Chinese foredom accessories

[Jo]

Having brought a second hand Foredom with only one hand piece I decided to invest in a Chinese rip off  of a No 30 hand piece. I know it is a copy but they even copy the box 

So the internal drive slot would not fit the Foredom drive until I took the burrs off it 

The tail as expected was 10mm diameter rather than the required 13/32", so a reamer was pushed through. This made the finish some what better that the horrible scored surface that was in there 

So for less than £10 delivered I have a new hand piece that fits my Foredom drive

Jo

[crueby]

But how well does it work?

[sshire]

I’d like to know also. My OEM #30 runs like a fine watch. Now that I think about it, where are real Foredom handpieces made? Hmmm.

[crueby]

I’d like to know also. My OEM #30 runs like a fine watch. Now that I think about it, where are real Foredom handpieces made? Hmmm.

Just went and looked at mine (SR motor with 44T handpiece), it has no 'Made In' markings that I see, and their website says nothing about where they are manufactured, just that the company is in Connecticut. Just found one phrase on their site: " has maintained continuous manufacturing operations in Connecticut since 1955"

I have had plenty of great service from my Foredom, lots of wood carving and the occasional metal shaping.

[b.lindsey]

That is the plastic box the Chinese one came in Jo? Geeze they even put the Connecticut address on it. 

Bill

[Jo]

But how well does it work?

It goes round and round no more noisily than my original Foredom hand piece. But I assume the bearings will be the usual Chinese quality non hardened ones of limited life like the chuck key wasn't hardened which was handy as the centre pin was a little long. It is easy enough to replace the bearings with a real set later on.

That is the plastic box the Chinese one came in Jo? Geeze they even put the Connecticut address on it. 

Yes, cheeky aren't they. There was also two different barcodes I assume one was the original USA part code 

Jo

[b.lindsey]

Very cheeky indeed!!  But no more than I use it, my original #30 should last a lot longer than me. I am surprised the Chinese have any bearings left as they are putting four into every one of the billions of fidget spinners leaving the country 

Bill

[Jo]

I decided to pull it apart to look at the quality: Actually the little chuck is one of the ones I used on my UPT and I seem to recall paying more for that than I did for this entire hand piece 

The bearings are not the  I was anticipating, the manufacturer was proud enough to put their name and part number of them.

As for the quality of the thread on the end of the spindle. Well not so much the thread but they left the burrs all over it, you can see where they have fallen off and are sitting under the spindle. A little bit more care and this tool was nearly in danger of being considered to be quality   

Jo

[b.lindsey]

Jo, here are the three I have, the #30 at the top, the #55A middle and one I think I got from my dad, a #5 at the bottom. The bottom two are no longer offered though the #5 seems to have been replaced now by Foredom's #8. All of these are probably 25-30 years old at this point.

Bill

[Jo]

Those look useful Bill

This is the hand piece mine came with. While I have a metal foot pedal it is missing its wiring and the American style plugs Instead someone had added a box for speed control.

Jo

[Stuart]

Jo
solution 

sewing machine foot pedal for the old school motors not the digital ones

eg
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNIVERSAL-YDK-SEWING-MACHINE-FOOT-CONTROL-PEDAL-FITS-LOTS-OF-MAKE-AND-MODELS/351786803276?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D640357026b5d4c15983552d878f8eb98%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D29%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D253237884081&_trksid=p2385738.c100677.m4598

[Jo]

Thanks Stuart. I have the original Foredom pedal with its innards what is missing is the mains cable with the odd American plug & socket arrangement that would let me use it.

As it is the speed control box works very well and means I don't have to worry about sitting in an appropriate position to get the pedal pressure just so.

Jo

[Stuart]

mine has normal euro connectors M & F just like kettle and PC mains cables

I am luck I have two of the large hand sets with the chick and on small one that you poke a in through


works very well

Stuart

[Jo]

This is the connector mine has got on the cable. Those bare brass pins  go up to the Foredom motor unit. The socket in my hand comes off the speed controller.

As I mentioned yesterday I also have a foot pedal sans mains lead 

Jo

[Bluechip]

What on Earth have you got there, Jo ???

I'm pretty sure plugs with vertical pins are for 110VAC.

IIRC the US 220VAC are horizontal  ( apart from one you had to push & twist for clean supplies ).

Box doesn't look big enough for a transformer. Or is it?

Dave

[b.lindsey]

Those pins definitely look like 110v to me. There should be another cord coming from the foot switch with a male connector that plugs into the wall and then those brass pins will plug into that female connection in your hand.

Bill

[Jo]

What on Earth have you got there, Jo ???

I'm pretty sure plugs with vertical pins are for 110VAC.

That's what I would have thought but Foredom in their catalogue show that type of connector on the motor unit cable 

This is the contents of that little box.

and the foot switch should have one of these switchy things in it. I haven't put a meter across either to find out what they actually are..

Jo

[sshire]

Jo
Schematics for the Foredom  footpedals (120 and 220 volt models) are here
https://www.foredom.net/documentdownloads.aspx

Listed under
Trigger Switch Replacement Instructions for Speed Controls-

Can’t imagine the Chinese models are too different

[Jo]

Thanks Stan,

I've ordered a (female) NEMA5 socket to go from the pedal to the motor. I will be putting a UK fused 3 pin plug on the main cable into the pedal 

Jo

[gerritv]

That is a standard North America 110v plug and socket. 15Amp rating. Live, neutral and ground (earth) aka NEMA5-15R

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets#NEMA_5-15_grounded_.28Type_B.29

[sshire]

I’ve got my pedal running through the speed control so even if I mash down, I’ve got speed limited. Foredom has the connection setup for that on their website. Very useful.

[crueby]

After Jo's reports on those handpieces, I decided to gamble the $17 on one of the quick-change ones for my Foredom machine, figure at worst fleabay would make good on the transaction. It arrived today, and just as Jo mentioned the hole for the flex shaft is .004" too small for the standard Foredom shaft end, that should be easy to open up. The collet end works fine, seems to run true and smooth.

One interesting thing is that the tool is not 'labeled' as a Foredom, but instead is marked as an Italian company, instructions are in several languages. So, it is likely a Chinese knockoff of an Italian knockoff!

After I get the opening in the base end tweaked out a bit, probably tomorrow, I'll report back on its functionality...

[b.lindsey]

Do you have a pic of it Chris?

Bill

[crueby]

Do you have a pic of it Chris?

Bill

Here is the shot from the listing. The finish on it seems decent.

[b.lindsey]

Thanks Chris. Yeah I saw that one on foredoms website too. Seems these 3/32" shank quick changes are the replacements for the old 3/32" latch hook handpiece. Probably a lot more versatile too.

Bill

[Jo]

I am still waiting for my one of those I ordered 

Have a peek down the tail end and see how well they have finished where the drive goes in 

Jo

[crueby]

I am still waiting for my one of those I ordered 

Have a peek down the tail end and see how well they have finished where the drive goes in 

Jo

That part looks nice and smooth, has the bead blasted or whatever it is finish, just a few thou too small, planning on boring it out this morning.

[crueby]

This morning I took the clip and ball retainer off the shaft end, and opened up the hole where the flex shaft goes in - now goes on the shaft just fine.

All works fine, though the bearings feel more like the ones in my MasterCarver brand flex shaft handpieces than the super-smooth ones in my Foredom handpieces. The MasterCarver ones are sold by one of the woodcarving tool catalogs here in the US, patterned after the Foredom and the handpieces are interchangeable. Its held up pretty well over the years, but is not quite as well done as the Foredom is. This new handpiece is about on that same level - cheap but functional for the occasional user, if I was a professional jeweler or carver, using it every day, I'd spring for the Foredom every time.

[b.lindsey]

Has anyone got any comments on various motor hangers, either those offered by Foredom or other? Mine would probably get a lot more use if I had a dedicated hanger for it. Foredom seems to have made a few upgrades to theirs recently though they are in the $59-79 dollar range.

Bill

[Jo]

Mine is hanging off a tie wrap round the Display arm on one of my DRO's 

Jo

[mklotz]

I'm very pleased with the one I made from a gas-pipe bar clamp.  It's described and pictured in this post...

http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/foredom-tool-bench-hanger-49170

Since that post was made, I've built a better hanger for the handpiece using a grounding rod clamp.  It's described and pictured here...

http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/foredom-handpiece-hanger-64138

[b.lindsey]

Thanks Marv. 1" pipe would seem more than substantial for sure!!

Bill