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PRODUCT TIP: Drilling with the Foredom Flex Shaft

A Foredom Flex Shaft is a great tool to add to your jeweler’s workbench. This product comes with a kit containing a variety of bits and a user’s guide. This tool must be suspended from a hanger. We stock a specialty hanger to secure the Flex Shaft to your worktable.

Don’t forget to wear safety glasses!


Purchase the following items used in this tip:
Foredom Flex Shaft »
Cut Lube »
Center Punch »
Flex Shaft Hanger »
One Pound Brass Mallet »
Small Files »
step 1
The bottom of the flex shaft hanger clamps to any size table. Make sure that the hanger is completely and tightly clamped to the table.
step 2
Slide the motor of the flex shaft into the hanger clamp.
step 3
Fasten the top of the clamp to the top of the flex shaft by sliding the clamp onto the top rod of the hanger.
step 4
The flex shaft also has a clamp that sits in the middle of the holder to hold the handpiece.
step 5
Place the foot pedal on the floor. It plugs into the cord from the motor. The foot pedal controls the speed at which the flex shaft rotates.
step 6
To open the chuck of the handpiece, use the key that comes with the kit.
step 7
Put the desired attachment into the handpiece and tighten. In this photo we are using a drill bit.
step 8
Use cut lube to lubricate the drill bit. This will make drilling easier and faster.
step 9
Use the center punch and brass head mallet to tap a mark on the piece to be drilled. This makes a little indentation on the metal for the drill tip to sit in. Without this stabilizing indentation, the bit may move all over the metal when drilling and leave marks.

Work on a block of wood for best results.

step 10
Position the drill bit on the metal and press the foot petal. While the drill is rotating, press down to make a hole. The bit will indent into the wood slightly and you will feel a change in resistance. At this point  keep the drill rotating and pull the hand piece up to remove the drill bit from the hole.

The metal may become warm during drilling. It will not affect the process to stop and let the metal cool and restart.
step 11
The hole should be free of burrs. If needed use a needle file to refine the hole.