Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
A welcome voice mail (gloat)
Mike Schwing from Md.
>From Woodcraft on my office voice mail. "Your Foredom Deluxe Woodcarving Kit has arrived."
SWEET! Up till now all of my rotary carving has been done with the Dremel 400XPR and a flex shaft.
This will be quite an upgrade. SWEET!
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?DeptID=2209&FamilyID=933
Re: A welcome voice mail (gloat)
William
>Pretty nice Mike!
I have the same dremmel. I was contemplating getting some bits for that very use. How did it do?
William
Re: A welcome voice mail (gloat)
Mike Schwing from Md.
>Hey that Dremel was/is great. The Dremel flexshaft is limited in collet size to 1/8", so I bought a Weecher flex shaft with 3 different collets. I use a lot of 1/16" and even some smaller bits. It worked very well but the bearings are a bit sloppy.
The handpieces can produce significant vibration and after a lot of use your fingers will vibrate long after you put it down. Can't be good for the nerves. The Foredom I used was smooth as silk.
For someone like me who is just getting started in carving the Dremel with flexshaft worked just great.
Re: A welcome voice mail (gloat)
Robert Cox
>From my experience on race bikes years ago, I highly recommend the 90 degree handle.
If you find yourself wishing for a little different angle it may help.
Although mine only held the smaller bit. Which was OK because I was in a tighter place when I needed it.
Re: A welcome voice mail (gloat)
William
>Thanks Mike, good to know. After I get some time on the new lathe, I will be exploring some tangents to try. Carving being one of them.
William
Re: A welcome voice mail (gloat)
Don Evans
>I didn't know the 400xpr had only one collet?
The more I learn about this model the more I don't like it and the more I don't understand in Dremel's thinking with it.
I have two of the regular models (3 collets) both with flexshafts and I've adapted a machinist dial magnetic base for one of them.
The other hangs above the lathe with two pulleys that takes the holding cord over to the wall where there is a counter weight attached. Works great.
I also have one of the high speed carvers so I cannot see the Foredom in the near future but the smoother running you talk about does sound nice but it's lot of money unless I have to start carving with it all day long.
Any additional comments relating to this appreciated, maybe I'll change my mind.
Don
Re: A welcome voice mail (gloat)
Ed Kelle
>Sounds great! So I assume that 1/8 hp system is really all that is necessary, no need to really go for the big 1/4 or 1/3 setups.
I didn't notice but are the speeds of the Foredom adjustable like a Dremel? And I guess having reversing directions is handy too? But I assume that only works well with carbide burrs not those that I am used to with my Dremel.
I hope you give us some insights into this after you use it a bit. Good luck Mike!
It's not the tool....
ChuckS
>It's how you use it.
Show us more pics!!
You'll love the Foredom.
Re: A welcome voice mail (gloat)
Mark Kauder. Phenix City, AL
>Good news, Mike. Now you can do some really strange stuff.
Hey, I got a Woodcraft flyer today and then had a 15% off on it. Going for $220.99. But is not effective until Saturday. Did you get that price or better.
Good luck. Have Fun.
Mark
Re: A welcome voice mail (gloat)
Mike Schwing from Md.
>Ed, more power is always better. BUT, I can't really imagine needing more than the 1/8th unit because I really like using my Arbortech grinder to hog off waste - which is where I'd need the higher power unit in the Foredom. Hogging of waste can be a chore with a rotary tool, and if it was the only tool I had I'd probably have gone for the bigger one.
BUT, since I buy my tools from Woodcraft, if I find them lacking or wanting an upgrade, I can return it to the store for a full credit against the next, higher powered one.
