Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 16 to 18 of 18
  1. #16
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    34
    Posts
    6,127

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rayintheuk View Post
    Now that the "Hitachi-style" collet has almost disappeared in new routers, it's far easier to get dedicated collets for a variety of bit shaft sizes to fit the same router. There is no doubt that this is a far more secure and satisfying method of achieving the required grip on the cutter shaft and I cannot recommend the use of reducing inserts except as a last resort and then only if the insert slot is lined up with one of the collet slots.

    Ray
    We use a 1/2"-3/8" reducer at work for the router that's set up with a finger-joint jig. It does 2" deep, full width (3/8" carbide spiral) in one cut. Only seen a bit work its way out once in 10 years. I agree that it's not ideal, but I see no reason to avoid such a setup if it's convenient.

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Age
    2010
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #17
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Sydney Upper North Shore
    Posts
    4,464

    Default

    In relation to my post above. Where I can buy collets assemblies, I do. I have a 1/2", 1/4" and 8mm for my Triton. I can't buy a 3/8" so I have to use a reducer for my 3/8" spiral bit.

  4. #18
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Crowborough, East Sussex, UK
    Posts
    820

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by elanjacobs View Post
    We use a 1/2"-3/8" reducer at work for the router that's set up with a finger-joint jig. It does 2" deep, full width (3/8" carbide spiral) in one cut. Only seen a bit work its way out once in 10 years. I agree that it's not ideal, but I see no reason to avoid such a setup if it's convenient.
    That's fine in the circumstances you outline, but it's also, IMO, irrelevant to this thread as you're describing a commercial use - thereby involving all sorts of risk assessment and safety considerations of the person who owns the premises. The majority of readers of these posts are hobbyists and - as such - their expertise ranges from novice to skilled enthusiast. Particularly for the novice user, any risk of a less-than-ideal situation is to be avoided. As a user becomes more proficient and experienced, usually with the odd "near-miss" along the way, they can see and assess the likely risks better and act accordingly.

    In a commercial operation such as you describe, the onus is on the employer and employees have redress if accidents happen, assuming that safety procedures have been followed. No such redress applies to the home user, which is why I firmly believe that dedicated collets are ALWAYS superior to reducing inserts and should always be recommended over them. A collet using a reducing insert will always require more tightening than a dedicated collet, not something generally appreciated by new users - and the degree of the extra torque required to close both the collet and the reducer around the cutter shaft has no known formula in my experience. Some will use the same degree of pressure regardless and may get away with it, some may not be so lucky. Others will over-tighten and then may be unable to retrieve the bit without damage in extreme cases (see another post regarding just this).

    Please excuse the length of this diatribe, but I never have (nor ever will) be comfortable using or recommending reducing inserts (or chuck extensions, but that's a different reason).

    Ray

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Similar Threads

  1. USA style router collet for Triton
    By lesmeyer in forum TRITON / GMC
    Replies: 62
    Last Post: 18th December 2009, 06:41 AM
  2. Triton Router Collet in USA and other countries
    By lesmeyer in forum TRITON / GMC
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 2nd November 2008, 10:17 PM
  3. 6mm or 8mm collet for triton router
    By nigeb in forum TRITON / GMC
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 11th December 2007, 11:27 PM
  4. Interested in seeing the US Triton Router collet?
    By Stuart in forum TRITON / GMC
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 21st August 2007, 02:10 PM
  5. Triton Router 1/4 reducing collet
    By Woodlee in forum ROUTING FORUM
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 24th April 2007, 09:55 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •