ft pedal vs bench top speed control

[Sharon of the Dell]

As you may of read I recently purchased a flexcut reciprocating hand piece which turned out to be a wecheer. But that's besides the point.

All I had to control it was the foot pedal for my Mastercarver. I used low rpm's but it still got pretty warm. I cut various sized blocks of wood to put under the pressure part of the foot pedal to try keep the lead out of my foot. It helped a little, but I couldn't quite get it slow enough to keep things cool.

Treeline, who I got the handpiece from, had a free shipping coupon.
So I ordered the foredom bench top controler. And also the foredom reciprocating handpiece.
I got them Thursday.
Hooked the Mastercarver up to the foredom bench top controller, tried both hand pieces and neither got hot. The only time they got warm was when I was baring down to hard. As soon as I let off they cooled down. Both hand pieces worked great.

So for using burrs and bits, I like the idea of the foot control because of the safety factor. My foot can stop pressing if the burr runs a muck into my clothing or skin.
Both types of controllers have their own uses.
I'm posting this because I wasn't quite sure when I bought my flexible shaft unit, what kind of controller I wanted. So I figured I would pass on my experiences with both types.

I also found out you can interchange controllers between brands.
Hope this helps someone.

[Inadv]

Sharon,

Thanks for sharing. Your experience is exactly the same as mine in regard to controlling speed on the reciprocating hand piece. A foot control is on my wishlist for essentially the same reason also eg safety, although it seems it would be a bit more convenient as well.
As a footnote here, I considered purchasing both controls and using them in tandem, but was advised against it because it would cause premature failure of the benchtop control unit. I took the advice, but wonder how accurate it is.

L.P.

[telecarver]

Originally Posted by Inadv

Sharon,
As a footnote here, I considered purchasing both controls and using them in tandem, but was advised against it because it would cause premature failure of the benchtop control unit. I took the advice, but wonder how accurate it is.

L.P.

Using an electronic unit with a rheostat footpedal that lowers the voltage will damage the electronic unit. An on and off footswitch will shut off an electronic unit without damaging it. I use a router speed control because it can be used with all of my brush motor tools such as angle grinders and die grinders. It provides full torque even at very slow speeds. It works great for detail sanding with 1" discs on my angle grinder as well as slowing my reciprocating handpiece down enough so that it doesn't heat up. It also costs less than the Foredom. I have two that I have used for years. I buy them from Woodworkers Supply. I can plug an outlet strip into it and have several tools plugged into the strip. It works for single speed Dremels as well. It will not work with tools that built in multi-speed or soft start switches.

[Claude]

Originally Posted by telecarver

... I use a router speed control because it can be used with all of my brush motor tools such as angle grinders and die grinders. It provides full torque even at very slow speeds.
...

Make, Model, Supplier, please?

Claude

[Inadv]

Thanks for the more specific info on that Telecarver. I also have a router speed controller and it does work quite well. In the idea of using a foot controller for rotating hand pieces the main attraction for me is the safety aspect. In some circles they are called a "dead man switch", but the idea is that as soon as something goes awry you can lift your foot and shut the tool down without having to fiddle around with trying to get to a rocker switch on the controller. I know you have had at least one occasion where something got wrapped up in a runaway bur, or if you haven't you are very lucky. Trying to minimize the damage is usually all that two hands can deal with.
Granted that here as in the glove (pro/con) threads of recent, the first line of defense is always awareness and avoidance of mishaps. In my experience however... Poop Happens!

L.P.

[Mottles]

Hi Sharon:
I have a Foredom power carver with the foot control which give hands free carving and I think is safer.
I also have a Weecher I bought second-hand for a really good price a few years back. It has several different chisels and works really great. I used it to hog out the wood for the three Kachina panels I did a few years back. I wish though I would have had a foot control for it. Both tools have served me well. Wasn't able to use it on the Locust stump carving just not enough power.
PS I'd like to get that NEW angle grinder attachment that Foredom has out now...it got a really good review from the English 'Wood Carving' Magazine. Trouble is I'd have to buy another handpiece to be able to use it.

[Dicky]

Some years back, I bought a Foredom SR that came with a foot operated speed control. Never could quite get the hang of it. My leg would get tired, I'd get in a hurry and run the unit too fast etc. ( of course then I didn't know about the use of wedges, blocks and so on). Then I got a Foredom bench mount speed control and I love it. I find the speed I need and just forget about it. It does have a couple of shortcomings in my view. It would be nice if it had a numbered speed scale so you could repeat speed setings precisely or have an on/off switch so you wouldn't need to dial back to zero to turn off the Foredom. My SR has a 3 position rocker switch and it is very easy to go from forward to reverse by mistake and the machine really doesn't like that.

[telecarver]

Originally Posted by Claude

Make, Model, Supplier, please?

Claude

Here's a link to the Woodworkers's Supply item:
Woodworker.com: Electronic Variable Speed Control For Routers, Router Speed Control

[telecarver]

Originally Posted by Inadv

In the idea of using a foot controller for rotating hand pieces the main attraction for me is the safety aspect. In some circles they are called a "dead man switch", but the idea is that as soon as something goes awry you can lift your foot and shut the tool down without having to fiddle around with trying to get to a rocker switch on the controller.

L.P.

You can use a an on and off foot switch with the router speed control. Here's a link to one:
Philmore Momentary Foot Switch : 30-17090

[Claude]

Originally Posted by telecarver

Here's a link to the Woodworkers's Supply item:
Woodworker.com: Electronic Variable Speed Control For Routers, Router Speed Control

Thanks!

Claude