Rotary tool

[RichardHarris123]

My rotary tool is on the way out, very cheap but ran true and lasted well. 

Recommendations for the replacement, make and model? 

[Neverenoughwatches]

I have a 240v Proxon Rich. I think it  was about a 100 quid on its own. Its Accurate,  i can barely detect any run- out at magnification.  I got the drill press with it as well, another 100 ish with a small vice that slides up and down the base. The headstock can spin 90° so it can be used as a mini bench grinder. I also have a couple of rechargeable Parkside ones for rough work and a few smaller rotary tools made be Minicraft , a German company, those are quite accurate as well with very little run-out, last week I sharpened up the tips of a V-Conic balance with one of the Minicraft tools, they made a decent job too. The speeds are super fast on all of them starting at 5000 rpm for the Proxon and 20,000 fixed for the minicraft.  I wanted something slower with more control so I added in a voltage regulator and pulled the minicraft ones down to around 300 rpm. The regulator is fitted inside a chewing gum tub supported in a cup to keep it weighted steady. 

This is the Proxon and drill press, I bought mine from Chronos Engineering. 

[RichardHarris123]

Which Proxxon? Various models and I don't know the difference. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

2 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Which Proxxon? Various models and I don't know the difference. 

There are a few different 12 volt ones Rich that are a bit cheaper, either with or without the transformer. I seem to think that there is only one 240v model.

[RichardHarris123]

This one? 

[LittleWatchShop]

You want the IBS/E. It has lower runout than the FBS model.

I have the FBS but will replace it with IBS later

[Neverenoughwatches]

Ah no that's probably the old model, this is the one I have, as said above the run-out is very low, tbh i cant see it all. I've used my other rotary tools with the cheap carbide drills you can buy ( UK £5, Aliexpress £1 ) . They snap easy because of the run-out , but with the Proxon they will drill through anything

[VWatchie]

I’m super happy with my Proxxon 230/E Micromot rotary tool. I tried some cheaper options first, but the Proxxon is night and day—quiet and precise! I also got the  Flexishaft for it. Not really necessary, but great quality and nice to have. Pictures of my set-up in this thread:

 

[mikepilk]

10 hours ago, RichardHarris123 said:

My rotary tool is on the way out, very cheap but ran true and lasted well.

I too have a cheap rotary tool, which has served me well, but the lowest speed is too high for some polishing mops. So I've been on the lookout for a new one for a while, and the recommendations in this thread are just what I've been looking for.

On Amazon there's a big choice of Proxxon

@LittleWatchShop and @Neverenoughwatches suggests the IBS/E (it's only showing as 120 Volts?)

There's a cheaper IB/E model

and @VWatchie recommends the 230/E

They all have similar speed ranges. The 230/E looks a bit smaller and easier to handle?

Thoughts?

 

[Neverenoughwatches]

Did you check the tool tag I posted Mike ?  Mine came from  chronos engineering,  great company to deal with.  The Proxon as with most rotary tools you are limited to  the minimum speed which is around 5,000.  Have a look at the minicraft gear, its German, or was. You can get a speed controler with them . I just made my own power and control up with a 12 volt transformer from a car boot and a voltage regulator,  you can those from Aliex. 5 for a fiver.  Minicraft comes up on ebay , some new and some old, I picked up a joblot of 3 drills and a stand for 30 quid.  I'll pull the contoller apart if you want to have a look, very simple to knock up .

The DC  speed controller brings the rpm down to around 300 for the minicraft so nice and steady.  Don't think you can lower the speed on the Proxon, it has a built in speed dial, adding  another 230 voltage regulator interferes and makes 240 tools already adjustable, run rough.

[VWatchie]

1 hour ago, mikepilk said:

They all have similar speed ranges. The 230/E looks a bit smaller and easier to handle?

Thoughts?

I only have personal experience with the 230/E, and as I mentioned, I’m extremely satisfied with it. I wouldn’t describe the 230/E as small, but it does appear lighter and more compact than the alternatives you listed.

The "Flexishaft" accessory is available for the 230/E and possibly for the models you mentioned as well, in case you find the tool too bulky. There’s a picture of the "Flexishaft" accessory in the post I linked. Had I known how easy it was to mount the multitool directly in my vise, I probably wouldn’t have bought the "Flexishaft" at all.

Regarding speed, as mentioned, the lowest setting is 5,000 RPM, and the highest is 20,000 RPM. Personally, I’ve never felt the need for a lower speed, but I don’t know what your specific requirements are.

For those who are less experienced (a category you don’t belong to), it may be useful to know that the final result isn’t just determined by speed. The type of polishing wheel, polishing compound, pressure, angle, and the duration of contact with the material all play a crucial role.

[mikepilk]

1 minute ago, VWatchie said:

Regarding speed, as mentioned, the lowest setting is 5,000 RPM,

I can live with 5000 rpm. The one I have is 10,000 rpm minimum and some of the mini cotton wheels fall apart at that speed 

1 hour ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Mine came from  chronos engineering

They have a good range of stuff, and good prices - £73 for just the 230/E drill and collets. 

[AndyGSi]

This looks handy too,

[mikepilk]

4 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

This looks handy too,

I'm just browsing the same thing, with the same idea !

[AndyGSi]

1 minute ago, mikepilk said:

I'm just browsing the same thing, with the same idea !

Trying to work out if this would work with the 230/E as it only states suitable for the 240/E?

[mikepilk]

From what I read, all Proxxon tools have a 20mm tip, so it should work with all of them.

Clamp+230/E about £110 from Amazon or Chronos Engineering (ebay)

[AndyGSi]

8 minutes ago, mikepilk said:

From what I read, all Proxxon tools have a 20mm tip, so it should work with all of them.

Clamp+230/E about £110 from Amazon or Chronos Engineering (ebay)

I've been looking at the IBS/E to try and see what the differences are?

[nickelsilver]

I have a 50E that is about the same size and weight as the 230E , 40 grams lighter. It uses a separate transformer. Mine is 20 years old, daily use, running great. I think the current equivalent is the 60E. These smaller models are nice for really fine work, which is what I do 99% of the time. 

[mikepilk]

48 minutes ago, nickelsilver said:

I think the current equivalent is the 60E.

60E      12V,   40W, weight  230g, diameter 35mm, speed 5,000-20,000 rpm 

230/E  240V, 80W, weight 270g, diameter 37mm,  speed 6,000 - 22,000 rpm

Very similar in size, weight and price (about £70).  I use mine mostly for case polishing as I don't have a bench polisher, so the extra power of the 230/E might be better.

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, mikepilk said:

I can live with 5000 rpm. The one I have is 10,000 rpm minimum and some of the mini cotton wheels fall apart at that speed 

They have a good range of stuff, and good prices - £73 for just the 230/E drill and collets. 

Good company to deal with, I had a slight issue with the first one that arrived, nothing serious but i wanted it perfect . Informed them and they sent another out straight away , they said send the first back when the new one arrives. So I did, and no complaints from me or them.

27 minutes ago, mikepilk said:

60E      12V,   40W, weight  230g, diameter 35mm, speed 5,000-20,000 rpm 

230/E  240V, 80W, weight 270g, diameter 37mm,  speed 6,000 - 22,000 rpm

Very similar in size, weight and price (about £70).  I use mine mostly for case polishing as I don't have a bench polisher, so the extra power of the 230/E might be better.

I chose the 230  IBS/E because I wanted something a bit heavier duty and more accuracy, I assume the head has better bearings over the others, for milling as well as drilling.

[LittleWatchShop]

3 hours ago, AndyGSi said:

I've been looking at the IBS/E to try and see what the differences are?

The IBS/E has lower runout: 1 mil.

[mikepilk]

33 minutes ago, LittleWatchShop said:

The IBS/E has lower runout: 1 mil.

Not according to their website https://www.proxxon.com/en/micromot/28481.php

It doesn't list the runout on other models.

[AndyGSi]

Now there's this I like the look of too

[mikepilk]

3 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

Now there's this I like the look of too

Surprisingly cheap for what it is.  I'm considering the drill stand, as you can rotate it up to 90° and use in in place of the universal holder.

[AndyGSi]

3 minutes ago, mikepilk said:

Surprisingly cheap for what it is.  I'm considering the drill stand, as you can rotate it up to 90° and use in in place of the universal holder.

I like that idea but the only concern I have with drill stands like these are how easy are they to get back to vertical @Neverenoughwatches?