Rotary Handpiece

[delder]

Well , I'm about ready to spring for a rotatary handpiece. I'll use it for jewelry(silver & gold ). Any recommendations? I was also wondering if using it under a microscope could potentially damage the lens from airborne chips . Can't imagine that there's anything I can use to protect it. Thanks Sam for starting this wonderful site.

Doug Elder

 

[maryw]

Doug - I have an NSK Presto (non-lube air turbine dental lab handpiece) that I have used for engraving events in stores for close to 5 years now. I did get a spare just in case I needed it. Never have had any trouble with it and when I do an event, I engrave solid for 8 hours at a time. I'm sure there are others that are good - just commenting on what I have and know.
Mary W

 

[Dave London]

Doug
Dittos on the NSK air turbine, also they have micromotors that are excellent also. Might check the thead search several on this topic a while back. Steve Ellsworth found a great micro motor might also ask him

 

[monk]

rotary hand pieces i like them at the upper rpm range- they take longer, but are more forgiving of operator error. the models taking the fg or 1/16" friction grip burs, there are really hundreds, if not thousands of bur sizes/shapes in both diamond and carbide. the carbide burs come in an extreme variety of configurations . i highy advise purchasing the ultra high speed fg models. protecting the scope is easy: take a couple layers of saran wrap, stretch over objective opening, and then anchor with a tight rubber band. if the wrap wrinkles a bit and bothers your vision, just pull it snug. if it gets crappy, remove and repeat with fresh saran. if the saran is pulled taught ( wrinkle free) you'll not likely even know it's there until it begins to get crappy.

 

[Jon C. Dake]

You might want to take a look at one on e-bay that I think quite a few engravers have purchased. The price is right and it certainly works well for me. You would also need an adjustable air gauge and a foot control (one of the disk type, which I think that you can also find on e-bay). Check this one out, from Russia. http://cgi.ebay.com/Dental-STRAIGHT...hZ004QQcategoryZ71378QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem This one runs on about 35 pounds of pressure. I think that all of the dental handpieces are air hogs, so you will need a fairly good air supply to keep up with it. This one also takes the 1/16" burs. Given the price of the other ones this is really a bargain and appears to work great, at least for me.

Although I have nothing over my lens, it occurred to me that a camera lens filter, even taped to the lens, would be a great idea, just haven't really seen the need for one as my lens is about 7" above my work and I don't see anything getting on my lens from using the handpiece. I think that you can get them in clear glass and in various sizes.

 

[rod]

Jon,

I agree air turbines are air hogs, so for example if you have a Silentaire compressor, the cooling fan accessory is worth having, as your compressor will run a lot and heat up. That said, I also agree the NSK turbine is a jewel and is worth the money. I have gone down the inexpensive route and worn out many other makes of turbines.

I have read good comments on the Russian handpiece, but have not tried it myself.

Protect your scope with a clear glass welding goggle disc available in hardware stores. The are used to take the metal splatter thrown up from a torch and hence keep the dark glass in good shape. From time to time they are thrown away. Clear glass will not affect your scope view. A thin smear of epoxy will hold it in place. Don't glue it on with super glue as this will create a fog. A little Scotch tape will also work.

Rod

 

[maryw]

Doug - I have a 3/4 hp Thomas Electric air compressor that I use with my NSK handpiece. When I depress my electric foot pedal, it delivers 40 psi on demand without a reservoir. I take all my engraving equipment in two suitcases to my store engraving events. Like I said before, I engrave straight - starting and stopping with each item to engrave - for 8 solid hours at these events. No problems.
Mary W

 

[maryw]

Doug - also forgot to mention that my bur turns at 350,000 rpm. I use mostly carbide burs from size .25 up to 8. Ocassionally I will use a diamond bur on very expensive crystal. I engrave on glass, metal, and crystal for the stores during the event.
Mary W

 

[Swede]

I bought this one:

Micro Motor Tool

The link is problematic... it is stock number 793002. The basic setup is a 50,000 RPM uMotor tool with a 1/8" collet, and it includes a reverse switch which is important for background removal. I bought a 1/16" collet as well when I placed the order. There are several happy users of this system; it was Steve E. who brought it to our attention on Steve Lindsay's forum. This is a very high quality uMotor setup at an excellent price, and after several months of hard use now, it's still perfect. I prefer the uMotor over all other rotary tool setups, due mainly to the torque and nice quiet sound. I also have the Ukrainian air turbine piece, and while it is cheaper than the uMotor, the torque (for me, at least) is underwhelming. I don't like it nearly as much.

Good luck!

 

[Jon C. Dake]

Doug: Swede is right about the Micro Pro by Master Carver. This is really one sweet little machine. I have one and when it is running you can't even hear it unless you have the peddle all of the way down. They make two models, one with a foot control that just turns it off and on and one that allows you to control the speed with the foot control. I strongly recommend the one that allows you to control speed (the model 79300). It is about $70.00 more than the other but, I think, well worth the extra money. I have not used mine for background removal yet, but only because I have not done any engraving with background removal since I got it about a month ago (been busy carving nickels). It has more than enough power to remove background. A really neat machine, although pricey. Do a search for Micro Pro on the web site referred to by Swede. This is the cheapest price on the internet and they are nice people to do business with. One of the really nice things is that it does not use air. Good luck