Shopsmith Forums

Chris's thread on buying his router reminded me to ask a question:

Has anyone tried to use a quick-change collet as shown on FWW site http://www.finewoodworking.com/tool-gui ... asier.aspx ?

Amazon has a ½" one for Porter Cale routers at $70. If I did a lot of routing I would try one - I think.

Forrest

I don't think so! Not for me. I have plenty of time to just continue using the collets that I have been using. They take time and can be frustrating when the change necessitates more setup but .... maybe I just resist change.

Not for me! My Porter cable bit changes work wonderfully with the standard collets. I use the little push cylinder as shown in the first part of the video and have absolutely no issues with the collets or the bits I use.

No need for a new gadget.

I just installed one on my router and like it. I will be giving it a good test later this evening but expect it to be a good addition for me.

Jack

claimdude wrote:I just installed one on my router and like it. I will be giving it a good test later this evening but expect it to be a good addition for me.

Jack

Jack,

Looking forward to any comments.

This looks like a possible enhancement for my table router and perhaps CNC router. I see PreciseBits has precision reducers http://www.precisebits.com/products/equ ... .asp?tsPT= down to 1/8".

More like 10 years ago or maybe even more they came out with these "quick" change chucks. I don't recall the brand I tried but I was extreeeeemly disappointed with it. Not only did not work well it also tore up the shank of that bit I had mounted. It did not snug up tight enough and the bit spun leaving a gouge where the gap was.

I returned the chuck for a full refund but they would not make good for the bit that was damaged.

Now the video showed a different design then the one I had but from my bad experience I don't see me ever going back down that road. Besides with all the routers I own it makes very little since to have that feature on just one of them and way to costly to do them all so I'll opt to stay with what ever they each have already. Besides it is simply not that hard to change bits or routers when needed. In fact I like the two wrench system better then the lock spindle, just know the trick to using the wrenches makes all the difference in the world.

Ed

reible wrote:More like 10 years ago or maybe even more they came out with these "quick" change chucks. I don't recall the brand I tried but I was extreeeeemly disappointed with it. Not only did not work well it also tore up the shank of that bit I had mounted. It did not snug up tight enough and the bit spun leaving a gouge where the gap was.

I returned the chuck for a full refund but they would not make good for the bit that was damaged.

Now the video showed a different design then the one I had but from my bad experience I don't see me ever going back down that road. Besides with all the routers I own it makes very little since to have that feature on just one of them and way to costly to do them all so I'll opt to stay with what ever they each have already. Besides it is simply not that hard to change bits or routers when needed. In fact I like the two wrench system better then the lock spindle, just know the trick to using the wrenches makes all the difference in the world.

Ed

If there's a trick, I love to know it. My sloppy old Crapsman plunge router has a collet lock, and getting a single wrench on the collet nut was never a big deal. Fumbling with two wrenches on my newer PC690's is a PITA so far. But at least I can cut accurately with them.

I've had one on a PC 7539 for several years and really like it. Recently bought one at Rockler store for a PC690 that's on the Jointmatic. They work great.

The trick is to always squeeze the wrenches together. This works for both tightening and loosening, yea really.

Ed

BuckeyeDennis wrote:

reible wrote:More like 10 years ago or maybe even more they came out with these "quick" change chucks. I don't recall the brand I tried but I was extreeeeemly disappointed with it. Not only did not work well it also tore up the shank of that bit I had mounted. It did not snug up tight enough and the bit spun leaving a gouge where the gap was.

I returned the chuck for a full refund but they would not make good for the bit that was damaged.

Now the video showed a different design then the one I had but from my bad experience I don't see me ever going back down that road. Besides with all the routers I own it makes very little since to have that feature on just one of them and way to costly to do them all so I'll opt to stay with what ever they each have already. Besides it is simply not that hard to change bits or routers when needed. In fact I like the two wrench system better then the lock spindle, just know the trick to using the wrenches makes all the difference in the world.

Ed

If there's a trick, I love to know it. My sloppy old Crapsman plunge router has a collet lock, and getting a single wrench on the collet nut was never a big deal. Fumbling with two wrenches on my newer PC690's is a PITA so far. But at least I can cut accurately with them.

reible wrote:The trick is to always squeeze the wrenches together. This works for both tightening and loosening, yea really.

Ed

Got it. My problem to date has been keeping those skinny wrenches on their respective nuts. We'll see if I'm sufficiently coordinated with the aid of "the trick".