Flex Shaft vs Dremel Rotary Tool Review for use with Lapidary Cabachons and Jewelry (or general use)

[@SquirrelsForAll]

Thank you so very, very much for creating and sharing. This was exceptionally beneficial and helped me to decide on purchasing a flex-shaft. Great advice from a true champ!

[@lionheartglass]

This video was so helpful and I am about to make a workstation out of an old aquarium as soon as I can make it out to my shop today. Thank you so much. I hope you are having a wonderful day 😊

[@eightkindsofblue]

Great breakdown. I had. I idea about the warranty info. Soooo helpful - thank you!!

[@felixf5211]

This came up in my feed. Enjoyed the video. I own and use 5 flexshafts including the HFT and the Foredom SR counterfeit, as in the video. The main drawback of either unit is the pedal. Admittedly, the HFT pedal is even worse than the one that comes with the SR and most other Chinese flexshafts. The HFT motor/shaft are pretty sold, given the price and the performance. I'd strongly suggest upgrading the pedals on both machines to genuine Foredom. The difference is not subtle. FWIW, my primary machine is a Foredom TX with Foredom's optional metal pedal. Foredom's plastic pedal is more affordable and works very well. Good luck.

[@JW-fb5us]

I looked at every review I could find and YOU had the best information. THANKYOU! I'm just starting out with jewelry,maybe.:) I have a couple dremmel said but I wanted a flex shaft. My dremmel is old

[@JW-fb5us]

Do you know if the SR flex shaft will use a after market quick release head? ( so you don't need a key) I'd like a smaller head than the SR.

[@felixf5211]

@@JW-fb5us The counterfeit SR, as in the video, can fit all handpieces including the quick-release. Both Foredom and the counterfeit handpieces. A genuine Foredom SR, OTOH, will not fit the counterfeit handpieces...most of the time.

[@ericmichel3857]

Hi, good tips! Are you sure about that lifetime warranty? Because the website says two years, and I cannot find any other reference about a lifetime warranty for Dremel. It seems like a lifetime warranty on a power tool would be a really bad idea (for them). I ask because I am wondering if your failed tool was perhaps fairly new and they just give the benefit of the doubt that it was within the two year period? Because I have a 15 year old model that has long since been retired. It just fail and I was about to throw it away, unless you really think I can get that repaired or replaced FOC if I send it in?

[@TwoManyProjects]

Yes, I'm positive that they had a life time warranty. I have sent tools into them that are more than 10 years old and they sent them back working with a note stating what it took to fix them. HOWEVER, My most recent tool I sent back was a model they no longer made... so they returned it stating I would have to purchase the newer model because they no longer carry the parts to fix the one I'd sent in.. that was very, very disappointing. So, it could be the warranty has changed.. or it could be it's for the life of the model (when it's discontinued or upgraded, they no longer service the older models). This incident was a first and happened only two months back.

[@waynepowell567]

Good to know. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@letmexplainyou]

I can see that you have loads of xp using rotary tools where i just started. My only question, if you would be so kind to answer it would be: Do flex shaft put more pressure on the tool, or it's actually the opposite? Though, using common sense, swinging and rotating cord in a tube must add up to the heat due to the friction that causes...? Can you, please, share your opinion. Thanks! :) Also, since you are using lots of those "small things" attached, would you make a video sometimes showing and explaining where should we use those not-so-common additions and common as well... Thank you for the information you shared so far! Fish tanks is amazing! It happens that I have one in a shed collecting dust!!

[@TwoManyProjects]

Well, if you're using a dremel, that's the only one I can think of that was made to be a dremel and the flex shaft added. It shouldn't put stress on the tool and quite honestly, might make it more versatile and last longer, since you'll have the dremel hanging and out of the way of dust and other debris. I will say, getting a flex shaft, if that's what you need is well worth the investment right away instead of playing with the dremels and other rotary tools. But if you've got a rotary and have a cheap way of getting a shaft, try it out! The shafts can be finiky meaning these might not be that strong and break pretty often if it's from Harbor Freigt.

[@letmexplainyou]

@@TwoManyProjects Hey, thanks for replying/ I have been using a tool that is Chinese and I got it for like 30$ with like 200+ small "parts" for almost everything you can do with the tool. Also got a flex shaft 1m long with it and it's amazing, you were right. Using flex-shaft seems to take over some power from the tool but you were right that there won't be heat. Honestly, I don't have Dremel to compare to this Chinese version of the rotary tool but, looking at the website and comparing prices, a box I got for 30$ would cost me somewhere around 200-250$ buying Dremel parts! I m sure that some parts are probably better at the Dremel but parts a got with this Chinese version and I tried every segment, to me looks awesome! I mean, polishing stone is a polishing stone, I bet there is a finer one than these I got, but for almost 10th of a price I got a tool I can use and if it dies after even a month can buy another for 30$ and I would be good 400+ parts! Parts I didn't get are metal cutters, I found some for 3$ - 5 pieces! And I would really like to buy those pyramid-like drills and those strange shape drills for wood. I would really like those :) And just an idea... I m not sure but I think you said that polishing cloth-like parts are really expensive? Well, try buying floor protectors that go on chair legs and other furniture. put two together, drill a hole or just add them with your hand depending on how hard they are and you got like cloth part for like a penny :) Thanks for the informative video. Wish I got this amazing tool a long time ago :)

[@MikeG-js1jt]

If you bought some fine diamond powder, you could use that on regular felt wheels cheap!............ just mix the powder with a thin oil...

[@TwoManyProjects]

Yes. Olive oil works well for that and this is how a friend finished up his cabs was using diamond paste / powders and mixing it with oil.

[@scottbenson8105]

Just buy a Foredom foot piece for the Chicago electric and that should work

[@TwoManyProjects]

Great idea! Still would not have reverse but that's a great idea