Are Foredom Tools Worth The Price? Here's What You Should Know

Foredom may not have made our list of the rankings of the best power tools, but it's a brand that has specialty tools worth considering. Foredom specializes in high-quality flex shaft rotary power tools that provide long-lasting performance. You can use flex shafts for jobs like grinding, deburring, engraving, polishing, and more. The company is known for reliability and builds its products to exacting industrial standards. Foredom also makes micromotors for micro-sized power tools and bench lathes for grinding, buffing, and polishing.

They're not really made for the homeowner who's looking for general cordless tools that cost less than $100 and can take care of simple repair or remodeling jobs around the house. However, they give DIYers and professionals an option for specialized tools that go beyond the basics. You can use Foredom flex shaft rotary models for woodworking, carving, and jewelry making. They even have some designs for equine dental work.

When using these handheld tools, they hang on a hook above the workbench, putting them in easy reach when you need to do some precise work, like polishing or grinding. Foredom tools can be pricey, though. Amazon offers the Foredom K.2230 Classic Jewelers Kit for about $398. You'll find the Foredom K.5240 Woodcarving Kit at Amazon for about $435. The Foredom K.3340 Bench Motor Polishing Lathe Kit costs $333 at Amazon. This brand carries a premium price over rotary tool competitors, like Dremel, but is it worth it? Learn more about the pros and cons of using Foredom.

One of the biggest benefits of using Foredom tools is the build quality they offer. Where are Foredom tools manufactured? Foredom was founded in 1922 in New York City, but it moved its operations to Bethel, Connecticut in 1956. The company continues to run its factory and shipping facility from this location, meaning you are receiving tools made in the United States.

In online forums and blogs, people who specialize in making jewelry or doing precise woodworking routinely praise the build quality of the Foredom tools. They use 1/6 horsepower motors that can reach forward and reverse speeds up to 18,000 RPM. This delivers more torque than other options on the market. Some Dremels can reach these speeds, while others cannot. Overheating can be an issue for some Dremels, while Foredom rotary tools typically don't overheat when you're performing proper maintenance techniques and keeping grease out of the handpiece.

Foredom tools focus on delivering the highest level of precision, especially for artisans performing metalworking, wood carving, and jewelry work. Foredom offers interchangeable handpieces and multiple bits, giving you the ability to match the tool's capabilities to the specific work you're doing. Foredom tools deliver excellent versatility, too, allowing you to easily shift from project to project. They are highly reliable and don't falter under normal loads. One user on a woodworking forum claimed to have owned a Foredom tool for around 15 years, saying it has a much higher level of reliability than Dremel models.

The biggest drawback to using Foredom tools is the premium price you'll pay. Dremel tools are easier to find at standard retailers and appear at a significantly lower price than Foredom. Dremel tools have many uses around the home, too, while Foredoms are more specialized. You can purchase the Dremel 4000-2/30 Variable Speed Rotary Tool Kit for woodcarving and polishing for about $73 at Amazon. The Dremel 3100-1/15 Variable Speed Rotary Tool Kit has 15 accessories and costs $50 at Amazon. 

One of the biggest benefits of Foredom tools is the ability to control the speed with a foot pedal. This leaves your hands free to use the tool and hold the material, rather than worrying about adjusting the speed by hand while trying to work. Dremels also have foot pedals available for hands-free control, although many of the pedals come from third-party manufacturers. Should you need a repair, both Dremel and Foredom offer direct repair services. You can send your model to the company's authorized repair service center for help.

For those who need maximum RPMs in their rotary tools, some Dremel models are able to outperform Foredom models. While Foredom typically tops out at 18,000 RPM, some Dremel models can reach speeds as high as 35,000 RPM. When comparing the power capability of a rotary tool motor, it's important to consider the wattage of the motor along with RPM. Foredoms can range from 40 to 250 watts in the motor. The Dremel 4000-1/45 offers a 175-watt motor, while the 200-1/15 has a 108-watt motor.