While using the router today the bit started working itself out of the chuck :o :o "can't think of the correct name" ::)
Has anyone else had this problem?
How to prevent it from happening again?
Tony 8) 8)
Do you mean the collet? That's the piece of metal with the splits behind the nut. It could be a worn collet, or something stuck in one of the splits not allowing it to close up properly. Also make sure the nut is good and tight.
Stew
There are several potential causes. If you rule out the ones mentioned by Radar67, there's one more thing you can check for. If the bit's shank is pushed all the way into the collet when you tighten it, this can prevent the nut from tightening fully, because there is a very small taper between the shank and the bit. That means that the collect will be tightening on the tapered portion of the shank, rather than the straight portion. The solution is simple: pull the bit out about 1/8 or 1/4" and re-tighten. I had problems for this reason for months before I figured out what I was doing wrong :-\.
Thanks Radar and Dodgy; I will check all remedies mentioned and I do remember pushing the bit all the way down in the collet ::) ::)
Thanks again,
Tony 8)
Back in my real long hair days I wore sandals in the shop alot, a bit falling out of the router cured me of that. No damage but it took awhile to find that bit :D.
Take off the screwcap and collet out occasionally and clean everything including the taper in the router with spirits or acetone. Dust and pitch can cause them to slip as well. I think DL got you though, pop them in and then lift a little before tightening.
Have you bought a collet for a craftsman router lately? Since I had elected to throw one of mine up on the shelf and leave it for years, I discovered that the collet was stuck. Instead of tapping the bit shank, I was going to force the collet nut to pull it. I went by Sears the other day and bought 2 of them. Of course they had to order them for a delivered price of $22.80 which included shipping. I assume they are buying their own 747 to have them delivered.
I'll bet I take better care of my router in the future.
That's cheaper than DeWalt by half... don't ask me how I know that :-[.
Back when VW's were $600 someone figgered it up by the part and it came to about $3000. I've probably got a gold mine in the driveway if I could part it out right :D
Quote from: Tony on July 11, 2007, 09:02:27 PM
While using the router today the bit started working itself out of the chuck :o :o "can't think of the correct name" ::)
heat could have glazed the collet or shank of the router bit...
use a green scrubby pad to sctrach up the glaze..
I was thinking along the same lines as you guys.
On another note, I was on my way in here to announce that I had my big Makita router looked at because it had seized up last winter. Well you guys were right, it was the brushes. They were just corroded a bit from sitting idle in a damp shop. The electrician wasn't 5 minutes fix'n it up, no charge. ;D 8)
Never studied about electric motors ya know. Too busy chasing ash. ;D
If you ain't careful, SD, you will be doing your routing in the Woodshed :D