial solution - http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Pin-Vice-On-2.3mm-Shank-With-4-----Collects-prcode-999-FAU

[trialuser]

I use one of these (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291223615790?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT), it's a bit of a faff and there may be slicker ways.
You may well end up buying a handpiece with a jacobs chuck as well, it will come in useful.

[ps_bond]

I went over to 2.35 shank drills; I've got one of the shanked pin vices but I can't remember when I last used it. Depends what you're doing, but I don't need a huge array of sizes as the drill is just there for the pilot hole; I open out with ball burrs.
I also resharpen my drills with a diamond impregnated rubber wheel.
(And as I've mentioned before, grind my own short carbide bits, but you have to be a bit crazy to do that)

[Jamjar]

Thanks for your help Peter. Will maybe stick with my current drill to drill the pilot hole and see how I get on. To flush set a 3mm stone, would you drill a 2mm hole then open out with a 2.8mm ball burr and then a slightly bigger stone setting burr? Some tutorials seem to say make the hole the same size as the stone and others say leave it slightly smaller. Any advice appreciated :o)

[Dennis]

The size of ball burr is not critical, as you can choose to insert a larger one, but less than half way.

The setting burr can be a little undersized to compensate for any wobble in using it. I pesonally save wear on this expensive item, by turning it by hand in a universal handle- Cookson 999AZM.

A tiny amount of light oil helps too and of course you need callipers to verify the match of the burr to the stone.

[Unhindered]

Hello :) Just had a read of this thread as I am looking at replacing my very basic draper pendant motor! Foredom looks like the one to go for, can anyone advise me on the differences between the LX and the SR? I don't get all the technical stuff! I am looking at this site at the moment: https://www.cousinsuk.com/category/foredom-pendant-drill-motors

I need something multipurpose to help me get better at precision when drilling & burring and potentially assist with setting!

Any advise is much appreciated! :)

[Aurarius]

I am looking at this site at the moment: https://www.cousinsuk.com/category/foredom-pendant-drill-motors

I wouldn't if I were you. Their reputation has gone before them.

[Unhindered]

I wouldn't if I were you. Their reputation has gone before them.

do you mean Foredom or Cousins?

[CJ57]

Definitely Cousins, there seem to be many horror stories about dealing with them and it would be best to give them a wide berth and follow the links shared on the post for Foredom

[Unhindered]

I used them a few months ago and received my delivery the next day and they are much cheaper with some items, but I will certainly look into it before I decide, thank you for letting me know!

[CJ57]

I think this is a more recently but one of many http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5152&highlight=Cousins

Well last month anyway! http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7137&highlight=Cousins