[miket]

i want to be able to use the larger sanding drums and sleeves. i have a dremel tool and of course none of the larger sanding drums will fit because they have 1/4 inch shafts. my questions are: 1. dremel has a discountinued #236 handpiece that accepts 1/4 inch shafts-but can it be adapted some way to fit a regular dremel flexshaft? if i found a dremel heavy duty 7360 flexshaft ,could that be adapted to my dremel tool? 3. if none of this will work, has anybody used the flex shaft that lee valley sells that accepts a 1/4 shaft and fits onto a drill chuck or press-it is designed to operate up to 6000 rpm,and for sanding this would be adaquate. it comes with a 50 inch flexshaft and i could run it off my drill press which is variable speed. it sells for about $60.00 thanks for all who respond

[Alice in Wonderland]

I guess it all depends on your Dremel model I am using 1/4 bits on my Dremel, it is to cold to go out and check the Mod # :-)) so I could do it tomorrow.But to put it onto the drill press I found it was not fast enough ( that is what my husband told me) The Wecheer also uses 1/4 bits, so it does depend on your motor. I hope it helps a bit
Alice

[susieq]

Hi Miket,
are you talking about the little 5 speed dremel that goes up to 30,000 rpms?
If so, I don't think this tool has the power needed to run a 1/4 " bit. Dremel made something about ten years ago that is very similar to the large Foredom shaft tool. I have one and it was a great tool but they don't make them anymore. They do still sell parts for it though and that may be what you are seeing.....parts, shafts, handpieces for that old larger shaft tool. But no, I don't think the current crop of little "moto" tools will do it without burning them up. They do run the 1/8 bits quite well though.

[Eddy Smiles]

I'd sure like to know the model number of the Dremel that you have and what head and collet that you're using on it Alice. The basic shaft diameter on the new Dremels is approximately 1/4" so that in itself limits the size bit it can take. I've got every collet and adjustable head that I've ever run across and none will take a bit diameter larger than 1/8"

ps.... Cold out in )Ontario??? Now if you want to see cold you ought to be down here where SusieQ and I reside.... 69 out this morning!!! Brrrrrr.......!!!!

[Alice in Wonderland]

Hi there , if you can give me another day ,still to cold 20-C I have forgotten how far it goes done the Fahrenheit scale. I know one thing ,I got it at Sears and it is a Craftsman ,it is a few years back and I have another one from Dremel I just got it 2 years back powerful thing, I promise I will get it tomorrow. I am using the 1/4 chisels in there and they are powerful cutters and I work them hard, I see if I find the www site who has them
Later Alice

[BobT]

I wonder if this is what Alice was referring to. I have an old one. It is very much like my big Foredom. It handles 1/4 inch bits with no problems.
Bob

This is the Dremel #732 and they do not make it any more.

[susieq]

I have the same big Dremel..... They haven't made it in 10 years, though I can't understand why. It is a great tool.

But for that little 5 speed Dremel with the shaft on it that they currently sell....even if you could adapt it somehow to fit a 1/4 bit, the little motor would burn out before too long. It just wasn't made for that kind of a load.
I am curious what Alice has in her shop though. Hope it warms up enough for her to go out and get a model number.

Stay warm Eddy.....it's about to cool off again. They are calling for highs in the 50's and 60's, lows in the 40's.

[Eddy Smiles]

I'm trying to get the house prepped for painting so I was working outside today in the dampness and fog and got chilled but I feel a lot warmer now that I've heard that poor Alice is hunkered down in -4 F temperatures. I watched the Packer's get their butts get kicked in that stuff last weekend.

Your right about these new Dremels handling just about all that they can. They heat up pretty fast as it is.

[miket]

thanks for the comments on the dremel-i have the regular variable speed.i figured a 1/4 sanding drum would put too much of a load on it. the flexshaft that lee vallley sells i think will do the job - i can get it up to 3400 rpm and that should be fast enough to sand ok. there might be so old heavy duty dremels floating around, but i don't want to buy another rotary tool just for sanding.

[Alice in Wonderland]

Here I am again still cold and wind up to 40km an hour, bitter ,bitter anyway I went out into the shop and looked and it is the same piece Bob showed, the other tool is a Dremel with a handle on almost like the Dremel advantage, but I drove my husband nuts,we could not find it ,he put it away for the Winter ,but where ,2 car garage and a toolshop????? I will keep looking now I am just curious where it is? But the Wecheer has a motor like that too I think "Chipping Away" in Canada carries the Wecheer that is where I bought mine.It has both the recirocating hand piece and the big hand piece for rotary.
I hope I am of any help here?
Alice