Which Micro Motor is worth buying?

donohueb · #1 08-04-2005, 01:44 PM

Micro Motors Which one is the best - runs cool, lowest vibration and good torque? Help - Looking to buy soon and have never test drove any of these. Why does the Foredom 1045 cost twice as much as the 1070? Is it really that much better? Is NSK the best. How good are the RAM and Optima machines?

Looking for feedback - price is no problem if the quality is worth the price.

Bill D

Hugh · #2 08-04-2005, 11:55 PM

Foredom and Gesswein are the top runners in my opinion. If your going to carve or use the Micro Motor a lot, buy the best. Friends that use the cheapies and use them quite frequently tell me they have good service from them. Most of the new machines run vibration free, and run cool. I like the better quality machines because I use my Micro Motor practically every day. A lot of the new machines now run at high speed. Unless using a stone, It is rarely necessary to run your Micro Motor at high speed, it just gums up or heats up your bit. It is also very hard on bearings to run them at high speeds continually. MDI Woodcarvers Supply sell the Foredom Micro Motor for about $650. US funds, and also sell the other cheaper brands. Call or e-mail MDI and ask for Wayne.

http://www.mdiwoodcarvers.com/ Hope this helps.

donohueb · #3 08-05-2005, 07:54 AM

Thank you...sounds like the MDI has a good reputation. I received 2 recommendations to buy from them. I appreciate your input.

carving to you.....

Best Regards,

Bill D

Paul_Guraedy · #4 08-05-2005, 08:02 AM

I have used an Optima for about 10 years (Nine on the first handpiece). Until this year, I have been recommending the Optima as an excellent choice based on price and shape of handpiece. However, I am not sure I will choose Optima with my next replacement. The price is still very good and it is nice to have the "twist and lock" mechanism for changing bits. But, the shape and size of the handpiece that first drew me to the Optima has been changed to the style common among other micros. Also the new handpiece limits me to only one shank size. I have bought a couple of smaller handpieces for my Foredom (full size) and am using that nearly as much as the micro. Not as nice as a micro; but, still gets the job done.

It has been my experience with micros that choice of the bit to be used, along with ease of changing (including shank size), is far more important when removing wood than the brand of machine. These will be the factors, along with durability, when I consider my next purchase. If I pay $600+ for a machine that lasts 10 years (my full size Foredom is over 20 years old) and look at it as $60+ per year, that's not so bad.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #5 08-05-2005, 10:34 AM

I have a foredom and altho we don't use it much (mostly knives and chisels) I like the foredom, I did a google search for foredom and looked at numerous sites before we bought and we didn't pay anywhere near 650.00! Seems like it was in the area of 250.00? It really pays to spend the time and research the different suppliers....

(I should add however that it has been over 2 years since we bought ours!)

donohueb · #6 08-05-2005, 11:33 AM

I have noticed there are 2 models offered by Foredom, the 1045 and the 1070. The 1045 is twice the price of the 1070. I have seen the 1045 as high as $1275 and as low as $699. The 1070 has been around $300 to $400.
I also looked at the NSK Electer Emax which can be purchased for about $699. I found the NSK has many attachments which can be purchased to fit the hand piece. I also saw quite a few attachments for Foredom.

I am leaning toward the Foredom.

Bill D

donohueb · #7 08-05-2005, 12:00 PM

Spoke to Wayne @ MDI as reccomended. Good guy and knowledgeable. Ended up buying the RAM RX300. Thanks for the input.

Wayne said the Foredom 1045 was a Japanese hand piece and the 1070 is Korean. The 1045 is discontinued.

The RAM RX300 is a Japanese made handpice and the othe RAM Micro Motors are Korean. Quality has gotten better with the Korean goods during the past few years so the motors are comparable.

Bill D.

Donna_T · #8 08-07-2005, 12:36 AM

You may have already decided, but here's my 2 cents worth...

I have a big Foredom for moving lots of wood. I have a battery operated Dremel Mini Mite for cleanup. I have a RAM for detailing carvings--birds, flowers, etc. It runs smoothly and doesn't feel much different than other brands that cost 2x as much (I'll admit that there are a couple which generate almost no vibration feel in the handpiece, but they do cost much more.)

My advice: buy the best you can afford. I didn't start with a Ram or Foredom. I started with less and used it until I wanted to do more than I could with it. It's great if you can find examples that you can try out--I tried out several at a power carving workshop where people generously let you try their tools so you could compare them. Carvers are so helpful and sharing.

Donna T