7 replies to this topic

[Martin]

This tool was used by a friend of mine who is a jeweler. 

Rotary tool with hand piece. It is one speed.

 

I am asking $60 for what you see here in the pic.(D)

5% going to slotblog.

 

P.M. if you have questions, thanks for looking.

 

[Paul Menkens]

They make retrofit speed controls for these.

[Dave Crevie]

Foredom makes superb foot speed controllers;

 

 

And I highly recommend getting a profiler to go with it. Makes all the hand filing and polishing a breeze;

 

I used this model from Artco;

 

 

This model from NSK is cheaper, but is slower to work with. But it is lighter and easier to manipulate;

 

 

In any event, I recommend getting a spare flex shaft. They have a habit of kinking if you overload the stone or burr. Saves the aggravation of having to wait for a replacement to be shipped. They are around $ 30-40 for the shaft and sheath.

[Dave Crevie]

Indecently, I got my Foredom for free. The company I was working for about 45 years ago was throwing it out, having purchased a couple of new ones. It just needed brushes. The Artco Diprofil I bought at a tool swap meet for $25. I used this combo until I retired. I made at least $100,000 doing mold polishing after work. A good investment by my way of thinking.

 

https://youtu.be/Jw6...I5H7jfSoo&t=146

[Martin]

Thanks for all the input, guys.

 

Dave, now I want to add a Diprofil tool to add to my rotary file capability.

[Dave Crevie]

You'll find it handy to clean up cut edges of brass sheet and for notching piano wire rails. Keep checking the job shop auctions. Quite often you will find a profiler in a lot that includes diamond files, stones and abrasive pads. 

 

Mold polishing is one of those skills that have disappeared in this country. Gone along with the plastic injection molding and die casting stolen from us, with the help of the industrial conglomerates looking to increase their profits. I taught maybe a dozen guys to polish molds over the years. Not a difficult operation, but you do need to know some things. But starting in the mid 1990s, I received a lot of work from companies that were finding that their people, mostly undocumented immigrants obtained from labor staffing agencies, were not capable of doing that technical work. If we are going to bring these industries back to the U. S., we need to spend much more time, and money, training people. Mold polishing is also part of mold reconditioning. And what halfway intelligent company is going to send it's tooling back to China to have the cavities polished? The work is available, for someone industrious enough to get the training and spend very few dollars to set himself up.    

[Paul Menkens]

any idea what a close to mint condition one of these in it's original case with all the paperwork and accessories would be worth? 

[Dave Crevie]

The prices are all over the map;

 

 

From about $100 for a well used one, (this one has no shaft);

 

 

 

To $200+ for a new one;

 

 

 

Incedently, the new Fordoms are made in China. The best thing is to go to some machinery auctions where you can look the unit over.