Ironically, the flex-shaft's great versatility can also cause confusion when you're first thinking of purchasing one - or even when (like myself) you own one but wonder whether you're using it to its fullest potential. The variety of attachments, drills, burs, polishers, mandrels, cutters, etc, available for use with flex-shafts can be overwhelming.
Overview
Chapter 1 provides a brief history of the flex-shaft and explains how a flex-shaft works. It includes color pictures and diagrams of the various parts of the machine from the inside out. The next five chapters describe various types of flex-shafts and accessories available, with the purpose of helping you decide which will best meet your needs.
Here are just a few examples of what you'll learn:
- The significance of rotations per minute (RPM) and horsepower.
- The differences between, and uses for, Jacobs chuck, collet, and hammering handpieces.
- How to choose a drill bit.
- Common uses for different shapes of burs and how to prolong bur life.
- How to choose which metal alloy bur you should use for a particular job.
- The basic types of mandrels and their common uses.
Chapter 7 is devoted to types and styles of abrasives and grinding wheels. If you've ever browsed a supplier catalog for these, you know how difficult it can be to select what you need - without purchasing and trying them all. The charts and descriptions in this chapter are more simply laid out, yet more detailed, than you'll find in most of those catalogs.
Chapter 8 is short, briefly touching on the custom attachments that can be used with a flex-shaft, such as drill presses, high-volume jump ring makers, and a milling table. Although little detail is provided on how to use these devices, enough information is included to help you decide whether any of them might be worth the investment based on the kind of work you do.
Chapter 9 is also short and sweet. It lays out recommended maintenance procedures to keep a flex-shaft running smoothly. If you'd like to learn exactly how to clean and lubricate your machine, this is a chapter for you.
Chapter 10 contains some neat tips and tricks by experienced jewelers who are regular contributors to The Ganoksin Project website forum (more on Ganoksin to follow). These include how to create "A 60-Second Tube Setting" and "Bottled Up: Creating a Safety Shield." These are neat little instructions and bits of advice. (I plan to make use of all of them at my bench.)
The book concludes with a "Jeweler's Resource" section. These are essentially full-page ads/information blocks for entities who supported or participated in publication of the book. They include suppliers, schools, a casting company, and the two organizations who partnered as the book's publishers. All are respected members of the professional jewelry making community.
Read the next article in this 2-part series:
Making the Most of Your Flex-shaft - Background & Book Review
You might also like:
Complete Metalsmith, Professional Edition
The Jeweler's Directory Of Decorative Finishes
Some links in this article point to websites not associated with BellaOnline.com. BellaOnline.com is not responsible for the material found there.
Chris Franchetti Michaels is a writer and jewelry artisan specializing in beaded designs, wire work, and metal fabrication. She is the author of the books Teach Yourself Visually: Jewelry Making and Beading, Beading Quick Tips, and Wire Jewelry Quick Tips. Visit her website BeadJewelry.net for more jewelry-making help and inspiration.
