I’d like to add a variable speed foot pedal to make my Dremel (with
flex shaft attactment) a little more usable. I vaguely remember a
post or two about using a sewing machine pedal for this purpose, but
I can’t find it in the archives. Can anyone point me in the right
direction to get instructions for this project. It would be most
appreciated!!!
Thanks,
Marjie
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Any jewelry supplier will have 1 or more speed control peddles for
your flexshaft. I would personally NOT buy the cheapest, get a good
one that is even in it’s speed control and should last you a l o n g
time if not a lifetime.
Look into Micro Mark…there are several that will work. I have
their small foot pedals hooked up for the Dremel, as well as on each
Ameritool Flat Lap and the Ameritool Trim Saw. Saves turning on the
switch each time you want to use the item. They are used
constantly…never have had a failure.
If you are electrically inclined, I would suggest wiring a sewing
machine pedal in series with a power strip. If you are not
electrically inclined, I would suggest you find either an
electrician, an electrical engineer, or an amateur radio operator to
do this for you.
Just order one from Richard Lucas. 718-789-1971, or Google Lucas
foot pedal. I just ordered on and it was only $39.00. It was highly
recommended to me as one of the best foot pedals available. You can
also find it on eBay, but it still comes directly from Mr. Lucas.
I found a sewing machine foot pedal to run my dremel through. I
contacted Dremel to make sure about the functions of the tool and
flex shaft. They said It was ok to do as long as the dremel tool was
a single speed tool and not a variable speed tool. Running a
variable speed tool on a variable speed foot pedal would ruin the
motor. Just an FYI
Just do a google search for “Dremel foot pedal” and you can find
tons of them all over, including Amazon. I bought mine for about $15
and it works perfectly. You plug your Dremel into the foot pedal, the
pedal into the outlet, turn your Dremel on full speed and off you go.
Works beautifully and you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Easy
peasy.
a single speed tool and not a variable speed tool. Running a
variable speed tool on a variable speed foot pedal would ruin the
motor. Just an FYI
How odd. The foot pedal I bought was made for a Dremel and I was
told that as long as I left the variable speed Dremel on high, I’d
have no problem with the foot pedal. And I don’t. Just turn it on to
full speed and let the pedal do the work. There’s no logical reason
it would ruin the motor.
What you say is true…BUT if you do not leave the tool on high
speed and forget to make that adjustment or even just don’t check the
speed of the tool you can ruin it. That’s why dremel would not or
could not repair my tool. It is just so much easier to make things
“sailor proof”
michele - your endorsement of a foot pedal for a flex shaft is great
i ordered 6 of them from ebay, $7.95 each, a while ago and in
addition to my flex shafts, i have them connected to my drill press
and 2 trim saws. i didn’t attach any to my cabmates or genie because
of obvious drawbacks (different functions), nor to the 10" saw since
it has to run unattended. ive think more now, regret less later.
Adding the foot pedal will not ruin the motor – AS LONG AS THE
MOTOR IS SET TO RUN AT TOP SPEED. In other words, use only the foot
pedal to control the speed – don’t try to use a combination of foot
pedal and tool speed controls.
here’s a postscript to my ‘add a foot pedal to flexshaft’ post: with
a foot pedal you convert a single speed machine into a multi-speed
one with just foot pressure.
sometimes you might want to top out at a speed, for instance, you
use different speeds to carve wax, wood, white metal, silver with the
same bur, can you then adjust the dremel speed to 5 or 4 or 8 and
then use the footpedal from 0-4, or 0-8??, that would be a
valuable asset, cause you wouldn’t have to pay so much attention to
the foot pressure, i constantly burn materials that way
sometimes you might want to top out at a speed,, for instance, you
use different speeds to carve wax, wood, white metal, silver with
the same bur,,, can you then adjust the dremel speed to 5 or 4 or 8
and then use the footpedal from 0-4,, or 0-8??,,, that would be a
valuable asset, cause you wouldn't have to pay so much attention
to the foot pressure
Sounds like a good idea, but it is not. The foot speed control
varies the power by chopping up the AC current, not by providing a
reduced voltage. The speed control in the Dremel does the same thing.
The Dremel speed control electronic circuit requires an AC current
and can be damaged or malfunction by being fed chopped up AC current
from the foot speed control. With the Dremel speed control set to
maximum, the Dremel electronics are bypassed and all the power goes
to the motor so the Dremel maximum speed setting is safe tor using a
foot speed control.
My Company LUCAS Dental manufactures our #9 LowBoy Variable Speed
Foot Control and the following was given to us by Dremel
when we inquired about our #9 to be used on a Dremel 4000 or any
similar type of motor which already has a variable speed control
built into the motor.
REASON: You cannot use (2) variable speed controllers against each
other…the results will eventually burn out the Lucas #9 and the
motor you are useing, making your tool inoperable and out of
warranty.
Dremel Customer Service: 1-(800)-437-3635 7:00am - 6pm central
time…Monday - Friday for further
can you then adjust the dremel speed to 5 or 4 or 8 and then use
the footpedal from 0-4, or 0-8??,
The Dremel speed control electronic circuit requires an AC current
and can be damaged or malfunction by being fed chopped up AC
current from the foot speed control.
ok then, something else that i have done is to use a dial speed
control made for flexshafts and a pedal together to acheive the same
results as above, might you tell me the safest way that this must be
done???, like i said i am trying to use the pedal in different
situations of carving and sanding where i can control the top speed
and have the pedal go from 0 to that speed, dave
might you tell me the safest way that this must be done????,, like
i said i am trying to use the pedal in different situations of
carving and sanding where i can control the top speed and have the
pedal go from 0 to that speed.
There are two types of foot pedal speed controllers. One is
electronic, the other is a carbon pile foot control. Cheaper foot
petals are carbon pile, can be found online from sewing machine
replacement dealers. These can be used for the purpose you want it
for. Just make sure the amp rating is right.
The good thing and the bad thing is when they go bad, you can smell
it burning. There are carbon pile repair kits. My first flexshafts
came with carbon pile controls.
Richard Hart
Denver, Co.
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