Got me a new toy! - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Janette · 11-18-2007, 07:32 PM

Went to Woodcraft to use my birthday giftcard from my dad yesterday. Came home with this...

320.jpg

I've been needing a new rotary tool for awhile and wanted to try a flex shaft. The problem I'd been having is all the ones I looked at had big fat "pen" holders. I wanted something slimmer. This also has an attachment for carving and 5 carving blades - which is something else I've been wanting to experiment with. should be fun.

Anyone else have one of these? I need all the help I can get!

Plaquerd · 11-18-2007, 09:33 PM

Janette
I have a "Sears Craftsman" flex shaft that was made by Dremel, I've had it for a long time. You will fine it is a very handy, useful and versatile tool indeed. Mine is hanging above my scroll saw, I use it to drill blade entry holes, grind, polish and sand. Over the years I've collected quit an assortment of attachments for it. The diamond burrs are a real asset and also small steel burrs of different sizes are very handy, as are the sanding drums. You will be glad you got it.
Dave

knothead · 11-19-2007, 12:47 PM

Great purchase. I got the flex shaft last year and it really comes in handy. Can't live without it know.
Tom

Dragon · 11-19-2007, 05:01 PM

I have a Mastercraft with a flex shaft and love it. Been using it for years.
Diane

Forester21 · 11-19-2007, 07:33 PM

How much vibration is there with the flex shaft? I've used the dremel without it, but the vibration gets to my wrist so bad that I can't use it for long.
Theresa

Plaquerd · 11-19-2007, 08:31 PM

Theresa
I don't have a problem with vibration with it. It does vibrate some , but it depends on how agressively you try to remove material. Also the size of the burr or tool you are using will affect the amount it vibrates. Go easy and it should be ok. One of the good points of the flex shaft is the size of the hand piece, it fits the hand much better than a rotory tool with out the flex shaft and is not as fatiguing.
Dave

Forester21 · 11-19-2007, 10:47 PM

Thanks Dave - sounds like this needs to go on my Christmas list!
Theresa

JohnB · 11-19-2007, 10:56 PM

G'day Janette,
I have a cheapy GMC unit. I don't use it much, but when I do I find it indispensable.
It also has a flex shaft with quite a small hand piece.
I've used it for everything from sanding to sharpening Chainsaw chains.

It's one of those machines that I find stays in the box, out of mind until you find a use for it, then you wonder how you would get on without it.

thecopperfish · 11-20-2007, 02:37 AM

I have a dremel with a flex shaft and love it. I've used dremels for years but now that I have the flex shaft I wouldn't be without it. It is so handy and I love the small hand piece.

I'm intrigued with the carving attachments, let us know how you like them.

Chris

minowevie · 11-20-2007, 03:28 AM

buy the way, Happy Birthday, Janette

I have a dremel also, I don't seem to get the flex shaft to work right on mine though. I think i need to hang it or something. but i love the tool. use it on lots of things.
your friend Evie

11-18-2007, 07:32 PM	#1
Janette Intarsia Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 2,110 Blog Entries: 4	Got me a new toy! Went to Woodcraft to use my birthday giftcard from my dad yesterday. Came home with this... 320.jpg I've been needing a new rotary tool for awhile and wanted to try a flex shaft. The problem I'd been having is all the ones I looked at had big fat "pen" holders. I wanted something slimmer. This also has an attachment for carving and 5 carving blades - which is something else I've been wanting to experiment with. should be fun. Anyone else have one of these? I need all the help I can get! __________________ Janette www.square-designs.com

11-18-2007, 09:33 PM	#2
Plaquerd Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northwest New Jersey Posts: 1,371	Janette I have a "Sears Craftsman" flex shaft that was made by Dremel, I've had it for a long time. You will fine it is a very handy, useful and versatile tool indeed. Mine is hanging above my scroll saw, I use it to drill blade entry holes, grind, polish and sand. Over the years I've collected quit an assortment of attachments for it. The diamond burrs are a real asset and also small steel burrs of different sizes are very handy, as are the sanding drums. You will be glad you got it. Dave __________________ Dave "Tight's tight, too tight's broken" www.lakeviewscrollsawing.com

11-19-2007, 12:47 PM	#3
knothead Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: ARIZONA Posts: 720	Great purchase. I got the flex shaft last year and it really comes in handy. Can't live without it know. Tom __________________ Tom ___________________ America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. Abraham Lincoln

11-19-2007, 05:01 PM	#4
Dragon scroller and moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chertsey, Quebec, Canada Posts: 2,421	I have a Mastercraft with a flex shaft and love it. Been using it for years. Diane __________________ Dragon Owner of a Dewalt 788 PuffityDragon on AFSP

11-19-2007, 07:33 PM	#5
Forester21 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,282	How much vibration is there with the flex shaft? I've used the dremel without it, but the vibration gets to my wrist so bad that I can't use it for long. Theresa __________________ Theresa http://WoodNGoods.etsy.com http://woodngoods.blogspot.com

11-19-2007, 08:31 PM	#6
Plaquerd Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northwest New Jersey Posts: 1,371	Theresa I don't have a problem with vibration with it. It does vibrate some , but it depends on how agressively you try to remove material. Also the size of the burr or tool you are using will affect the amount it vibrates. Go easy and it should be ok. One of the good points of the flex shaft is the size of the hand piece, it fits the hand much better than a rotory tool with out the flex shaft and is not as fatiguing. Dave __________________ Dave "Tight's tight, too tight's broken" www.lakeviewscrollsawing.com

11-19-2007, 10:47 PM	#7
Forester21 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,282	Thanks Dave - sounds like this needs to go on my Christmas list! Theresa __________________ Theresa http://WoodNGoods.etsy.com http://woodngoods.blogspot.com

11-19-2007, 10:56 PM	#8
JohnB 1 Tin Soldier Rides Away Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia Posts: 4,859	G'day Janette, I have a cheapy GMC unit. I don't use it much, but when I do I find it indispensable. It also has a flex shaft with quite a small hand piece. I've used it for everything from sanding to sharpening Chainsaw chains. It's one of those machines that I find stays in the box, out of mind until you find a use for it, then you wonder how you would get on without it. __________________ Regards John "The Golden Mile" I got holes in both of my shoes Well I'm a walking case of the blues Saw a dollar yesterday But the wind blew it away Some of my Stuff Retired Medically Unfit WA Police Officers

11-20-2007, 02:37 AM	#9
thecopperfish Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oregon USA Posts: 1,195	I have a dremel with a flex shaft and love it. I've used dremels for years but now that I have the flex shaft I wouldn't be without it. It is so handy and I love the small hand piece. I'm intrigued with the carving attachments, let us know how you like them. Chris __________________ What! There's no coffee?!!

11-20-2007, 03:28 AM	#10
minowevie Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: california Posts: 6,398	buy the way, Happy Birthday, Janette I have a dremel also, I don't seem to get the flex shaft to work right on mine though. I think i need to hang it or something. but i love the tool. use it on lots of things. your friend Evie

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode