[Bill Short]

Good day folks,

I joined this forum yesterday and found you folks by doing a google search on micromotor tools. It read a previous discussion on your forum about these tools that led me to join. I am currently carving very small boxwood carvings that get mounted on a ship model. ( See my introduction yesterday ). Currently, I am carving with an Emesco belt driven dental drill and using jewellers burs. I have always wanted to eventually obtain a micromotor type tool and have been looking at

NSK Volvere Vmax
NSK Emax Ultra
NSK Espert 500
Buffalo Dental X50 Brushless Electric Lab Handpiece
Buffalo Dental X35 Oremium Electric Lab Handpiece system
Buffalo Dental M35 Compact Electric Lab Handpiece system
Ram NextGen Brushless Micromotor
Foredom 1050 Micromotor Kit, Brushless, High Torque
TPS Micromotor set 35,000 rpm

There are units priced from $500 to around $1100 and they seem to vary by brand name and features. I looked on Ebay as well for used units. Brushless motors seem to top the price range while NSK demands premium prices. As I do most of my carving under 3000 rpm, some of the units are a problem with minimum rpm ranges at around 2000-3000.

Without repeating all that was said in the last thread on this subject, I would be interested to hear from any of you who have the units above and your comments on durability, service, ease of use, value for dollars etc.

One thing that has me concerned is the diameter of the handpieces. I am used to using a Doriot dental handpiece which is about 1/2" in diameter where I grip it and tapers down to about 5/16" at the business end allowing me to grip it very close to the bur. Nice control and of course, no side torque with a belt driven unit.

Your comments would be appreciated.

Regards,
Bill

[nicola ripandelli]

Hello Bill, I have already written once, and you have kindly responded to my request, advised him to write the GrobetUsa (thanks for the contact very welcome). We will rewrite the hope of finding you a solution to my problem: As you may know I bought my Your wonderful book on the sculptures and I also bought on the internet a dental Emesco American. My problem is that I can not find a way to insert my cutter diameter 2.31, as the handful there is no mechanism of levers that allow me you can use this drill. I can kindly tell me how to open, there is some special trick?, or if I say I need some special key?. Aspettando confident referring you my sincere congratulations for your work very beautiful . Ripandelli Hello Nicola

[Bill Short]

Hello Ripandelli Hello Nicola,

It looks like you have removed the tip of the handpiece. It should, be replaced. Then, to insert a burr, there should be a knurled ring at the opposite end of the handpiece. Loosen it counterclockwise and insert a burr in the other end. Tighten it clockwise and that should do it.

Regards,
Bill

[Chuck Leake]

Bill,
I have used a micromotor almost every day for the last 16 years . I have wore out 7 or 8 of them. There is a wide range of prices and quality. One of my favorite is Osada.I have always bought these used as the are in the upper end of the price range. With my type of use I can only get two years out of them before a rebuild that costs an average of $150. I now buy my handpieces on eBay that work with my existing Foredom controller. The 40,000 RPM unit I now buy costs $119. I believe these are a Ram design made by Marathon.
I hope this information helps.
Chuck

[Janel]

Hello Nicola,

I hope that you will find the information you need here from our members. Welcome to The Carving Path Forum!

Please take a moment to read the recommendations for posting photos of a friendly size. This information is at the top of each forum area. The above photos are taking my rural land line internet connection about ten minutes to download. I am unable to resize these photos for you, because I am unable to upload any photos or file because of the terribly slow connection.

Again, welcome to the forum!

Janel

[WCraig]

Bill,
there a number of issues to be addressed before you buy a micromotor based upon your needs

Speeds up to 50,00 rpm
torque/what are you carving
Collets/jacob chuck quick change
ease of changing bits
shank size availability/1/16,1/8,3/32,1/4
What size/sizes will handpiece accept
water proof/stone
price range
sturdiness
warrenty

Hope this helps

Craig

[cameo carver]

Bill Short, on May 14 2008, 02:06 PM, said:

Good day folks,

I joined this forum yesterday and found you folks by doing a google search on micromotor tools. It read a previous discussion on your forum about these tools that led me to join. I am currently carving very small boxwood carvings that get mounted on a ship model. ( See my introduction yesterday ). Currently, I am carving with an Emesco belt driven dental drill and using jewellers burs. I have always wanted to eventually obtain a micromotor type tool and have been looking at

NSK Volvere Vmax
NSK Emax Ultra
NSK Espert 500
Buffalo Dental X50 Brushless Electric Lab Handpiece
Buffalo Dental X35 Oremium Electric Lab Handpiece system
Buffalo Dental M35 Compact Electric Lab Handpiece system
Ram NextGen Brushless Micromotor
Foredom 1050 Micromotor Kit, Brushless, High Torque
TPS Micromotor set 35,000 rpm

There are units priced from $500 to around $1100 and they seem to vary by brand name and features. I looked on Ebay as well for used units. Brushless motors seem to top the price range while NSK demands premium prices. As I do most of my carving under 3000 rpm, some of the units are a problem with minimum rpm ranges at around 2000-3000.

Without repeating all that was said in the last thread on this subject, I would be interested to hear from any of you who have the units above and your comments on durability, service, ease of use, value for dollars etc.

One thing that has me concerned is the diameter of the handpieces. I am used to using a Doriot dental handpiece which is about 1/2" in diameter where I grip it and tapers down to about 5/16" at the business end allowing me to grip it very close to the bur. Nice control and of course, no side torque with a belt driven unit.

Your comments would be appreciated.

Regards,
Bill

I have used a NSK Elektor micromotor for the last 10 years.

I use it for 4 -5 hours for an average of 3 days a week. It still runs completely true and has given me no problems.

In fact it is a joy to use

I carve hard agate and Lapis Lazuli gemstones with very detailed carvings. It also works fine on gold carving.

It comes with a 3/32 " and a 1/8" included chucks. I have collet adaptors that fit both of those so I can fit 3/32" tools into the 1/8" chuck and 1/16" fine burrs into either. I bought mine from Rio grande here collet adaptors

My work can be seen at: Visit My Website
Go for quality. Hope this helps.

Gareth Eckley

[Janel]

Hello Gareth,

Welcome to The Carving Path forum! Thank you for writing about the NSK Elektor micromotor. I have one and like it very much, though I do not use it as much as you do. Thank you for the links.

Janel

[Janel]

Hi Clive,

It is the E-Max. I believe that there is a handpiece available for the NSK's that offer less speed with more torque, which would be handy to have at times. The NSK E-Max has two connections to plug in two cords/handpieces, which would be convenient to have one set up for each collet. For now I just take the minute to make the change. Sorry, I don't know the version of handpiece that I am using. It runs at 35,000 (rpm?).

Janel