Hammer handpiece – worth it?

**Elizabeth** · 01-02-2016, 06:31 PM

Hello,

So, getting a bit fed up with the limits of my hand me down/free dremel and I am definitely feeling like its time for an upgrade….

Having read all the posts on here about flexshafts vs micromotors etc. I think I’ve decided to go for the foredom micromotor K1070 as it’s not much more than the foredom’s SR pendant motor and it seems that a lot of people end up upgrading to a micromotor anyway.

Now am in the upgrading frame of mind, I was thinking it would be good to get a hammer handpiece, but was horrified to find out the price of the hammer handpiee that goes with the micromotor is around £400, which is more than the micromotor itself costs! Whereas a hammer handpiece for a pendant drill is around the £90/£100 mark.

So… my questions are…

- How much do you use your hammer handpiece and what do you mainly use yours for? Would you consider it an essential piece of kit?

- Is the foredom microcomtor hammer handpeiece significantly better than the ones you can use with a pendant motor, hence the price?

Grateful as always for any words of wisdom, views, comments/suggestions!

Elizabeth

**Tabby66** · 01-02-2016, 07:11 PM

I use mine for setting some stones and some texturing Elizabeth. By 'some' I mean "not all". Is it essential? Not for me, but it certainly is helpful, it depends what you are doing.

(I have the pendant motor and hand piece, and it is a great bit of kit).

**enigma** · 01-02-2016, 10:00 PM

I have a pendant motor only so can't comment on the micro motor.
I use my hammer hand piece for stone setting only but do find it invaluable for that especially when working with gold.

**Elizabeth** · 01-02-2016, 10:26 PM

Thanks very much both, Maybe just going for the pendant motor would be a better idea than the micromotor?
Would mean I could also get the hammer hand piece for that without completely breaking the bank!
Enigma, sorry if this is a dumb question but why is it particularly good for working with gold?

**CJ57** · 01-02-2016, 11:10 PM

I was given the K1070 for my Xmas and like you was horrified when I looked at the price the hammer hand piece is going to cost. It was one of the reasons I wanted the micromotor, which is said to be lighter to use than a pendant but guess I'll have to save up!

**Elizabeth** · 03-02-2016, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by CJ57

I was given the K1070 for my Xmas and like you was horrified when I looked at the price the hammer hand piece is going to cost. It was one of the reasons I wanted the micromotor, which is said to be lighter to use than a pendant but guess I'll have to save up!

The cost is a shocker isn't it?!!

**Aurarius** · 17-02-2016, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by CJ57

I was given the K1070 for my Xmas and like you was horrified when I looked at the price the hammer hand piece is going to cost. It was one of the reasons I wanted the micromotor, which is said to be lighter to use than a pendant but guess I'll have to save up!

There is another way, Caroline. I too have the K1070 and wanted a hammer handpiece. Like you I balked at the £500 price tag. Then I saw someone using a Dremel engraver for turning in bezel edges and I decided to give it a go.

I've just set my first piece with it, which was a 20x15 mm cabochon bezel in sterling. The wall thickness was 0.5mm. On a medium setting the engraver made very quick and light work of the job. You have to remove the pointed carbide tip supplied and replace it with a piece of mild steel or preferably brass rod, but this is very easy to do.

The tool may not have the sophistication of a dedicated hammer handpiece, and it is quite loud, but the way it breezed through its first job and the way it left the lip of the bezel in a scarcely blemished state means it's probably going to be a very useful tool in my armoury. The best thing about it was that it cost me £17.95, which is less than a fiftieth of the price of the Foredom micromotor hammer handpiece.

**Gemsetterchris** · 04-02-2016, 02:31 PM

If you need some ideas as to what to use it for it doesn't sound like you *need* it yet?
Hammer handpieces are basically a time saver & for the occasional nasty job...if you are doing your own made work you can avoid having to make things that require this tool.
If you do fork out it'll be a good investment & the pain of paying goes in time.

**Elizabeth** · 04-02-2016, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by Gemsetterchris

If you need some ideas as to what to use it for it doesn't sound like you *need* it yet?
Hammer handpieces are basically a time saver & for the occasional nasty job...if you are doing your own made work you can avoid having to make things that require this tool.
If you do fork out it'll be a good investment & the pain of paying goes in time.

Totally agree I don't need it yet!

I guess I'm just trying to future proof the decision wheter to go for a pendant motor or a micromotor. Seems the cost between the two isn't that big, but the cost between the hammer handpieces is. But as I said before, am probably just overthinking the whole decision... should probably just get one or the other and get on with using it!