Variable Speed Flex Shaft Grinder Harbor Freight Review

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1. Okay THR masters of grinders! And gunsmiths if any want to chime in!

   I'thousand looking at gunsmithing tools. Yes, I will be using this for gunsmithing and some lite fabricating. No, I volition not be doing jewelry. Or woodcarving.

   I started looking at Foredoms. And because I'm a cheapskate, I started looking at Dremels. And because I'm really a cheapskate, I noticed the Risk Fraught advertisement. I realize that I should buy either a Dremel or a Foredom. But, and so I had some other idea. What am I gaining in either a Dremel or Foredom with a flex shaft that I wouldn't proceeds in an adaptable speed bench grinder with a flex shaft? I'grand thinking... MORE POWER! in a bench grinder (and perhaps cheaper too).

   I'm already aware of the foot pedal upshot. At the moment a Foredom is out of the cost range, and then I've already given up on the foot pedal. I don't think I'd actually like information technology that much anyway. I'm too fidgety. When I'one thousand TIG welding I pretty much e'er cease upwardly mashing the pedal on the floor, even though I know information technology isn't proper, because if I don't, I'll try to compensate too much and never go a skillful enough puddle.

   Then... whatsoever help/feel out in that location? I'thou already familiar with Dremel tools, and know what they are capable of, so if y'all can utilize that equally the baseline for comparison that would exist good.

   Thanks in advance!

2. Maybe you can borrow some of these tools from someone and try them for yourself and see how they work for you.

   About times good enough is good enough. HF makes a lot of stuff that is adequate for many tasks, and then I would not discount them just because of the depression cost.

3. No question, Foredom hanged on a taught horizontal overhead chain

4. Foredom is the gold standard, only splendid work can be done with a Dremel. They just won't concluding well-nigh every bit long under the same utilize. Still, unless you are using it every day it will probably fine. I have a Foredom and 2 currently operational Dremels and a couple more that are re-buildable or will serve as spare parts. I haven't tried a flex shaft attachment for a bench grinder, just every bit long equally yous tin go bits and collets that suit your needs I see no reason that it won't work OK. Human foot pedals can sometimes be plant on ebay for reasonable coin. If yous are not happy with a foot pedal you withal demand some way to adjust the speed as total tilt boogie is not e'er appropriate.

5. I have a Proxxon tool that'due south about xx yrs old, still going strong. Mine was German fabricated, likely Chinese now. Were I to purchase i over again I would get for the Pro model Proxxon with the metal bearing housing and collets. The three jaw chuck on my cheaper ane does not center the shanks well and thus does not cut and grind equally smoothly as a previous Dremel with a collet system. They sell the Proxxons on Amazon if anyone wants to look.

6. Yes, I realize that I do need an adjustable speed of some sort. "Full tilt boogie" isn't how I roll usually...

   I won't be using this every twenty-four hour period (unless it is more useful than I thought!) but I would like information technology to terminal a while. Is the HF Foredom knock-off any less precise than the real deal? Fifty-fifty if it simply lasts ane/10 as long, that might exist totally sufficient for me, as long every bit it isn't jumping all over the place.

7. The thing near HF normally you tin can stop them with your finger, take very little torque. Every at present an then you will become one that works, merely they don't hold up. It'southward more expensive having to replace tools than it's normally is to buy quality at the fourth dimension. OttFrei normally has sales on the Foredom. As a new fellow member buyer when you register they use to give a 10% off discount code for your start order. This is the place to get the swiss files too.

   http://www.ottofrei.com/

8. Ooohhh...

   Okay, what is a swiss file? And why practice I need it?

   One of the things that I've been leery about doing is ordering something every bit expensive every bit the Foredom online. Did I go a fake? A grey marketplace 1? AHHH!!! The "authorized dealers" and smaller places accept not fantastic prices, but that jeweler looks pretty good, especially with a discount! Thanks!

9. Foredom. The manufacturing industry standard, for many reasons. No further discussion necessary.

10. I find that I utilize files more often than the Foredom for some task. Why Swiss ?They have a full selection with some difficult enough to cut carbide. I accept a few of those just have not used them on carbide yet. I have #two and #4 which are fine as 1000 grit sand paper. I need to get some of their special ones for working on plastic. If your doing any gunsmith fitted parts, files is what you use the almost.

11. As Blue68F100 noted - "The earth's standard for quality and performance!"
    Even Nicholson files are no longer made here in usa, but at present fabricated in Mexico. It's not that it'southward United mexican states. It'southward that they don't hold up as well any more. They are merely not the same quality.

12. Foredom sell bench acme rheostats to control the speed.
    Many people adopt the bench acme version since you just plough a knob to the speed you want and it stays at that speed.
    The foot pedal type is mostly used by jewelers who have to vary speed a lot by impact when working on rings and other jewelry.

    The well-nigh useful of the Foredom paw pieces is the #30 with a Jacobs chuck.

    I got my Foredom flex shaft in watchmakers school in the late threescore'due south.
    Information technology's been heavily used for watchmaking, professional gunsmithing, and hobby work of all sorts.
    I've fifty-fifty used information technology as an expedient lathe to turn small gun pins and plungers by using a file.
    It'south yet in perfect shape and I only replaced the shaft sheath years ago "just in case" it was wearing..... information technology wasn't.

    Depending on the motor used to run an inexpensive flex shaft, you may be able to use an expedient rheostat like a light dimmer switch.
    I've been running my Foredom with a dimmer switch since the 60'due south.
    If you lot buy a Foredom from a reputable seller, yous'll get a real Foredom.
    I haven't seen a apocryphal Foredom tool yet, but some Chinese tools may resemble 1.

    The best files are sold past jeweler's supply houses and are Swiss fabricated, with some really good German made.
    Interestingly, you tin ship good files out to Boggs to be re-sharpened. Sometimes they cut better later sharpening.
    This will allow a good file to last a long time.
    As always, start a file out on brass and cease it's service life on steel. Then have it re-sharpened.

    http://world wide web.boggstool.com/page18.html

13. 

    Ken T Member

    Joined:

    May ane, 2010

    Messages:

    59

    The Harbor Freight dremel type tools work well enough.I've only been exposed to one of the Harbor Freight foredom type tools.It failed early in employ.One the price I accept no problem with buying their dremel blazon tool.A flex shaft attached to bench grinder works simply the rpm is rather low.

14. I have a Dremel and an quondam flex shaft grinder. 90% of the time I take hold of my Harbor Freight ane/viii mirco AIR grinder. The HF air grinder is smaller than the hand piece on the flex shaft grinder making it easier to maneuver than the Dremel (I tin can hold the air grinder like I agree a pencil giving me a lot of control and dexterity). The air hose is a lot easier to move around than the flex shaft grinder. And the price is just about $30.... assuming you already have a compressor.

    I would recommend giving the HF 1/8 air grinder a endeavour before investing a lot of money in a Dremel or Flex shaft grinder.

16. That flexshaft on ebay looks like a pretty good deal to me. Seller rating is skillful and I take had adept luck with returns on ebay if it is a scam.
    Exercise y'all use a grinder enough to always accept a flex shaft grinder out and setup? I never use my flex shaft grinder because information technology is a hassle to get it out and fix it upwards. If you use it a lot and it is always setup this probably wouldnt exist an issue for you.

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Source: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/foredom-dremel-harbor-freight-or-flex-arm-on-a-real-grinder.833248/

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