Picked up a foredom TX5400!

[wisardd1]

Nice little machine. Great for roughout. So far I have used it for about three hours roughing out a piece of butternut. I bought a used foredome 5240 about a month ago and it quit working on me. I don't know if it needs brushes or I need to send it to foredom, but it died on me roughing out the same piece a wood. First impression are that it is like the the 5240 but it just keeps turning no matter how much pressure I place on it (Kutzall red course bit with a quarter inch shank). It definitley has the torque that I was looking for. So far, I am very pleased.

dale

[wisardd1]

Dang, broke the inner cable. It caught hold of a kevlar glove, turned for about a turn or two, and snap! No more knit type gloves for the bracing hand, leather maybe, but no knit. "Say no to knit" Lucky I still have a hand without any injuries.

dale

[carver33]

Yep, there's a lesson on gloves and rotating tools - material that will catch easily is a no-no. You shouldn't have a problem with leather gloves though.

[wisardd1]

Another great lesson for this little monster, and it is a monster (you should see my forearm. Super coarse 1/4 inch Kutzall bit took ride almost up to my elbow). I have some pretty neat new scars no doubt that look like a well planned tribal marking. So, how did this happen you are wondering? I was changing the bit and just tightened her up, and before I could get the little cross bar out my foot accidentally hit the foot pedal, causning the the motor to spin right off of the hanger then the bit grabbed my arm and just climbed right up it. I am ok, but geez, it is one ugly set of marks (18 to be exact). Not much of a cut, but they all look like dotted blood blisters.

My take on this mere accident, always take the cross bar out before accidentally stepping on the foot control. My suggestion for foredom, put an on and off switch on the motor. I usually turn the motor off or unplug a power tool before making any changes, but this one has no on and off switch. I think that is a danger at least for me.. Anyway, happing carving (hopefully not on yourself . and I will let you know what my new tatoo scar looks like when it heals.

dale

[SeaLeveler]

Lesson learned.When I started carving I was using some cotton gloves with the dots on them for use with chisels.Well when I got a rotary tool you know what happened the first time I got close to the glove.At least it stalled the motor before it got to meat.Tony

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

A guy I carve with got his shirt caught, broke the cable, but not a scratch.

Dave