Who has a Foredom?

[Four Paws]

Well, there was a decent thread started about porting tools on another site, but it seems as if interest has died off there. Figured I would ask the crew over here who has a Foredom? What model, what hand pieces, and what are your thoughts about it? Seems as if they are the only way to go if one plans to do any amount of port work. They are a hefty investment, however, like any good tool, they will pay off in productivity and longevity. My dremel and HF stone kit got me through my first cylinder, but lets say it was slow going at the least. Been thinking about ponying up the scratch for a TX series - anyone use one? Could I get by with less power? For the few extra bucks it costs to upgrade to the TX, it seems worth it.

 

[Scooterbum]

I have some nephews who do a lot of buffing work on bikes.What they ended up with was a flex shaft setup that they can hook up to just about any motor.It is a lot more versatile.They use it with up to a 2HP motor for real grunt work.
My Foredom lasted about 2 weeks in their hands and was smoked.All for a lot less money as they already had a few motors laying around at the time.

 

[Lakeside53]

I have one.. Nice, 30 years old, so model probably doesn't help but it looks pretty much like the new units. I just bought a real nice air die grinder... IR302 and a set of carbide burrs.

You really can't have just one tool... another addiction....

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I have an older one, probably similar to Lakes, Olite bushings, foot speed control witch I dont use and I have the hand piece that gets very hot after a few minutes of use.




For certain jobs its indespencable (?) but it isint for every occasion.





If anyone has a hand piece they want to part with please let me know.

 

[Sprig]

When I had a choice to buy a foredom or dremmel flex-shaft setup for my carving work I ended up opting for the hanging Dremmel (model 732,1/5th hp@22,000RPMs) as, among other considerations, it offered a 2yr warrantee (as opposed to Fordom's 1yr), pretty much the same performance (not the power though) and at a cost for a complete system (flexshaft, foot peddle (highly recomended addition as it offers great control for speed) and hand piece, and a wide variety of bits) on par with the cost of just the Foredom motor. I do tend to wear out the pencil hand pieces (sealed bearings, non-replacable) and when I replace my next one I'm going to also get the larger hand piece which has replacable bearings (recc'd) for heavier material removal. Foredoms have (had?) a great reputation and I know several people who use them fulltime but I have been very pleased with my choice and it has not let me down in the 6yrs I'ved used it, though at times I wish it had more power. Cost was a big factor as I said. Really like the idea in one of the above posts about adapting a shaft for larger motors btw. For working metal the reostat foot control is a must if you don't want to cook the work, my first peddle setup on an old dentist's motor/flexshaft (scary slow (about 12,000RPM, 1/2hp) but very well built, forget the name but it was used up into the '60's) was from an old sewing machine, I had to modify the end of the shaft to clip in a dremmel hand piece. The ceiling in my studio/trailer is full of hooks so I can move it around to where I want to work and I bagged it in a sheepskin car washing glove (fur inside), that I slotted for air, to keep out fine dust, it hangs on copper core house wire. For those not liking to use a foot controller (RBW) I suggest an inline lighting reostat if you want constant speed control, cheap and works well.
My blathering 0.02$ for the morning, time for another cup o' jo.

 

[Lakeside53]

I have an older one, probably similar to Lakes, Olite bushings, foot speed control witch I dont use and I have the hand piece that gets very hot after a few minutes of use.


If anyone has a hand piece they want to part with please let me know.

Hey, Ignore RBW... I need another handpiece too. Mine gets hotter then his.. I need to buy another...

 

[Sprig]

Hey, Ignore RBW... I need another handpiece too. Mine gets hotter then his.. I need to buy another...

LOL, no help from me all my hand pieces are fried too What do they charge down there for a new one? My lightweight ones run 70$cdn and the heavy duty ones are around 120$. Do yours not have replacement bearing kits? Have you tried Duralube's high speed teflon grease yet? Just curious.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

I have a Foredom S series. This comes with a foot pedal and top RPM of 18,000. Mine came as a kit with the straight hand-piece. With a good carbide bit most porting work goes well at about 4-5000 rpm.

The 90 degree hand-piece I got from C.C.Specialty (http://www.ccspecialtytool.com/). They have all the necessary carbide and sanding bits you need. The 90 degree hand-piece that is pictured s crews onto a handle that will take a variety of angled heads. All told I have about $600 into all this.

This all came about because I needed to straighten out some bad porting that I thought was done right. Anyway I think it is a good investment!!!

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Mine gets hotter then his..

No it dosent!



I burned straight through my hand with mine, I cant even type now.

 

[Sprig]

No it dosent!



I burned straight through my hand with mine, I cant even type now.

*passes RBW some crazy glue and bottle of Wiser's*

Dratnabbit, all I ever done was bore a 1/64th 1/2" deep hole in my forefinger with a dental bit, dint even hurt for about 30 seconds, hm, lotta blood in fingers...........

 

[Mr.]

I got one too, but I just need a new 90 degree handpiece. Will trade brand new straight piece for good 90 degree.:hmm3grin2orange:

Fred

 

[buck futter]

I have a Foredom S series. This comes with a foot pedal and top RPM of 18,000. Mine came as a kit with the straight hand-piece. With a good carbide bit most porting work goes well at about 4-5000 rpm.

The 90 degree hand-piece I got from C.C.Specialty (http://www.ccspecialtytool.com/). They have all the necessary carbide and sanding bits you need. The 90 degree hand-piece that is pictured s crews onto a handle that will take a variety of angled heads. All told I have about $600 into all this.

This all came about because I needed to straighten out some bad porting that I thought was done right. Anyway I think it is a good investment!!!

Rich,
I know who you are talking about but what saw was it, what was done wrong and what did you do to fix it?

Thanks

Buck

 

[manual]

I have a stright air pencil die grinder
and am getting the 90 degree one.(on order) cost for each is about $130.00

 

[Lakeside53]

ya mean like this??

This is the IR302 - made in Japan, about $120 mail order; You can get the IR301, made in Taiwan, for aout $59.

 

[klickitatsacket]

I think he means like these...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/klickitat/newparts_4066.jpg

If you have the air compressor; I think the pencil grinders are the only way to go. The Blue point grinders ahve speeds up to 60k.

 

[blis]

I think he means like these...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/klickitat/newparts_4066.jpg

If you have the air compressor; I think the pencil grinders are the only way to go. The Blue point grinders ahve speeds up to 60k.

you´re saying that not everyone has a compressor? :jawdrop:

 

[manual]

I think he means like these...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/klickitat/newparts_4066.jpg

If you have the air compressor; I think the pencil grinders are the only way to go. The Blue point grinders ahve speeds up to 60k.

Yes just like that.

 

[04ultra]

Yes just like that.

That looks like the one Harbor Freight sells...







.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Rich,
I know who you are talking about but what saw was it, what was done wrong and what did you do to fix it?

Thanks

Buck

I have 2-Husky 346's, 2-Dolmar 7900's, 1-Husky 357 and 1-Redmax 3100 that were built by this builder. All the saws except the Redmax were tore done due to rough porting work and wrong squish clearances. The Redmax was left alone because the case and jug are one-piece and I didn't want to create any air leaks. The saws seem to run better...........and I know exactly what the port timing is and the squish clearances are!

 

[manual]

That looks like the one Harbor Freight sells...
.

Yea Harbor fright sell them. The guys at work don't have much luck with them.
A guy owed money on his tool payment so I picked this one up for 50 bucks.
came from the Cornwell tool truck same as the blue point one sells for 129.00
I priced the 90 degree one last week cost 10 bucks more.