Re: 3.5HP Router or Spindle Purchase???
Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2021 5:51 pm
What does Milwaukee say about the shaft?
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I couldn't find any specs from Milwaukee regarding the shaft. I did fine a FWW article where they measured the runout on it, but that was a 2005 article so who knows if the manufacturing tolerances are still the same.
Don't different routers have different size threads potentially? Also, ID/OD could vary a bit. Kind of wishing that I had waited now and bought the Woodpeckers one, but I already have the Milwaukee and have taken it apart and put it back together already. Had to remove the depth adjustment screw since it isn't needed for the lift and is in the way.jsburger wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 5:55 pm So the inside diameter/shape of regular wood working router spindles (i.e. PC, Bosch, Milwaukee etc.) does not match the ER profile. Am I understanding that correctly? So PreciseBits is making an ER "style" collet that fits non ER router spindles. The Woodpeckers Spinrite spindle does match and works with ER collets. Another + for Woodpeckers.
I think that is the point. ER is a precision standard. Wood working routers have no standard for their collets except the shaft diameter of the bits that will fit. ER collets are not only precision inside but precision outside. They also have a precise/optimal outside shape. The outside is what makes the difference. Kudos to Woodpeckers for supplying their router motor with an ER compliant spindle. Another example of their quest for quality.RFGuy wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 6:04 pmDon't different routers have different size threads potentially? Also, ID/OD could vary a bit. Kind of wishing that I had waited now and bought the Woodpeckers one, but I already have the Milwaukee and have taken it apart and put it back together already. Had to remove the depth adjustment screw since it isn't needed for the lift and is in the way.jsburger wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 5:55 pm So the inside diameter/shape of regular wood working router spindles (i.e. PC, Bosch, Milwaukee etc.) does not match the ER profile. Am I understanding that correctly? So PreciseBits is making an ER "style" collet that fits non ER router spindles. The Woodpeckers Spinrite spindle does match and works with ER collets. Another + for Woodpeckers.
John,jsburger wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 6:19 pm I think that is the point. ER is a precision standard. Wood working routers have no standard for there collets except the shaft diameter of the bits that will fit. ER collets are not only precision inside but precision outside. They also have a precise/optimal outside shape. The outside is what makes the difference.
Go back and look again. They are not selling ER collets for wood working routers. They are selling "ER-like" collets. That is what Roy said in one of his posts. From the Precisebits web page for the Milwaukee router...RFGuy wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 6:26 pmJohn,jsburger wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 6:19 pm I think that is the point. ER is a precision standard. Wood working routers have no standard for there collets except the shaft diameter of the bits that will fit. ER collets are not only precision inside but precision outside. They also have a precise/optimal outside shape. The outside is what makes the difference.
Thanks. Yeah, I am new to ER collets. I mean, I had heard of them before, but never used them so I am learning here and appreciate the feedback. I am just surprised that they sell ER20 collets for several other routers, and they have a 1/8" ER20 collet for my Milwaukee, but no other options apparently. I know Elaire (https://elairecorp.com/milwaukeeroutercollets.html) sells collets that look similar to ER, but they are NOT labeled as an ER collet. Unfortunately they have no specs on their website for the Milwaukee compatible collets. I will contact them next if PreciseBits confirms they have no products (ER or otherwise) that would work for me.
Thanks John. Wow, I missed that. Yes, their webpage is very confusing. Perhaps this is why my questions kept getting confusing answers back from him then. All I really wanted was a higher quality (more precise) aftermarket collet, if it exists for the Milwaukee. Maybe I should just wait until I have this beast mounted and measure runout on it. Milwaukee does sell additional collets that look ER like and are labeled as "Self-Releasing Collet and Locking Nut Assembly". I wonder if these are higher quality versions (8 segment design) than the cheap collet (4 segment design) that came with the router to begin with.jsburger wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 6:41 pm Go back and look again. They are not selling ER collets for wood working routers. They are selling "ER-like" collets. That is what Roy said in one of his posts. From the Precisebits web page for the Milwaukee router...
https://www.precisebits.com/products/eq ... p&filter=3
"Based on the ER Spring-Collet / Nut architecture, the Think & Tinker family of precision collets and nuts was designed to bring the precision and flexibility of expensive high frequency spindles to low-cost, consumer and professional grade routers."
They are not ER collets. They just look like them. Look at the top of the page. It says Think & Tinker Ltd. not ER-20.
Yes their web site is very confusing as to what they are really selling.
BTW, they are now listing 3/16 and 1/4 collets.
David,DLB wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 8:09 pm The additional discussion is interesting and has helped me. I have a Bosch 1617 so I now know about availability of precision collets (& nuts). I'm not completely convinced that so much of the runout (mine measures ~0.004") is attributed to the collet/nut. But I saw a video on this product line that seems to confirm it. I don't own any router bits that don't have a 1/4" or 1/2" shank, so the additional sizes (okay, maybe excepting 8mm, which they don't offer) available don't really appeal to me, but I'm tempted by the claimed improvement in runout.
- David