Foredom, Dremel, Harbor Freight, or... Flex arm on a real grinder?

[Mauser lover]

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

I'm looking at gunsmithing tools. Yes, I will be using this for gunsmithing and some light fabricating. No, I will 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 Hazard Fraught advertisement. I realize that I should buy either a Dremel or a Foredom. But, then I had another thought. What am I gaining in either a Dremel or Foredom with a flex shaft that I wouldn't gain in an adjustable speed bench grinder with a flex shaft? I'm thinking... MORE POWER! in a bench grinder (and possibly cheaper too).

I'm already aware of the foot pedal issue. At the moment a Foredom is out of the price range, so I've already given up on the foot pedal. I don't think I'd really like it that much anyway. I'm too fidgety. When I'm TIG welding I pretty much always end up mashing the pedal on the floor, even though I know it isn't proper, because if I don't, I'll try to compensate too much and never get a good enough puddle.

So... any help/experience out there? I'm already familiar with Dremel tools, and know what they are capable of, so if you can use that as the baseline for comparison that would be good.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ilbob]

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

Most times good enough is good enough. HF makes a lot of stuff that is adequate for many tasks, so I would not discount them just because of the low cost.

 

[barnbwt]

No question, Foredom hanged on a taught horizontal overhead chain

 

[BBBBill]

Foredom is the gold standard, but excellent work can be done with a Dremel. They just won't last nearly as long under the same use. Still, unless you are using it every day it will probably fine. I have a Foredom and two 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, but as long as you can get bits and collets that suit your needs I see no reason that it won't work OK. Foot pedals can sometimes be found on ebay for reasonable money. If you are not happy with a foot pedal you still need some way to adjust the speed as full tilt boogie is not always appropriate.

 

[Shimitup]

I have a Proxxon tool that's about 20 yrs old, still going strong. Mine was German made, likely Chinese now. Were I to purchase one again I would go for the Pro model Proxxon with the metal bearing housing and collets. The three jaw chuck on my cheaper one does not center the shanks well and thus does not cut and grind as smoothly as a previous Dremel with a collet system. They sell the Proxxons on Amazon if anyone wants to look.

 

[Mauser lover]

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 day (unless it is more useful than I thought!) but I would like it to last a while. Is the HF Foredom knock-off any less precise than the real deal? Even if it only lasts 1/10 as long, that might be totally sufficient for me, as long as it isn't jumping all over the place.

 

[Blue68f100]

The thing about HF normally you can stop them with your finger, have very little torque. Every now an then you will get one that works, but they don't hold up. It's more expensive having to replace tools than it's normally is to buy quality at the time. OttFrei normally has sales on the Foredom. As a new member buyer when you register they use to give a 10% off discount code for your first order. This is the place to get the swiss files too.

http://www.ottofrei.com/

 

[Mauser lover]

Ooohhh...

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

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

 

[beag_nut]

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

 

[Blue68f100]

Ooohhh...

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

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

I find that I use files more often than the Foredom for some task. Why Swiss ?

The world's standard for quality and performance! Glardon-Vallorbe Swiss Made Precision files are manufactured by Usines Metallurgiques de Vallorbe (UMV) to precise production standards, using a combination of machine cutting and hand craftsmanship to produce the most accurate, best cutting, and longest-lasting files in the world. Formerly marketed in the United States using the brand names Grobet-Swiss and Grobet-Vallorbe, Glardon-Vallorbe Swiss Made Precision Files are made of the finest heat-tempered, chrome alloy steel and have the "right" feel, action and balanced desired by all true craftsmen. Glardon-Vallorbe Swiss Made Precision Files deliver superior performance on all metals. Simply the best you can buy! Insist on Genuine Swiss Made files from Glardon-Vallorbe.

They have a full selection with some hard enough to cut carbide. I have a few of those but have not used them on carbide yet. I have #2 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 most.

 

[BBBBill]

what is a swiss file?

As Blue68F100 noted - "The world's standard for quality and performance!"
Even Nicholson files are no longer made here in the states, but now made in Mexico. It's not that it's Mexico. It's that they don't hold up as well any more. They are just not the same quality.

 

[dfariswheel]

Foredom sell bench top rheostats to control the speed.
Many people prefer the bench top version since you just turn 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 touch when working on rings and other jewelry.

The most useful of the Foredom hand pieces is the #30 with a Jacobs chuck.

I got my Foredom flex shaft in watchmakers school in the late 60's.
It's been heavily used for watchmaking, professional gunsmithing, and hobby work of all sorts.
I've even used it as an expedient lathe to turn small gun pins and plungers by using a file.
It's still in perfect shape and I only replaced the shaft sheath years ago "just in case" it was wearing..... it 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's.
If you buy a Foredom from a reputable seller, you'll get a real Foredom.
I haven't seen a counterfeit Foredom tool yet, but some Chinese tools may resemble one.

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

http://www.boggstool.com/page18.html

 

[Ken T]

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 use.One the price I have no problem with buying their dremel type tool.A flex shaft attached to bench grinder works but the rpm is rather low.

 

[MikeInOr]

I have a Dremel and an old flex shaft grinder. 90% of the time I grab my Harbor Freight 1/8 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 can hold the air grinder like I hold 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 only about $30.... assuming you already have a compressor.

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

 

[Mauser lover]

I have a Dremel and an old flex shaft grinder. 90% of the time I grab my Harbor Freight 1/8 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 can hold the air grinder like I hold 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 only about $30.... assuming you already have a compressor.

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

Now there's a thought... I'll look into that.

On counterfeit Foredoms...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/6mm-S-R-Ha...892039&hash=item1a38057cc6:g:WdcAAOSwPAxaAmf2

What do ya'll think? I think this one smells funny!

 

[MikeInOr]

That flexshaft on ebay looks like a pretty good deal to me. Seller rating is good and I have had good luck with returns on ebay if it is a scam.
Do you use a grinder enough to always have a flex shaft grinder out and setup? I never use my flex shaft grinder because it is a hassle to get it out and set it up. If you use it a lot and it is always setup this probably wouldnt be an issue for you.