Learn about the amazing jeweler's flex shaft and all the things it can do in your studio.
Beginning jewelers hear the term "flex shaft" thrown around all the time. What is a flex shaft? What does it do? Why does it seem to have a thousand possible attachments? It can all be very intimidating for a new metalsmith looking to expand their bench set-up. Keep reading to learn more about this tool, including what to use it for and how to care for it.
What is a Jeweler's Flex Shaft
The system commonly referred to as a Flex Shaft in the jewelry industry is really a power rotary tool, meaning it spins. Power rotaries are used in many industries on various materials ranging from wood to plastic and all types of metals. Dremel tools in woodworker shops are similar to Flex Shafts and you might also hear it referred to this way. The tool system is a simple rotary motor that has a handpiece that can handle many different attachments. The user holds the handpiece with the desired attachment tip and operates the motor with a foot pedal.
Get to know the flex shaft system
Motor - The motor unit usually hangs from a rack on the wall or directly on the jeweler's bench. You should not need to touch the motor so it just needs to be out of the way. It’s a good idea to mount this on the wall or a stand so the flexible shaft (see below!) is mostly straight while you are using it.
Flexible shaft - A flexible cable extends from the motor for several feet to reach the work area and allow work from any angle. This is where the tool gets its name from!
Handpiece - The handpiece is a metal segment at the end of the flexible shaft. This is the part of the tool that the user holds in their dominant hand to work on jewelry. The handpiece has a gripping mechanism on the tip that will firmly grasp a huge variety of tips, burs, accessories, wheels, etc.
Chuck key- The chuck key is a small device that is used to open and tighten the gripping mechanism in the handpiece. It allows the user to quickly and easily exchange accessories. Don't lose it!
Foot pedal - The user sits at their bench holding the handpiece and uses the foot pedal to start the motor. When the foot pedal is pressed the motor will rapidly spin the accessory held in the tip of the handpiece. The pressure you apply to the foot pedal will change the speed – the harder you press, the faster it will go.
What can you do with a jeweler's flex shaft?
The flex shaft is a really versatile tool because of all the different attachments you can use with it. It can handle all of the techniques below, and more!
Drilling - One of the easiest tasks to imagine is using the flex shaft to create a power drill. You can use tiny drill bit attachments to pierce holes into jewelry metals. Be sure to have a block of scrap wood under any metal you are drilling. Some jewelers do not mind drilling holes into their bench pins. Do not drill directly on your tabletop, bench block, or anvil, you will damage them.
Finishing - Burs are small attachment heads used with a flex shaft. They are typically made of carbide steel or other very hard materials. They are used to grind, shape, cut or texture metal. There are burs for every conceivable task and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can also use a variety of sandpaper type attachments to sand metal in a fraction of the time it takes to do so manually.
Polishing - Use flex shaft polishing heads made of felt or silicone; or, chose small buffing wheel attachments to polish metals. Spin your polishing head directly on your silver polishing compound and then set to work on polishing your finished jewelry piece. Not all polishing wheels require the use of polishing compounds. For example, silicone wheels do not.
Stone Setting - Many burs are designed to aid in setting stones and fabricating settings in different types of jewelry. These are made out of steel and you will need to purchase them based off of the size stone you are setting and how you are setting it. It’s definitely a more advanced technique.
Wax Shaping - Wax carving burs help jewelers sculpt wax models for various casting techniques. Remember that wax is softer than metal and these burs can remove a lot of material very quickly!
Flex Shaft Attachments
Below are a few commonly used flex shaft attachments used here in the Halstead studio. There are SO many out there, that we can’t possibly list them all. Talk to your jewelry community and find out what they’re using if you want to expand your arsenal. A great way to try them out before buying is to set up a studio visit with someone nearby. Always remember to wear the proper safety equipment, like safety glasses and mask, when using the flex shaft.
Silicone and Rubber Wheels
Silicone and rubber wheels come in a variety of coarseness, just like sandpapers. Each color indicates a different level and they range from very coarse to a high polish. Each brand will have different colors. They’re super versatile because more abrasive wheels can take away lots of materials while some can give you a high polish.
3M Radial Discs
3M Radial Discs have a multitude of uses from sanding away fire scale down to fine polishing. Think of these wheels as a sandpaper set; from coarse to fine. You need 3-5 discs per mandrel and want to mount them with the bristles facing the same direction. You’ll also want to make sure they turn towards the right when looking at the top of the mandrel. The chart below outlines the different grits and their uses. These will quickly become one of your favorite attachments, as they’re great for getting into tiny spaces!
Cleaning and Polishing
The attachments below don’t all fit into one category, but are going to be used more towards your final steps of clean up. None of these wheels are taking away significant amounts of material. The goat and horsehair brushes can be used with polishing compounds and any felt wheels should be too. Remember to keep dedicated wheels for each compound – you don’t want to mix them.
Maintenance
As with any tool, it’s important to take care of your flex shaft! Proper care and maintenance will mean you have a well-functioning and long lasting tool. The video below covers basic flex shaft care that should be done every 40-50 hours of use. It’ll only take you about 15-20 minutes, so don’t skip it! It’s ok if you don’t have the same brand flex shaft, this process is fairly similar across all brands.
The Ultimate Time-Saver
In short, a jeweler's flex shaft put to good use can shave hours off jewelry fabricating times. Imagine whizzing through many of the routine tasks in metalsmithing such as sanding and polishing. Then consider the creative opportunities this amazing tool can offer. Remember that these tools are powerful and may take some time getting used to – they can take away a lot of material really fast! Always use the proper safety gear while working with a flex shaft, like safety glasses and a mask.
A basic jeweler's flex shaft system costs about $100 and goes up from there depending on brand. This does not include any burs or attachments. Consider that if the set-up saves you nine hours or less in labor you have already broken even on the purchase. This can be one of the most inexpensive ways to dramatically increase your productivity in the studio.
