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Flex Appeal: Your Definitive Guide to Flex Shafts, Bits & Accessories
The flexible shaft machine is the metalsmith’s most versatile—and often most underutilized—tool. Whether you’re investing in your very first flex shaft, looking to properly maintain the motor and handpieces you already own, or simply overwhelmed by the dizzying variety of burs, bits, and mandrels available, this deep-dive virtual class is for you.
Led by professional metalsmith and tool expert Kristin Mitsu Shiga, this online class will cover everything you need to know to get the most out of your flex shaft. You’ll learn about motor types, handpiece options, and speed controls recommended for jewelry-making and other small-scale metalwork. Kristin will also share tips on setting up your workstation, choosing the right hanger system, and organizing your burs and bits so they’re always within reach.
The highlight of this definitive workshop is Kristin’s comprehensive demonstration of nearly every type of bur, bit, and mandrel available today for drilling, cutting, grinding, sanding, and polishing—organized from coarsest to finest. You’ll see how each tool performs, when to use it, and how to extend its life with proper lubrication and running speed. Tips for drilling and shaping glass, stones and wood will also be discussed.
Through live demonstrations, a visual slideshow and take-home handouts, you’ll walk away with:
- A clear understanding of the flex shaft’s components and how they work together
- Confidence in maintaining and troubleshooting your machine
- Knowledge of which tools are best suited to your specific processes
- Practical strategies for storage, organization, and efficiency at the bench
Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned maker ready to level up your production, this workshop will leave you empowered to use your flex shaft to its fullest potential—the true workhorse of the jeweler’s bench.
For more information about virtual courses, visit our Virtual Course FAQ page.
Meet the instructor
Kristin Mitsu Shiga (she/they) is a maker, educator and small business owner with more than 30 years of experience currently living and working in rural Oregon.
Throughout her career, Kristin’s desire to balance her individual studio practice and working as part of a larger team allowed her to build an unusual skill set that includes everything from nonprofit arts administration and bookkeeping to armature-building for stop-motion animation studios. From a long line of educators, Kristin is passionate about teaching and has shared her knowledge with students at venues all over the US including Penland, Arrowmont and Haystack Mountain schools of craft, along with programs she established in New York, Oregon and Hawai’i.
Kristin believes that service is a crucial component of any career and has served in a variety of volunteer roles and on numerous nonprofit boards since 2001. She currently serves on the boards of the Hawai'i Artist Collaboration and Frogwood Artist Collaboration, and is in her second term as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the American Craft Council (ACC).
Kristin has shown her work internationally, and is included in several notable collections, including the Kamm Artful Teapot Collection and the Permanent Collection of the White House. You will find her work published in numerous books and magazines, including Art Jewelry Today, The Art of Enameling, Metalsmith’s 2017 Exhibition in Print, and several of Lark’s 500 Series books. Learn more about Kristin’s past work on Oregon Artbeat (segment originally aired in 2010).
Materials & Tools
A detailed list of flex shaft components, bits and accessories with links will be provided to registered students. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is strongly encouraged but not required.