Quick Change Router Bit
Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 1:42 pm
I got a Musclechuck recently and think it’s a great addition to my little shop. Basically it’s a camless quick change router chuck. It’s not a one size fits all. You need to know your exact model and then you find it on their chart and can provide an exact fit.
I’ve always found using two wrenches each time I mount or remove a bit to be really yech! It’s especially bad when mounted in a router table without a router lift. (if you have a router lift maybe this doesn’t apply?) I have to remove the router from the table to access the chuck and get my two wrenches in place. And if you have a fence mounted it’s also problematic.
Not any more, at least not for me. The chuck tightens or loosens a bit with an approximate ¼ turn of a 5/32” allen wrench. That’s right the very same wrench we use for our SS. I use a ball end wrench which gives me ever greater flexibility. Now I can easily remove or mount a bit without removing the router from the table.
It’s worked great on every bit I’ve tried. I did have some serious vibration with this chamfer bit but I just loosened it and turned the bit about ¼ turn, re-tightened and it was fine. . It works well with reducers so you can use ¼” shank bits just as easily as ½” shank.
I got mine on Amazon but Rockler and Woodcraft have it too.
I’ve always found using two wrenches each time I mount or remove a bit to be really yech! It’s especially bad when mounted in a router table without a router lift. (if you have a router lift maybe this doesn’t apply?) I have to remove the router from the table to access the chuck and get my two wrenches in place. And if you have a fence mounted it’s also problematic.
Not any more, at least not for me. The chuck tightens or loosens a bit with an approximate ¼ turn of a 5/32” allen wrench. That’s right the very same wrench we use for our SS. I use a ball end wrench which gives me ever greater flexibility. Now I can easily remove or mount a bit without removing the router from the table.
It’s worked great on every bit I’ve tried. I did have some serious vibration with this chamfer bit but I just loosened it and turned the bit about ¼ turn, re-tightened and it was fine. . It works well with reducers so you can use ¼” shank bits just as easily as ½” shank.
I got mine on Amazon but Rockler and Woodcraft have it too.
- MC 470.jpg (56.77 KiB) Viewed 8875 times
- unit mounted on router in table
- MC 469.jpg (61.97 KiB) Viewed 8875 times
- with bit
- MC 467.jpg (60.54 KiB) Viewed 8875 times
- tightening bit into chuck
- MC 468.jpg (65.49 KiB) Viewed 8875 times
- ball end T wrench 471.jpg (31.11 KiB) Viewed 8875 times
