Monday Maker's Minute: What’s a Flex Shaft & Why I Couldn’t Live Without It

If you’ve ever seen a tool hanging like a mini ceiling fan in a jewelry studio, odds are it was a flex shaft. And let me tell you—I’d be lost without mine.

A flex shaft is essentially a motorized rotary tool with a flexible cable and a handpiece at the end. It’s kind of like the Dremel’s older, much more capable cousin. It buffs, grinds, drills, sands, carves, and polishes—basically, my Foredom® flex shaft is the multi-tasking wizard of my bench.

Here’s why it’s one of my ride-or-die tools:

• Precision: The handpiece lets me get into tight spaces or delicate curves that other tools just can’t reach and gives me great control.
• Versatility: I use it for everything from drilling holes in stones to giving pieces that final high polish.
• Efficiency: It saves me so much time and hand strain—it’s like adding a second (much stronger) pair of hands. They are the best rotary tools for jewelry making.
• Endless attachments: From silicone polishing tips to stone setting burrs, there’s a flex shaft accessory for just about every job.

 

I’ve had mine for years and it’s still going strong. It’s not the flashiest tool in the studio, but it might just be the most essential.