Flexshaft speed control

Jewelry Discussion
1

Dear all,

I recently got myself a proper flexshaft (foredom type) with a pedal
speed control. I also purchased a badeco hammer hand pie ce, but I am
a bit reluctant to use it as I have a lot of trouble keeping my revs
under 3000 and am worried about ruining it. Have any of you come
across kit to limit your motor’s RPM? I’ve looked for reduction gears
but have not been able to find anything, what else is available out
there or have any of you come up with creative solutions to this
problem?

Thanks
Chris Penner

2

Chris

I was in Buffalo over the last weekend…and Foredom have come out
with a great speed control desk-top reducer…give them a call…I
used in two of my seminars and they are real fantastic! They will
prevent you from exceeding the foot pedal speed as well as the manual
set-up also. The Bedaco hammer is my one and only favourite hammer in
my stock of tools…

Gerry!

3 
I recently got myself a proper flexshaft (foredom type) with a
pedal speed control. I also purchased a badeco hammer hand pie ce,
but I am a bit reluctant to use it as I have a lot of trouble
keeping my revs under 3000 and am worried about ruining it.

You might want to talk to the folks you bought your flexshaft from,
because you should be able to run it dead slow with no trouble at
all.

Noel

4

Chris,

Foredom sells a table top reostat for doing just what you want. I
have one and really like using it for the same reason. I just can’t
control the foot pedal at the correct rpm.

jennifer friedman
http://www.jenniferfriedmanstudio.com

5

Chris,

Fischers sell a 4:1 speed reduction drive which fits between the
flexdrive and the handpiece. Part ref 3622r at
http://www.goldschmiedebedarf.de/catalog

regards
mike kersley

6

A piece of an old mold wedged into the foot petal always worked for
me.

Jeff
Demand Designs
http://www.gmavt.net/~jdemand

7

Do you have a Foredom type flexshaft or a Foredom? I know that my
Foredom can be controlled with either a foot pedal or a hand dial
set up. There is an interrupt in the line going from the motor to the
controlling device, i.e. either the foot pedal or hand dial,
interchangeable. If your machine does not have that kind of a set
up, you could add a three prong male plug to the wire exiting the
motor, a female from the foot pedal, and get a hand controller from
Foredom that already terminates in a three prong female plug. Check
with Foredom to make sure that they are compatible.

8

We use a Dremel speed control in place of the foot pedal on one of
our Foredoms, it’s for an operation where we keep the speed constant
so we don’t need or want the variable speed once it’s set.

Nicholas Carter and Felice Luftschein
www.cartertools.com/nfhome.html

9 
You might want to talk to the folks you bought your flexshaft from,
because you should be able to run it dead slow with no trouble at
all.

Noel is right, you should have great control with the right foot
pedal. I was having problems with the one my fordom came with, I
thought it was just me, but then I asked around and discovered many
jewelers using the Lucas foot control, so I got one and love it.
otto frei part number: 134.323

10

Hi Gang,

Here’s a trick I found relative to flexshaft foot controls that
works well for me. Try it it may work for you.

When I want close control of the flexshaft speed I take off my shoe
or sandal. You’d be surprised at how much better your can control the
speed either barefoot or with just a sock between your foot & the
pedal.

Dave.

11 
Here's a trick I found relative to flexshaft foot controls that
works well for me. Try it it may work for you.

Here’s another–

I like to place the pedal so that the arch of my foot is resting on
the hinge part, and control the speed with my heel. What this does
is allow you to rest the weight of your foot (leg) on the solid back
of the pedal, and shift position slightly to press the pedal. It is
much less tiring because you don’t actually press on the pedal, you
just shift the weight of your foot.

This doesn’t work on the pedals that are a little square box with
the pedal sticking out of it.

Noel

12

Just to follow up - after many helpful comments, I too k the option
of wiring up my motor through an old lighting dimmer switch (before
the foot pedal). My hammer handpiece now works a treat, with no
danger
of over revving. I then managed to set some very acceptable rivets.
Thanks for everyone’s help.

CP