Hey gang,
I’m looking at buying a micro motor before the end of the year. What do you guys recommend?
I’d rather not spend ALL the money, but I also don’t want to get a Chinese thing that will die soon. I will be using it for stone setting.
I have a pendant motor for rough sanding and shaping. I actually have two pendant motors and one has a hammer handpiece so I don’t really need that function for the micro motor.
Really appreciate any advice based on what you have found you like.
I have the same desire and will be following this conversation…Rob
I’ll be curious to hear what others say as well.
I bought the Foredom 1040 on sale at a trade show a while ago. Since then, there’s way more models of micromotors from numerous manufacturers.
When I bought the 1040, its main selling point was that it has high torque, which is helpful for cutting seats for stone setting and general grinding & polishing. I actually didn’t realize when I bought it that that the 1040 can’t accommodate a hammer handpiece. I was disappointed, but I’ve got a flex shaft hammer handpiece that works well, so I got over that.
One big surprise is that I prefer to use my micromotor without the foot control. I like choosing a speed with the dial. I feel like it gives me more precise control. Over all I really like my Foredom 1040, but I’m not sure that I could rationalize paying what it costs today.
There’s so many choices with micromotors. It will be great to see what other folks have to say!
So I reached out to the folks at New Approach school and they recommended this one.
I also heard from multiple people that they like the little portable foredom.
So like all things, many opinions, no clear answers which makes sense. I’ll probably hold off and hope I run into one at a garage sale for now 
Cheers!
Brennan- It depends on how large the volume of stone setting work you will be doing. Amazon has the Marathon 3 micro motor for just under $70.00. The great advantage of the micro motor is that you can reverse the spin. I find this very helpful when trying to cut a seat on small prongs or for anything that I’m afraid that my burr will travel to and scar places that I don’t it want to. Even though the burr is supposed to cut in one direction when you reverse the spin it can help establish the seat on a prong. We do have a very expensive micro motor that mostly gets used for large gems and pave projects.
Thank you!
Jo,
I’ve never heard of reversing the spin backwards with a setting bur to establish a seat! I’ve got to try that. It’s the opposite of what I’ve been taught. My mind is blown!! Thanks for that tip.
Jeff
I have seen this in several videos.
Including Gerry Lewis’s videos I believe.
Sorry, I meant Gerry Lewy.
You bought a flexshaft hammer hand piece.
How do you use it if it will not work on your Foredom 1040
I have a Dremel brand… the motor hangs from a hook and has a flexshaft. Works like Foredom would… Have used it seven years. Would like a Foredom eventually … the model strong enough for the hammer handpiece.
As you can see my knowledge on motors, flex shafts, hammer hand pieces is limited. Will you kindly enlighten me? Thanks!
Flexshafts are pendant motors, generally all the same besides the small technical specs. A motor connected to a handpiece via a “flexible shaft”.
These can usually run a hammer action handpiece like the foredom does.
The micro motor is totally different technology. The motor itself is INSIDE the handpiece. So there is no heavy shaft on its tail. These are sold as a base that provides power and is the control point and the handpiece(s). I think Jeff purchased a base that does not support a handpiece that does hammering. Some bases do and some don’t.
Confusing!!
Badeco(Swiss) and NSK(Japanese) are supposed to of top quality, but they cost an arm and a leg if I remember correctly.
Spend time going to different websites and reading the descriptions of the various models. Think about what you have done and hope to do in the future. Look at your budget and then decide. For what is worth, I have two Foredom flexshafts. One is about 45 years old and still going strong as it the #30 handset that I bought with it. Is has a high and low speed with different gears and lots of torque to run my hammer tool which is about 30 years old. The newer one is reversible and I use it for all kinds of tasks to include running a jumpringer. A flex shaft is one of the best investments that you can make. I am looking at a micromotor, but I really don’t need one. I don’t set faceted stones, but I can see their worth in stone setting, especially because they can be easily reversed. Good luck and come back with specific questions…Rob
As Brennan and Rob have said this is a big topic.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but it sounds like your main goal is to use a hammer hand piece. Is that correct?
I’d encourage you to use the forum search feature. Flex shafts vs micromotors, flex shafts vs Dremel tools, hammer handpieces are very popular forum search questions. There’s also books and endless YouTube videos. Melissa Muir does a lot of how to videos for Foredom and other manufacturers. She’s an excellent source of information.
For instance, here’s bunch of threads about hammer handpieces:
https://orchid.ganoksin.com/search?q=hammer%20handpiece
I’m a big believer in purchasing equipment as you need it. What are the goals that you hope to accomplish with a new flex shaft and hammer hand piece?
Jeff
Hi,
When i was shopping for a micromotor, someone in Rio Grande tech support spoke highly of the Saeshin brand model that they carry…
It looks like they carry 2 models now…i think it was the $699 model.
you could call tech support…
the most important considerations for me, and the problem i was trying to solve were fighting the flexshaft whip and handpiece ergonomics…size/ diameter/ length/ weight/ balance/ quickchange operation (lever vs twist)
i also though about “brush versus brushless”…
(brushless motor is in the handpiece…therefore handpiece is bigger diameter)
NSK EMax Evo has an optional torque multiplier/ speed reducer attachment (but it does increase the length/ weight/ balance of the handpiece)
(it is pricey, i did not invest in it, but did later have the opportunity of using it during a GRS class at their training center…i did not feel that i needed the extra torque…for the time being🤣)
(I have the NSK Emax)
good low end speed control/ finesse, with adequate torque…smooth…less “grabby”
overkill for me, but then again most things are🤣
julie
I’ve owned two Foredom K1040 Micromotors. They work fine but a year or two of daily use and they show their age and mostly plastic. Performed great with few to no glitches but the wire that plugs handpiece to head/brain was cheaply assembled and I had to fix a bunch of time. It’s just a clamp nut that will work loose no matter what you do. I was keeping my flexshaft to use hammer handpiece but being an RV’er got tired of constantly setting it up for small tasks as it was gnerally in the way. Not having 100% confidence in the Foredom I switched to an NSK EVOlution.
NSK EVOlution is definitely a step up. All metal hand piece with better crafted connections. Got the hammer handpiece that works for me albeit underpowered compared to the Badeco flexshaft version. In fact the rotary handpiece not as strong as the Foredom either so I just upgraded to the high torque version and much better!
Would I recommend the NSK over Foredom or similar? Yes and no. Quality is clearly better but it’s almost 3x the price; $1900 for basic. Another $600 for hammer handpiece and another $800 for the high torque motor. I did have one issue with hammer hand piece as I neglected to oil a couple times and it sat for a few weeks and I could not turn the adjustment barrel. I was easily able to get in contact with NSK help and had a phone call and some advice and was able to loosen up. Great guys! Foredom CS was always iffy IME.
Final thoughts. Look at the Badeco. Badeco are made for jewelry industry and just a bit more than NSK. NSK are built for light industrial and do work fine but as you see I have to spend significant $$$ to get high torque for serious grinding. Foredom also works great as well but not as robust and figure a 5 year daily use tool as compared to many years with NSk and Badeco.
I LOVE micromotors and am so glad to be rid of a flexshaft!
Good luck!
Hi,
look into “brush versus brushless”…brushless has the motor in the handpiece, therefore handpiece is “beefier”…thicker
also…i “think” brushless costs more than brush…
julie
They both have the motor in the handpiece.
The difference is that one has “brushes” of graphite or other to route the power to the rotor/magnetic field.
The brushless has a microchip controlled activation of the magnetic field and as such do not have any other wear than the bearings.
PS: The old stationary AC motors was also brushless as they are inductively charging the rotor, but a completely different breast all together 