Dremel tool is good, but...

D

DrGrip

Guest
But I keep breaking the drive in the flexible shafts.

I had my original flex for many years befor it broke, now I have broken 4 in the last year.

For those that are wondering; the shafts typically break when I am using a fiber cutoff wheel and it binds. The break typically happens at the top of the shaft at the motor itself.

I'm done with Dremel and am curious about a recommendation for another brand.

Any suggestions?
 
If your set on a flex shaft type machine, then I agree with Denton....the Foredom is the way to go.

Personally, I got away from flex shaft type machines for two reasons:

1. The shaft breakage issues.

2. The torque issue (the flex shaft type machine sometimes causes a burr to "grab" and you loose control, skittering a burr across the workpiece.)

I no longer have a flex-shaft in the shop. I went with air type tools. I have two of the pencil type air die grinders for heavy work/removal, and a GRS 850 rotary tool for detailed work.

For me air type tools have the advantage of much better control. They don't allow for the heavy "hogging" that you can do with a flex-shaft tool, but I have found them to more versatile and just generally less of a hassle, both usage and maintenance wise, than the flex-shafts.
 
Ed,

Just curious if your running the 850 will a GraverMach or regulated air from a "normal" air compessor ?

Thanks alot,

-Josh
 
I have been using a foredom for over 25 years with no issues thus far and less expensive than the GRS system. However, I don't have Ed's $$.:D:mad:
 
What Johnny??....you mean that you have less than two dimes to rub together too!? :) I got lucky on the GRS tool......it was part of the engraving tools that the VA paid for through my VA disability.....otherwise I doubt I would have been able to afford one.

I have the 850 running off my shop air compressor, with it's own regulator....the max. your suppose to run through it is 35psi....which means that just about any compressor will run it.
All of my engraving setup is located in the basement of the house, and often times I will pull the air line and use in at the engraving bench, running it through the GraverMax. Either way it works fine.

In my opinion, about the only things really necessary for running the 850 is a separate regulator, and the foot control pedal.
 
Thanks for the info gents!

Looks like the Foredom or the 850 would work better than what I have now for sure. The reviews for both are very good.

Now, the kicker is to decide which one I want to drop the cash on, AND I have another question...

Since the burrs are a smaller shaft size on the 850, do I need to worry about my sometimes heavy hand?

Charlie
 
DrGrip said:
Thanks for the info gents!

Looks like the Foredom or the 850 would work better than what I have now for sure. The reviews for both are very good.

Now, the kicker is to decide which one I want to drop the cash on, AND I have another question...

Since the burrs are a smaller shaft size on the 850, do I need to worry about my sometimes heavy hand?

Charlie
Click to expand...

You can find the 850 on ebay a lot cheaper. It is made by NSK and goes by a different name but it is exactly the same one GRS sells

Mark
 
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I believe one of the conciderations in replacement should definitely be what amount of power does the Dremel or Foredom have. I used a Dremel with the larger HP for over ten years and never broke a shaft. I just recently bought a Foredom . It was one with the lower HP rating. It does not have near the ability to do the work the Dremel did. I often think I may pull that Dremel out of the storage box and squeeze more use out of it. Frank
 
Generally speaking, Dremel tools are for hobbyists, and Foredoms are for professionals. Dremel is really pretty light duty and won't hold up to much long term heavy shop use.

I have a "feux" Foredom. It's a motor from overseas with a Foredom flex shaft and hand piece. It works well for heavy stock removal because it has a fair amount of torque, but with its large handpiece it's harder to control for delicate work. Wide open it runs around 20,000RPM. Never have had much trouble from it.

My rotary tool that's used more often is a micro motor. Runs around 50,000RPM. Uses collets. Speed control is on the bench with a foot on/off switch. I like it because it's more like holding a large pen in my hand instead of a broomstick! It is lacking in torque so it's easy to bog down with heavier stock removal, but the higher speed gives me better control for finer carving.

Never have used air tools. I stay away from GRS.

David
 
I've had a dremmel tool since 1995, and the thing is still going strong. The spring up under the button you push to lock the spindle is messed up, so I have to use a pair of pliers or vise grips to pull the button back up after a tool change. We have an air pencil grinder here at work that does really well. I can't really tell a difference between the dremmel and it though power wise. The pencil grinder we have is a Sioux brand 70k rpm.
 
Thanks for the info folks!

I found the NSK version on EPay and have it on the way... No more than I use it I should be good to go.

Charlie
 
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