Picking The Right Flex Shaft For Jewelry

Ever wondered what all you can do with a flex shaft and why you should invest in one? Join Mark Nelson in this Beads, Baubles & Jewels segment as he explains how to utilize this versatile tool and its various attachments for a wide variety of jewelry-making projects.
Rio Grande stands for makers who create with their hands and their hearts and who are courageous enough to make jewelry their livelihood.
Shop some of the suggested products based on those seen in this video:
Foredom® SR Motor Flex Shaft System ow.ly/dh1k50FvZDG
Foredom® EM-1 Manual Dial Speed Control ow.ly/W7Le50FvZKu
Foredom® Flex Shaft Lubrication Kit ow.ly/DAFU50FvZQH
Foredom® MSP12 Tune-Up Kit for SR Motors ow.ly/Dfcw50FvZZO
Flex Shaft Accessory Kit ow.ly/1n9u50Fw0kc
Foredom® Flex Shaft Hanger Stand and Workbench System ow.ly/tQJ550Fw0pS
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[@taylornorman]

I love the foredom flexshaft!! Makes life so easy :)

[@EaselCat]

You need to update these videos. When was this made 1972?

[@RioTechs]

Hi Karla. Some of the items are the following which can be found at Rio Grande Jewlery supply. Flexshaft 117534, bristle disk kit 332597, mandrels 333105, jumpringer 110170, diamond bur set 346064, motor stand 117291, cylinder burs 345869, bur-life 117003, grinding wheels 332191, hammer handpiece 117020, fiber wheels 338123, safety glasses 201054. I hope this is of some help. Mark N Tech

[@RioTechs]

Hi, This unit is great for all of that and more. BUT if you get a jumpringer you will need 117534, the #30 handpiece will fit the cutters, the handpiece from the 117535 will not. I hope this helps and thank you for watching Mark N Tech

[@RadiantJasmin]

It's important to wear a dust mask or respirator as well, to keep those fine particles from getting in your lungs.

[@reneesmom86]

Can u tell me if model # 117535...the 1.7 amp model is sufficient power for general jewelry making...polishing etc...also I'm planning on purchasing the new pepe jumprings maker...so I was wondering if this model will be good for these purposes...thanks...and I love all of your video Mark...thanks so much...

[@eljay0110]

I have a hard time knowing what piece to use for filing and polishing. Like what is the top pieces called for each. I have top pieces but don't know what they're good for.

[@mskarlawebb]

Could you plesae give the info for the attachments you used in the video?

[@glycolic001]

Thanks

[@classicuniquegifts9704]

Can you lower the speed to the flex shaft if it spins too fast for stone setting?

[@RioGrande1944]

Yes, you can! You will just put less pressure on the foot pedal to slow it down.

[@carmenponcedeleon2693]

Hey! What did you mean by “slip”at 6:39?

[@kristinperdue6392]

That’s exactly what I’d like to know! What in the world is “slip”?

[@joannefn2024]

I'd like to soften the edges of the anvil tip that comes with the hammer hand piece. Any suggestions on how to file to soften the edges?

[@RioGrande1944]

Hi, +Joanne Forman! Thanks for asking! Our Jewelry Tech Team recommends using our Dedeco polishing wheels in white. They're course and work very fast. After using them, you can follow up with polish, or you can use a medium polisher and then fine polishers to smooth and polish the ends. This makes quick work and gets them usable very quickly. Here's a link to the white Dedeco polishers on our site. Let us know if we can provide you with any more information! www.riogrande.com/search/go?w=dedeco%20white

[@ChristinaLake]

What bit did you use to engrave metal?

[@RioTechs]

Hi Christina. I use a small ball bur. Either a diamond or steel bur. The diamonds are easier to use but the steel leave a cleaner cut. Plus, the smaller the bur the easier it is, try to keep them 1mm or smaller. Check them out at the links provided. www.riogrande.com/Product/Dentsply-Maillefer-Round-Bur-07mm/342051?Pos=5 www.riogrande.com/Product/Diamond-Ball-Burs/343023?Pos=1 And be sure to you a lubricant like bur life www.riogrande.com/Product/Stick-Bur-Life-Lubricant/117003?Pos=1 Hope this is of some help. Mark N Tech

[@FriaGram]

you bend the duplex spring past the rated angle every time you use it.

[@berniegonzales6120]

what bit is used to make gold look frosted??

[@RioGrande1944]

Hello Bernie, Thanks for your question. There are several ways to get a frosted look with a Foredom. Stones work the best. Run them very fast and move the bit like you are shading with a pencil. It takes practice, but will yield the results you are looking for. Here are some products that our Jewelry Tech Team recommends for this: www.riogrande.com/Product/AdvantEdge-Pink-Aluminum-Oxide-Point-Set/332566 www.riogrande.com/Product/AdvantEdge-White-Arkansas-Point-Set/332578 Hope this helps!

[@addjewelry]

@BruceDaniell2 Maroon?

[@chiragsoni8696]

Hi what is that tool name which can texture on jewellery

[@RioGrande1944]

Hello There! Our Jewelry Tech Team will typically recommend the Foredom® SR Motor with H.30 Handpiece Flex Shaft System kit Item #117534 found here: ow.ly/y5vr30b1Cfg or theForedom® SR Motor with H.20 Quick-Change Handpiece Flex Shaft System item #117535 found here: ow.ly/qEuZ30b1Cpv Hope this helps!

[@CravNCraftN]

My flex shafts is brand new, I have followed the instructions for setting it up. Is it normal for the metal coil right behind the hand held piece to get extremely hot? It was even too hot to touch.

[@RioGrande1944]

Hello, thanks for your question. Is the coil covered?

[@CravNCraftN]

@@RioGrande1944 no, it isn't. Actually I keep the area free of any possibility of that. When I'm working with my flex shaft there is only the piece I'm working on, water container, & my bits.

[@RioGrande1944]

​@@CravNCraftN, Thanks for the additional information. It's normal for the coil to get warm, but not hot. There are a couple of things that can make this happen: a)if the cable is not adjusted properly it can put pressure in the hand piece and increase friction. b) If the hand piece was not attached correctly it could have damaged the key hole in the hand piece which could cause pressure and friction. If neither of these things are happening, then the best thing would be for you to return the flex shaft and have our tech guys look at it. Our customer agents would be happy to help with a return. They can be reached at 800-545-6566, 7am-6pm MT, M-F. Thanks again for commenting, and always feel free to reach out with questions or concerns.

[@CravNCraftN]

@@RioGrande1944 thank you so much. I followed the instructions. Another question though, please. Is the flex shaft 225-01 already lubricated when brand new? There was no mention in the instructions about adding lubricant before first use. Only to hold it in the air completely straight & allow it to run at full speed for 2 minutes which I did.

[@RioGrande1944]

@@CravNCraftN Yes, it is lubricated when brand new.

[@AT-gu8by]

Can you use a hammer hand piece with a SR?

[@RioGrande1944]

Yes you can but you have to keep the RPM low, otherwise it could damage the hammer hand piece. Also, a hammer hand piece can only be used in the forward direction on the SR.

[@AT-gu8by]

@@RioGrande1944 Can you also use the hammer hand piece with gravers, for a SR?

[@handphonesamsung9477]

Theres any electric shock hit U??

[@NNITRED]

Safety first- puts eye protection Show "Seriously......WTF. I got eyes too!"

[@tomthelampy]

yes what a maroon... O.o

[@olliephelan]

Can *anyone* tell me how much a replacement flex-shaft should cost .? Roughly please ? Its for a ProCraft 1/10 HP 220V please , anyone .

[@RioTechs]

Hi Ollie, the closest thing we have to the 1/10hp ProCraft is the 1/8hp Prodigy for about $99us. you can check it out here at this link. www.riogrande.com/Product/Prodigy-Flex-Shaft-System-220-Volts/117095220?Pos=1 Hope this helps, thanks for watching. Mark N Tech

[@olliephelan]

RioTechs Thank you. Im in Ireland and we dont have the selection you guys have in the States . He charged me e9 for the shaft (inner cable) But claimed the engineer said there was something wrong with the hand-piece . It seems fine to me . He sold me a Foredom handpiece for e31 ( + 23% vat) When I connected it , it runs very smoothly (and lighter) but doesnt "CLICK" into place when connecting it , like the old one always did . I actually needed to force it , which I know ye shouldnt need to do . It didnt click into place. Im tempted to put the (supposedly) "faulty" hand-piece back on , but Im wondering if it may have been that , that caused the inner cable to snap

[@RioTechs]

Ollie Phelan hi Ollie, so sorry for the late reply, it seems we missed your question. You might try adjusting the outer sheath to expose less of the shaft, sounds like it might be sticking out just a little too much. You might check out some of the maintenance videos on the Foredom site ( i couldn't find any for the ProCraft). they demonstrate how to adjust the outer sheath which may be the same for the ProCraft. www.foredom.net/foredombasics.aspx Hope this helps. Mark N Tech

[@tucsondog]

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID! I just couldn't help myself...

[@owendaulton9316]

10 years ago, and this is the first like. Forgive me for my childish humor, but if anyone WASN'T thinking it...

[@per_sev]

Maybe it's just me, but if he needs safety glasses, so does she, and anyone else in the vicinity, just like any shop. As he said, it's not uncommon for it to accidentally fling things across the studio.

[@tanaeatlee7989]

This doesn't have any information about the different flex shafts and how to pick between them. Please change the title. This is a video of examples for how to use the flex shaft and some of the different attachments.

[@beckyb8929]

ow your fingers!

[@BruceDaniell2]

The lady is not using safety glasses, even after she mentions that the guy should be wearing them. What a maroon.

[@Artemesia_]

You guys need to be wearing masks. No one needs to be breathing in particulate from things like glass, stone or shell.

[@RioGrande1944]

Thank you for the feedback.

[@marquehulbert172]

Shouldn't she also be wearing glasses?