What Is a Collet?
A collet is a sleeve that grips a rotating tool shank and holds it centered. See how collets work, what sizes Foredom handpieces take, and how to choose.
Which Foredom Flex Shaft and Handpiece Do I Have?
1. Which Shaft Do I Have?
The easiest way to tell is to look at the end of the flex shaft, where the handpiece connects.
| What you see at the end of the shaft | Shaft type |
|---|---|
| A small key sticking out of the tip | Key tip (standard) |
| A thicker, stiffer shaft with a square drive tip | Square drive (heavy duty) |
| A long, narrow end with a slot and a locking lever | Slip joint (European) |
An SR, TX or LX motor can come with any of these shafts. Only the shaft, sheath and handpiece connection change, so a handpiece has to match your shaft type.
Complete machines are named for the shaft they ship with, so your invoice or box can also tell you: SRH or TXH means square drive, SRJ or LXJ means slip joint, and no extra letter means key tip. If the shaft has been swapped since, go by the end of the shaft.
2. The Differences
Buying a new machine instead? See Which Foredom Flex Shaft Is Right for Me?
Key tip is the standard on about 85% of Foredom machines. Square drive is for heavy torque. Slip joint is the European style.
| Key tip | Square drive | Slip joint | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter in machine name (invoice or box) | None | H | J |
| Shaft length | 39" | Usually 63" | Not listed |
| Torsional breaking point | 24 in.-lb. | 50 in.-lb. | Similar to key tip |
| Handpieces available | 17 | 4 | 7 |
| Best for | Most work: jewelry, woodcarving, industrial | Unusually large or heavy jobs | Customers using European-style handpieces |
| Shop | Key tip handpieces | Square drive handpieces | Slip joint handpieces |
How to Tell Them Apart by the Handpiece End
- Key tip: a small key sticks out of the shaft and locks into a groove inside the handpiece.
- Square drive: looks like key tip but larger, with a black collar and a square hole inside. The shaft and sheath are thicker and stiffer.
- Slip joint: a long, narrow end with a slot and a small notch. It slips on and locks with a lever.
Square drive is usually more than jewelers need. For most work, key tip and slip joint handle about the same torque.
Switching shaft types means a new handpiece. Check the Handpiece Shank Size Chart to make sure your burs and accessories still fit.
Older video, same topic: Foredom flex shaft types (older version)
3. Key Tip: Attaching and Maintenance
Key tip is the standard shaft on most Foredom machines. Unplug the motor before swapping handpieces or doing any maintenance.
Attaching a Key Tip Handpiece
- Slowly insert the shaft into the handpiece until it locks.
- Push it on the rest of the way.
- To remove, pull it straight out.
Maintenance Videos
- How to clean and lubricate your SR flex shaft: cleaning the motor brushes, soaking the shaft in alcohol, re-lubricating it, and running the motor to check it's smooth
- How to replace the shaft and sheath with a pre-lubricated shaft and sheath
Parts: 32 pc tune-up kit for SR motors (MSP12) · Key tip handpieces · Replacement shafts and sheaths
More troubleshooting: Flexible Shaft Tool Basics: Quick Maintenance and Troubleshooting Guide
4. Slip Joint: Attaching and Converting
Attaching a Slip Joint Handpiece
- Line up the slip joint lever with the groove on the handpiece.
- Slide it on. If you hit resistance, rotate the handpiece until the internal key catches.
- It locks in place. To remove, push the lever and pull the handpiece off.
Converting a Key Tip Machine to Slip Joint
You'll need the S-10814 Slip Joint Conversion Assembly. The motor connector is a left-hand thread, so it loosens clockwise and tightens counterclockwise.
Parts: Slip joint handpieces · S-10814 conversion assembly
5. Square Drive: Attaching
Square drive is the heavy duty option for high-torque work. This short shows how to attach a square drive handpiece.
Parts: Square drive handpieces · Heavy duty square drive shaft (S-10816TX)
FAQ
Which Foredom flex shaft do I have?
Look at the end of the flex shaft where the handpiece attaches. A small key sticking out means key tip. A thicker shaft with a square drive tip means square drive. A long, narrow end with a slot and a locking lever means slip joint.
Can I use a key tip handpiece on slip joint shafting?
No. The handpiece has to match the shaft type. To switch types, change the shaft.
Do I need a new motor to switch to slip joint?
No. The motor is the same across all three types. The S-10814 conversion assembly swaps the shaft.
Why won't the motor connector unscrew?
It's a left-hand thread. Turn it clockwise to loosen.
Is square drive stronger than key tip?
Yes. Square drive has a torsional breaking point of 50 in.-lb., compared with 24 in.-lb. for key tip. Most jobs don't need it.
Do all No. 30 handpieces fit the same accessories?
Yes. Key tip, square drive and slip joint No. 30 handpieces are the same width. Only the connection end differs.
Useful Tools
- All flex shaft handpieces
- Accessory Finder: find burs and accessories by material or job
- Handpiece Shank Size Chart: which shank sizes each handpiece takes
- Which Foredom Flex Shaft Is Right for Me?: buying a new machine
- Find Your Foredom: answer a few questions, get your match
All Foredom manuals, parts lists and instructions: Document Downloads
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