Shopsmith Forums

Today I have been busy making some box joints for an electrical box and in the process needed to change the bit in my router from a dove-tail to a 1/4" straight bit. I measured the depth I wanted, dropped it into the router, used the two wrenches to tighten it slightly, and used my Wixley to set the depth exactly. What's the big deal? I have always read in other posts about changing bits as a "Three handed job". For years I have been putting a 1/4" "O" ring on the shank of the bit to stop it in the collet where I want it so I can use both hands to tighten the collet nut. Maybe this has been mentioned before but if it has, I missed it. You can get the "O" rings 1/4 and 1/2 at Ace or any box store. They will rot and need to be replaced every so often. Just a tip

Excellent tip.

Thanks for sharing.

One needs to know the end of collet to desired cut depth for it to work.

Hmmm! Mayve we have different type of collet. Mine is on a Porter Cable. I always visually place the bit into the collet, then screw the collet into the router. My router has a spring loaded stop on the drive shaft so I can use only one wrench.

Makes changing bits on top of a router table a snap.

charlese wrote:Hmmm! Mayve we have different type of collet. Mine is on a Porter Cable. I always visually place the bit into the collet, then screw the collet into the router. My router has a spring loaded stop on the drive shaft so I can use only one wrench.

Makes changing bits on top of a router table a snap.

I like Bosh routers, but they have the 2 wrench thing, one for the shaft, one for the collet, PITA but never had a problem with bit setting depth in the collet. Now I have the Muscle Chuck and no problemo with the 2 wrenches, Thanks to Ed/reible.
http://musclechuck.com/

The Bosch router doesn't have a spring loaded stop.

Don G

Good tip, I'll have to check my Porter Cable and my crappy Skill (router that is). Good looking jig, care to elaborate?