Foredom M.TX-TXR 1/3 hp TX Motor and TXR Speed Control

Well built. If you are going to spend the money get any of the Foredoms with the 1/3 HP motor. Not the smaller motors. I was used to dial type speed devices and thought about getting the dial controller for this unit. After using the foot controller for a time I would NOT go back. It is much nicer to slowly come up to speed on many projects. Then it is quite easy to maintain any speed you need. I.E. the foot controller is not so sensitive that you cannot easily maintain one speed. Changing bits. On the unit I had before the Foredom I had a quick change collar. Figured I would hate the pin and wrench setup of the Foredom. I keep the chained together pin & wrench on top of the motor. With the right hand I grip the hand piece and rotate the tip with thumb and fore finger. This allow me to quickly align the holes and put the pin in. Now the left hand uses the wrench to quickly replace the bit. Quicker to do than talk about. I now only slightly miss the quick change collar. One thing you will need to get used to. When first starting the motor will twist. This will move your bit. So I had to get used to keeping the bit away from the project when starting and to get up to speed slower. I also bought the #30 hand piece with the Chuck. This allows you to use the full range of small drill bits. Also, I can have one bit in the original hand piece and one in the other. Changing hand pieces is quicker than changing bits. The hand pieces just pull directly off. Then rotate the bit in the next hand piece so the tab on the shaft meets the slot in the hand piece and snap back on. For occasional use you can use a Dremel with a flex shaft but it starts getting hot if you are using it for a long time or are using a bigger bit piece. This can be used all day without getting above warm. While I do not use this every day I am very happy that I have it. My dremels are hanging in the same spots but still rarely get used.

compared to other brands there is less vibration. Dremel had a lot of vibration and scarred the rocks i was carving.

After burning out several Dremel tools, which lasted 6 months at best and a couple of Praxair tools I broke down and ordered one of these "industrial" flexible shaft Fordom tools. I should have done this a long time ago! The tool is massive compared to anything that Dremel makes, totally different League. It operates very smoothly and very controllable with the provided foot switch speed control. After having used be lightweight Dremel tools, and the much better Praxair rotary tools, the power and torque available with this tool is absolutely amazing! Should be a "lifetime" purchase.

I like the power of this drill and the flex shaft that comes with it including the foot pedal. I am happy with this product.

I have used Foredom tools for decades. They are the workhorses of many trades. Not to say anything negative about Dremel but these guys are far superior. Quite a bit more expensive but you get what you pay for. I use mine for jewelry, gunsmithing, instrument and clock repair and a host of miscellaneous applications. You can't go wrong with Foredom.

I have used foredom rotary tools for over 30 years. Recieved this unit today. Cheap plastic foot pedal came broken. Nothing like previous metal units. Key on shaft is cheaply cast, not machined. By a cheap Chinese model instead of this. Foredom is no longer made well, but still high priced. Sad, another American manufacturing company degraded.

I am using this to do power wood carving. I have several 1/4" Kutzall bits and a 1/4" sander. This unit is powerful and not very loud. The variable speed foor pedal is really sweet. I am graduating from a dremel which I still use. I love all of the attachments and accessories for the Foredom and am planning on getting the chisel set. My only complaint is that my unit was missing the tiny set screw that secures the inner shaft to the motor and mine came loose inside the sheath. I had to order another inner shaft to replace. I probably could have contacted the company but didn't want to deal with the hassle. So I recommend purchasing a few extra inner shafts and a tube of the Foredom grease.

I have been very happy with it this far. I can really only complain with one thing, I wish they had a switch to change the rotation direction. I will probably add one. Otherwise it has good torque, and smooth control at all speeds from barely turning to full speed. It isn't as noisy as a Dremel either. I am using it with a Gobert #30 handpeice as Foredom charges so much for theirs. It did not fit though, being a couple thousands of an inch too small in the bore. I carefully sanded and cleaned the bore to make it fit (I verified it was the handpeice not the shaft that was the problem with help from Foredom). Other than the fit, it has been fine too. I have found that the #30 is rather large and causes fatigue in my hand when doing work that requires a pencil like grip. I think I will get a much smaller handpeice for work like that.

Where has this machine been all my life ? After using air die grinders and several non-speed regulated Craftsman die grinders for 50+ years ,I found this machine to be excellent right off the bat ! Great to have speed control as well as using their light weight handpiece . Use is mostly cylinder head porting.

It might be my inexperience but it does not seem to remove alot of wood quickly as per many of the videos. the foot pedal is plastic.