Kat’s Arts Blog

I’ve just updated the gallery here with a couple of images of my latest copper jewelry creations. (Click the image below to see the whole gallery.) I finally fired up the new flex-shaft tool to cut the jumpring coils made with the Pepe Jumpring Maker described in an earlier posting, and everything worked just fine. Not only did I have no problems with the flex-shaft tool (in spite of its being a cheap knock-off of the Foredom product pros recommend), I think it may be possible to use the foot pedal controller that came with it to control my Dremel 395, since it works inline between the tool and the wall socket. The final verdict will have to await further testing, but I can’t see any reason for it not to work.

Meanwhile, enjoy the new pics. They’re in the album called “Beaded Jewelry” under “Copper” even though they aren’t actually beaded. They are pure copper, though, and today I restocked my wire stash with a trip to the hardware store, so expect to see lots of copper things in the future, especially if it is made from jumprings.

In my last posting, I complained about not being able to use my Dremel rotary tool and flex shaft with the Pepe 307 Jump Ring Maker. In all fairness to Pepe Tools, I should say that they do specify the Foredom H.30 flex shaft tool handle, and don’t promise to be compatible with Dremel tools.

So, I went back to the webstore where I bought the Jump Ring Maker, Contenti, and found that they carry what they call an “Economy Flexshaft” that includes motor, foot control, flex shaft and Foredom H.30 knock-off handle, all for US$84, instead of the US$243 pricetag for an equivalent Foredom set from Amazon. Now, this is an el-cheapo Chinese kit, not for heavy-duty use, and Contenti says so, but I’m not going to use it heavily, so I ordered it. They have a 90 day warranty, so if it is really that bad I’ll send it back, bite the bullet and get the Foredom.

Boy, am I unhappy! Not long ago I bought a tool set I’d been drooling over for months, the Pepe 307 Jump Ring Maker, for jewelry projects. It looks like a really nifty collection of well-made, well-designed components, but I have a problem with it. Instead of being able to use my existing Dremel rotary tool and flex shaft with it (to saw apart the wire coils wound on the mandrels to make them into jump rings), it appears I will have to buy a whole new rotary tool, from Foredom.

It isn’t that the Dremel is incapable of cutting the rings. Actually, my Dremel 395 at 8,000-35,000 RPM is more powerful than the Foredom, which only goes up to 18,000 RPM. The problem is that Dremel’s flex shaft handle is just a smidgen too large to fit into the saw guard, and the drive shaft on the included saw blade holder is just 1/32-inch too big to fit into Dremel’s MultiPro chuck. Also, the Dremel flex tool handle is tapered at both ends, while the saw guard is designed for a completely cylindrical handle (like Foredom’s h.30).

I don’t see any solution other than investing in yet another tool. I don’t want to get rid of the Dremel, since it does a lot more than just drive a bench-top mini-saw, and I have bajillions of accessories for it. I suppose most of the bits and polishing/sanding/cutting wheels, etc. for the Dremel will work with the Foredom as well as the Dremel, but the Foredom isn’t portable like the Dremel, and I have other Dremel accessories like the drill press stand and router table, which won’t accept the Foredom. But I really want to get full use of the Pepe Jump Ring Maker, too. Sigh! It’s a good thing we are planning to have a large workshop in the new house we’re building!