FOREDOM M.BL User manual

You have purchased a fine quality power tool which will perform a wide variety of tasks
difficult to do with any other kind of power tool. Foredom®Power Tools are manufactured to
high standards of precision and performance and, with proper use and maintenance, will
give you years of trouble-free performance.
Safety Instructions
Before using your Foredom Bench Lathe, please read all safety instructions. They are
for your protection and should always be followed to reduce the risk of personal injury or
damage to the tool.
Always wear proper eye and face protection. Safety glasses or face shields should be worn
whenever you operate a Foredom or any power tool to prevent serious eye or face injuries.
Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry and be sure to tie back long hair.
Always use a proper dust collection system or wear a respirator to prevent the
inhalation of dust particles or other debris into your lungs.
Never operate any accessory at speeds above its maximum speed rating. When
properly used, all of Foredom’saccessories can be operated at the speeds listed in
Foredom accessory catalogs or on the packaging. Only accessories rated for 7,000 RPM or
more should be used with the Bench Lathe. Always determine the manufacturer’s speed
rating before using accessories other than Foredom’s.
Never use or continue to use any accessory which appears to be damaged, loose, vibrating,
or out of balance. Inspect each accessory for cracks or flaws before using it.
Always insert the shank or arbor of an accessory or mandrel into the collet (or collet holder
chuck or chuck arbor) as far as possible in order to provide proper support. Tighten the collet
or chuck securely.
Always make sure that accessory tightening tools such as the pin and wrench are removed
before the lathe is turned on.
Never use excessive side pressures which may tend to bend or break the shank or arbor or
an accessory.Let the speed of the accessory do the work.
Do not overload the lathe by jamming or using excessive pressure on the polishing wheel,
buff wheel, or accessory. Do not apply long time continuous loading. This can result in
damage to the lathe.
Never operate your power tool during a perceptible power decrease. Turn power tool off and
do not use until power is fully restored.
Use proper fusing procedures. The fuse holder is located on the rear of the base. If a fuse
blows, make sure lathe is not being overloaded, line voltage is not low,and motor shaft turns
freely.Replace fuse with same type and ampere rating. Use type 3AG “slow blow” fuses,
3Amp for model BL, 1.5 Amp for model BL-2. Do not use a higher ampere fuse.
Use proper grounding procedures. This tool should be grounded while in use to protect
the operator from electric shock. The tool is equipped with an approved 3-conductor cord
and a 3-prong grounding type plug to fit the proper grounding receptacle. The green (or
green and yellow) conductor in the cord is the grounding wire. Never connect the green (or
green and yellow) wire to a live terminal. If your unit is for use on less than 150 volts, it has a
plug that looks like sketch A in Figure 1. An adapter (sketches B and C) can be used for
connecting plugs as shown in sketch Ato 2-prong receptacles. The green colored rigid ear,
lug, etc., extending from the adapter must be connected to a permanent ground such as a
properly grounded outlet box. Some jurisdictions, including Canada, prohibit the use of
3to 2 prong adapters. Where prohibited, they should not be used. Use only 3-wire
Owner’s Manual
FOREDOM®
for the
Bench Lathe
M.BL (115v)
M.BL-2CE (230v)
For Your Own Safety–
Read Owner’s Manual before operating
your Foredom Power Tool.
Always wear eye protection while using the
Bench Lathe or other power tools.

Operation
Because of the higher maximum speed (approximately 7,000 RPM) and variable
speed control, the Foredom®Bench Lathe has several advantages over
conventional single or two speed polishing and buffing lathes:
1. The same size buffing wheel can be used to obtain different surface speeds, as
measured in surface feet per minute (SFPM). 3″or 4″diameter buffs can provide
the 1,750 to 3,450 SFPM recommended for polishing and the 3,450 and higher
SFPM recommended for buffing. The chart below shows the SFPM obtained with
different diameter wheels at various speeds.
2. The SFPM can be varied while using the same diameter buff or wheel. This will
give better results on different types of material.
3. The 7,000 RPM maximum speed will enable you to get much higher SFPM with
smaller 1″or 2″buffs or inside ring buffs, than slower single or double
speed equipment.
4. The new 3M Scotch-brite™Radial Bristle Discs in 2″ and 3″ diameters also
require 5,000 or higher RPM for optimum performance.
5. The maximum speed of 7,000 RPM is also fast enough to permit the use of small
mounted abrasive points, brushes, cutters, or other accessories in the A-CHA-5
collet holder, S.BO-516 flexade or A-JCA-2 chuck holder.
For additional information on buffing and polishing procedure, wheel selection,
and Foredom buffing and polishing compounds, please refer to the Foredom
Buffing and Polishing Guide (Form No. 1234).
Assembly Instructions
BL Bench Lathes have 5/16” (8mm) straight motor shafts and come with A-TM5 (left hand)
and A-TM6 (right hand) tapered spindles. These precision made spindles are suitable for
speeds of 500 to 7,000 RPM. Similar accessories, supplied for slower speed polishing
motors, often do not run as true which can cause vibration and be a potential hazard. Using
spindles and other precision accessories supplied for slower speed motors is not
recommended with this bench lathe.
Mounting Base: The Bench Lathe comes with suction cup feet that help to secure the lathe
to a smooth work surface. To further prevent movement while pressure is being applied to a
buff or wheel, the base should be bolted or screwed down to a solid work bench or table.
Use the four mounting holes in the base for this purpose.
Attaching Accessories: The supplied A-TM6 tapered spindle, and optional A-CHA-5 collet
holder, A-JCA-2 chuck arbor, A-WM6 wheel mandrel and S.BO flexades®are right hand
side accessories, intended for use on the right hand side of the lathe as you face it. Do not
use them on the left side as buff, wheel or tool may unscrew under load. The supplied
A-TM5 tapered spindle is intended for use on the left side only. An optional A-WM-5
wheel mandrel is available for use on the left side of the lathe. (Every spindle and mandrel
is marked with an R or L to indicate left or right hand.)
Attach the spindles or mandrels by sliding them onto the motor shaft until there is only a
1/8″space between the motor housing and inside edge of the spindle or mandrel. Be
sure that the two set screws line up with the flat on the motor shaft.
Tighten both screws securely with supplied hex key.
See Figure 2 for mounting rubber wheels or other accessories with 1/4″diameter
center holes on A-WM-6 wheel mandrel.
Use only 115 Volt AC 60 Hz for BL and use only 230 Volt AC 50 Hz for a BL-2. Run the
lathe at slow speed without a buff (or wheel) to see that the spindles, mandrel, or collet
holder on the lathe are running true.
Never use a buff, brush, abrasive wheel, or any other accessory that is not rated
for at least 7,000 RPM and never use one that appears to wobble or vibrate. It could
damage the lathe or injure you. Buffs over 4″in diameter should not be used on the
Bench Lathe. Never use a grinding wheel over 2″diameter nor rubber bonded wheels
over 3″in diameter. Please refer to Figure 2 for the proper mounting procedure for wheels
or brushes on the A-WM-6 (or A-WM-5) mandrel.
Figure 1
Figure 2
A-WM-6 Assemble
all components in
proper sequence.
(A-WM-5 left side
wheel mandrel has
same components in
opposite sequence)
Cotton, chamois or felt buffs over 4″in diameter should not be used with
the Bench Lathe.
SPEED SFPM
1″Dia. Buff
Full 7,000 RPM 1,750
Med 4,000 RPM 1,000
2″Dia. Buff
Full 7,000 RPM 3,500
Med 4,000 RPM 2,000
SPEED SFPM
3″Dia. Buff
Full 7,000 RPM 5,250
Med 4,000 RPM 3,000
4″Dia. Buff
Full 7,000 RPM 7,000
Med 4,000 RPM 4,000
Motor Shaft
set screws
Rubber
Wheel
extension cords that have 3-prong grounding type plugs and 3-pole type plugs and 3-pole recep-
tacles that accept the tool’s plug. Always disconnect the power cord before servicing the lathe.
Never use in an area where flammable vapors are present.

FOREDOM®
Form 1248 3/08 n Printed in USA
The Foredom Electric Company
Bethel, CT USA 06801
www.foredom.com
Maintenance
Lubrication: The Foredom Bench Lathe has pre-lubricated ball bearings and a dust-proof
motor housing and does not require any lubrication. The motor is designed to operate
above room temperature which will be warm to the touch but will not harm the motor.
Brush Wear: Disconnect power cord before checking for brush wear. Check for brush
wear periodically (about every 200 hours of continuous operation). Unscrew the brush tube
caps, check the brush length, and install new brushes if the old ones are less then 3/16″
(4.7mm) in overall length. Be sure that the radius in the end of the brush is in line and
conforms to the commutator surface. Replacement brushes (MP262P) are available from
your dealer, the factory, or you may order them online from www.foredom.com.
Repair Service
Factory repairs are done promptly and at reasonable cost. If you wish, you can send your
equipment directly to the factory marked Attention: Repair Dept. Be sure to give your street
address and telephone number. The equipment should be accompanied by
a brief note describing the problem. Estimates will be made upon request.
Owner's Registration Card
Send your Owner's Registration Card to Foredom right away. We will keep your card
in our Owner's Registration File.
Bench Lathe Attachments
Tapered Spindles
A-TM5 Left Hand A-TM6 Right Hand
Precision, true running tapered spindles suitable for
speeds up to 7,000 RPM. Fits 5/16″(8mm) diameter
straight motor shafts. Double locking screws.
Suitable for use with cotton, felt, and chamois buffs
with shellac-hardened leather, or lead centers. Also
used with felt inside ring buffs on wooden mandrels.
Use A-TM5 on left side (as you face it) and
A-TM6 on right side of bench lathe.
S.BO-516N Flexade®
Comes with 5/16″ (8mm) coupling and extra flexible
30″long neoprene sheath allows you to use any of
Foredom’s interchangeable handpieces. Must be
attached to the right side of the lathe. Handpiece
not included.
Wheel Mandrels
A-WM-5 Left Hand A-WM-6 Right Hand
Mandrels to hold rubber bonded abrasive wheels,
sanding drums, brushes, and other accessories with
1/4″mounting holes and rated for maximum speeds
of 7,000 RPM or higher. Fits 5/16″(8mm) diameter
straight motor shafts.
LIMITED WARRANTY
The Foredom Electric Co. warrants the Bench Lathe to be free of defects in material or
workmanship for a period of 1 year after purchase. During the warranty period, the defective
product will be repaired or replaced without charge or, at our option, the purchase price will be
refunded. This warranty does not cover damage caused in transit or by accident, misuse, or
ordinary wear.
ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF
FITNESS AND MERCHANTABILITY, ARE HEREBY LIMITED IN DURATION TO A PERIOD
ENDING ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF PURCHASE, AND WE WILL NOT BE LIABLE OR
RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
Repair or replacement will be made at our option if the product is returned post-paid to:
The Foredom Electric Company
16 Stony Hill Road
Bethel, CT 06801 USA
All warranty repairs must be done at the factory at the above address. We will not pay any
shipping or transportation charges. This warranty only covers the original purchaser of the
product. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above
limitations may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also
have other rights which vary from state to state.
A-CHA-5 Collet Holder
Collet holder on arbor for 5/16″
diameter motor shafts. Comes
with 3/32″, 1/8″, and 1/4″ collet,
pin and wrench. For use with all
440 series collets in 1/16″to
1/4″and metric sizes. Use on
right side only.
MADCH-1 Dust Collector Hoods
Heavy gauge sheet metal construction
with non-skid pads on the bottom.
21⁄2
″(64mm) adapter fits most dust
collection system hoses.
Height: 61
⁄2 ″ (165mm)
Width: 45⁄8
″ (117mm)
Depth: 85⁄8
″ (219mm) deep
440 Series collets
P/N Nominal cap.
HP441 1/16″
HP442 3/32″ (2.3mm)
HP443 1/8″
HP444 5/32″
HP445 3/16″
HP447 1/4″
HP448 3mm
HP449 6mm
A-JCA-2
Chuck Arbor
Arbor for 5/16″diameter motor shafts adjusts to
hold accessories from 0– 5/32″(3.9mm). Comes
with key in molded plastic handle.
Use on right side only.
If this manual has been downloaded or received as a replacement to go with an
older model (made prior to 2003), the
attachments shown in this manual will not fit.
Older bench lathes require attachments that will fit 1/4″(6.35mm) straight motor shafts.
Contact your Foredom dealer or Foredom for bench lathe attachments.
Side of Arbor Hole
Part No. Lathe Diameter
A-4561 Right hand 3/8″
A-4562 Left hand 3/8″
A-4568 Both 1″
Tapered Spindle Adapters
for Scotch-Brite™
Radial Bristle Discs
FX Wheel Adapter for 3M™FX Polishing Wheels