One model I'm considering is a "Swiss made technique quick change
handpiece" from Otto Frei Company. It's supposed to be comparable
to the Techno-x handpiece. Does anyone have experience with this
model or other similar models? I'm concerned about the long term
ability to hold burs etc
I loved the original Techno-X. There are two replacements out that
I’m aware of. One is the swiss model you mention, another is an
american made somewhat similar copy of the techno-X, made in the
U.S.A., and available from Contenti. Costs less too.
I’ve got both the swiss one and the U.S. made one. Frankly, though
they’re both nice, neither one is quite the equal of the original,
despite the fact that both say they’ve made improvements. It’s true
that both have good ideas added to improve, such as the fact that the
USA one uses a hex socket head screw inside the chuck to tighten and
loosen, rather than the original slotted screw driver head. the hex
key version is easier to use, and keys are easily available, instead
of needing the teensy little driver supplied only with the
handpiece.
The big problem I have with both replacements is in the chuck
itself. In both cases, the diameter of the basic bore of the chuck is
a tad tight. Thus, though the jaws themselves open up wide enough,
some of my burs jam into the inside of the chuck instead of sliding
all the way down to be held just by the jaws as they should. this is
quite annoying. One of these days I’ll get annoyed enough to mount
the chuck in something to allow me to ream it out a tad larger
inside, perhaps with a diamond bit or something.
In all these types, as with several other quick change types, the
chucks are adjustable for tightness and to allow you to adjust it as
the chuck wears down. And they’re replaceable when they wear down too
much for the adjustment to still take up the slack. So the long
term stuff isn’t much of a concern, as you can deal with that. More
of a concern is the fact that with these, as well as some other quick
change handpieces, sometimes the range of diameter that supposedly
3/32 shank bits come in is a good deal wider than one would expect.
With a #30 handpiece, it doesn’t matter of course, since you can grip
anything. With the quick change types, some occasional burs and
attachments will be too far out of spec to be held in the chuck. If
you use mostly the busch or similar types of burs, you’ll never have
a problem, as these are very uniform and precise. But some of the
various attachments like made in india plated brass shank bristle
brushes, for example, can vary enough to be a problem sometimes.
And oddly, many Spearhead brand high speed setting burrs are also
sometimes a problem. I don’t buy spearhead burs any more in any
case. their quality has gone right down the tubes, with new burs
often having quite incompletely cut teeth. But a few other brands of
otherwise good HSS burs also sometimes are a tight fit in my quick
change handpieces. Some of the Dedeco goldies, for example…
I’d still recommend the Techno style handpiece, as it’s comfortable,
and the ball bearings in the lever, which mean that loosening the
chuck while the thing is still turning won’t do damage, outweighs the
occasional annoyance of a bur not fitting (for which I’ve still got
the #30). If you don’t like this problem, then the other handpiece
I’d recommend is the Faro type. Now also sold by 46ordom, though I
forget the number… While the Faro isn’t perhaps as sturdy over the
long term, it’s also fairly easy to repair/rebuild, and so long as
you make a habit of not using the lever as a brake for the handpiece,
it will last a very long time.
There’s another out there, also now sold by Fordom, which uses a
lever that you push in towards the body of the handpiece. Forget the
name. But bought one on ebay as part of a larger lot. it’s a piece
of junk. Not recommended. At least, not if the other stock versions
are anything like this thing I got… Uncomfortable, and the push in
lever is harsh and grating feeling, and hard to use. And the
bearings aren’t as quiet as they should be either.
Badeco also has a new handpiece out. Very pricey. Uses a chuck
that you twist to open and close. No lever. This is one slick
running handpiece. Cool, quite, no vibration, comfortable, runs
true, and runs like the proverbial swiss watch. But as near as I can
tell, it’s got the narrowest grip range of the lot, with more burs
being oversize or undersize for it’s jaws than with the techno. But
I’ve only seen one example (at Frei and Borel’s exhibit at the SNAG
show), so this may not be all of them. Still, of the several HSS
burs I tried it in, 2 didn’t fit in… if you use mostly the alloy
steel types like Busch or Maillot (sp) or the like, then you might
love this handpiece. Otherwise…
Hope that helps.
Peter