Lindsay Palm Control or GRS AirTact ?

HillyPhilly · Aug 12, 2015

Hello, I've been a specialist diamond setter for 28 years, also do a lot of engraving, wax carving, & hand making of fine jewellery. I'm about to purchase a microscope, power graver, & micro motor of some kind. Most likely Meiji 5, & Lindsay Palm Control. Only other option seems to be GRS AirTact. Lindsay is clearly a nicer tool, beautifully made, quieter, & will make all my colleagues jealous.
I regularly use many shapes & size gravers for my setting, so require a graver with many quick change gravers at the ready, & one that is also great for rubover bezel settings.
Can anyone confirm please whether the Lindsay can fit all the GRS C-Max gravers.
Also I would very much appreciate any feedback from anyone experienced in both units, or anyone using a Lindsay primarily for diamond setting.
Thanks very much.
Phil W
Auckland
NZ

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HillyPhilly · Aug 12, 2015

Also very tempted by the Jura Tools ball vice with complete set of accessories.

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James Ashley · Aug 12, 2015

Mate if you want it for bezel setting as well as other pave work etc look at an enset as well as the two mentioned when trying to decide. Only one that can do single hits with power for bezels and claw work or beading tools etc. Just youtube and check out some of the vids. I am a jeweller and do a lot of setting and its my tool of choice. I also use a leica a60 scope which may be worth checking out :thumbsup:

Sam · Aug 12, 2015

I'm pretty sure GRS, Lindsay, and Enset are comparable decibel-wise, so I wouldn't assume one system is a great deal quieter than another. The sound the handpieces make is different though. I should add that I only have GRS equipment here and have very limited experience with other systems.

I'm not an accomplished stonesetter, but there are some applications where I prefer the foot pedal over palm actuation. In engraving, I use Airtact 95% of the time and the rest is foot pedal (stippling, sculpting, engraving on radically curved surfaces, etc).

Dave London · Aug 12, 2015

Lindsay has collets that will work with the other gravers. also shipping to NZ would likely be less, since the Palm Control does not use a control box MTC YMMV

gcleaker · Aug 12, 2015

I just was talking to grs this after noon about the same thing. If you are wanting to use a palm control you will need to be using the graver Mach at.for the palm control to work. I hope this helps. Don't drink and drive you might spill your drink.

Brian Marshall · Aug 12, 2015

Not true.

Nice sales ploy though...

Unless - they have quit making the "Airtact Control" unit.

I only saw one listed as available - around $400 now - so possibly they are being phased out?

I have used this unit to convert Max, Mach, and a Mate that a student brought to class.

Brian

It's under "System Upgrades" for $419 - 1 Available...

DKanger · Aug 12, 2015

I picked up an Airtact from BillZach a couple of years ago, but haven't gotten around to hooking it up yet. Still using my foot pedal. What I'm wondering is when it is hooked up to the Gmax, can you hook up a foot pedal to it and a palm control to the Airtact and switch back and forth between them?

McAhron · Aug 12, 2015

I would go with Lindsay. Less parts,great control,and you can operate it with a foot control.

Brian Marshall · Aug 12, 2015

Dave,

I think you can run footpedal off one port, then switch to the port connected to the control unit and put a brick on top of the footpedal?

Kinda Mickey Mouse... but you want straight through air pressure...

Gotta be a better way, but I'm a long ways from the shop right now. If you put some thought to it, you'll find a way.

B.

Sam · Aug 13, 2015

The outboard Airtact box does enable Airtact capabilities on any GRS machine except the Gravermeister. I used one for years and it works great. Unfortunately you lose the conventional foot pedal when using it. GRS does have a "foot pod" option but it's nothing like the normal foot pedal. As I recall the cost is about $500 for the outboard Airtact box and an Airtact knob for your handpiece. IMHO it makes more sense to put that money toward a Gravermach AT which can instantly switch from conventional foot pedal to palm actuation.

Brian Marshall · Aug 13, 2015

The students who wanted to try out the Airtact Control already owned their machines... of the 3 of them, one bought the box.

One sold his machine and bought an AT and one was perfectly happy with what he had when he was done trying it out..

Having options is always good - IF people know they are out there?

Brian

The "different strokes" thing...

Tim Wells · Aug 13, 2015

Just to avoid confusing the original poster, the Palm Control does not use "collets" like the Artisan or the various GRS hand pieces do. There are adapters you can buy that are made for his Airgravers like the Classic and the Palm Control but they don't look anything like the type most folks, especially jewelers are used to.

Do your diligent research and you'll find what'll fit your needs best in no time.

Southern Custom · Aug 13, 2015

One other thing to consider. Many people forget you cannot stop and use the graver as a push graver when using palm control. This is one of the reasons I have stayed with the pedal all these years. I can stop using air assist and I suddenly have a standard push graver in my hand. As a jeweler I've found this invaluable.
Next thing would be to consider the EnSet. This unit offers some things that others don't. Particularly stroke LENGTH adjustment. Handy when you need to hammer a piece. Not overly fond of the handle for the unit as I love the old style mushroom handle.
Have fun and you'll be happy with any of these units.
Layne

gcleaker · Aug 13, 2015

I truly spoke out of line. I am sorry if I projected a upgrade sales ploy from the fine folks at grs, and apologize to them. I also want to apologize to my new found friends here at the cafÃ© . I hate eating crow just to darn chewy.

Brian Marshall · Aug 13, 2015

Been there, done that, still do it. Sometimes several times in ONE day!

Warm it up first. Put some hot sauce on it.

Chase it with a beverage strong enough to put it right outta your mind... (or you outta yours?)

Anything in print can and will often be taken wrongly, it's the nature of the media/email/forums...

Just take a look at commercial print news media for an example! (and those are supposed to be "professionals"?)

Second best would be voice to voice, but without seeing the expression on someones face, how are you gonna know for sure whether your leg is being pulled? (or your chain)

Face to face - in a one on one conversation usually works best, but I've got a multitude of ex-girlfriends who are perfect examples of it NOT workin'!

Brian

gcleaker · Aug 14, 2015

You hit the nail on the head, but I am sorry for my mistake. Grs is running a small business and some joker puts out some wrong information that can really hurt them. darn more crow feathers.

tsterling · Aug 14, 2015

Southern Custom said:
Next thing would be to consider the EnSet. This unit offers some things that others don't. Particularly stroke LENGTH adjustment. Handy when you need to hammer a piece.
Layne

Just to add my two cents, the Lindsay Classic version of the Airgraver line does have stroke length adjustment...

I don't understand why a Palm Control (either Lindsay or Airtact used with a mushroom head) can't be used as a push graver? While using a push graver myself is a complete recipe for disaster, hence I don't EVER do push, please tell me why a Lindsay Palm Control with air turned off won't work as a push graver? Not trying to be argumentative, I just would like to learn...

Tom

Sam · Aug 14, 2015

I always have a couple of GRS QC graver handles close by when I want to push. Yes, I can turn off my Gravermach and push, but pushing with a traditional shape hand graver feels much better than pushing with a handpiece with the power turned off. YMMV.

Brian Marshall · Aug 14, 2015

Just tried it... works but feels "odd". The weight of the steel handpiece versus the light weight of the wooden handled push graver?

The airline tubing adds to the differences - depending on where it enters the handpiece.

Personally, I've always had a problem with handpieces where the airline comes out the end - right where my palm wants to go...

In some undefinable way the hand graver feels more "nimble"?

Brian

I suspect that if you never spent much time actually using hand gravers - you might never notice? But after 20 years of pushing and the next 20+ years of power assist... well...

Lindsay Palm Control or GRS AirTact ?

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