Thread: I surrender ......

Well seeing the time of the post, could be you are not actually in the shed but sleeping and this is all a dream.

Coming back from dream time. Sometimes it is better to walk away for a few hours. Then come back fresh and ready to go.

Hoods GMC small routers have a well known problem with doing this to bits. No fix for it other than finding a good hearted Tool maker who can make up a decent collett to suit.

I have the 1050Watt and it does the same, these routers are ARPIA dangerous and should have all been recalled and replaced at GMC's expense. I can't complain to much a new 1500Watt replacment wa sent out in place of a decent collett.

Sheesh - that lot sounds mighty unpleasant for sure. Cheap routers running big bits at 10,000 RPM is never a good combo, but I guess you've formed that opinion too!

First thing - extracting the bit. Given the Xtreme Extension is toast, get a hacksaw, mount the extension in the vice and make a vertical cut, parallel to the router bit right down the middle, and go as deep as you dare without cutting into the router bit itself. Go for a cold chisel, put it into the kerf and give it some encouraging love taps. I'd suggest wrapping a cloth around the exposed router bit just to give it some protection if it happens to dislodge suddenly.

By love tap, I imagine something pretty solid! This hopefully will cause the extension to crack a little - and that will mean the bit is free.

Alternately, you could try heat. Actually start with heat, and if it doesn't work, resort to hacksaw!

As far as router tables go in general, I have a number of posts on Stu's Shed (and video) that may, in combination, give a picture into some approaches to tables (think I have a video or two about them too).

Hmmmm. I have a never used Ozito that I won as a raffle prize. Must check it out before I use.

Hoods, Roger Gifkins sells a collet made to his own specifications. Look up his site. I think at $22 it will be money well spent.

Ouch !!!!!

I shudder when the picture of a router extension holding up a CMT flush trim bit comes to mind, then spinning that skyscraper at speed

Top speed on the GMC is around 32,000 IIRC, did you start at slowest speed?

Had you bottomed out the bit and/or the extension, either would cause excessive vibration, both ....... .

If you have not bottomed out the round over bit you can often release them by hitting them in a bit further, of cause the collet has to be loosened.

Failing that you can put the bit into a vice upside down ( the bit in the vice with the extension pointing towards the floor), the using a piece of hardwood on a shoulder and a hammer to try and force it loose, all the time ensuring your feet are well clear and a blanket on the ground to catch the released part.

Next time you head to a hardware store see if you can pick up the cheap black router bit set, 1/2" shank and play with those, from memory there is a dozen or so bits in there with various profiles, a good learner set, they allow you find out which bits you like to use & upgrade to better ones later plus you can make mistakes with out hurting the wallet.

Any chance of photo's of the GMC the crack and maybe a re-run and video

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Any chance of photo's of the GMC the crack and maybe a re-run and video

Yeh ,Photos please--Please-Sounds like a high speed crash.

The damaged router will do me thanks

Originally Posted by wheelinround

The damaged router will do me thanks

Seriously? You can have it for the price of the postage.

WE WHEELY WANT to see some photos first,Don't we WHEEELY.
Sorry just want to see some photos

Originally Posted by Hoods

Seriously? You can have it for the price of the postage.

Didn't mean I wanted the router just a pic of the split part could be why mine keeps letting go of the bit.

Thanks all for suggestions - even the requests for a replay. Photo of the damaged router here ... couldn't get a good clear shot with crappy camera, but you can see the broken housing and exposed gear. Broken GMC Router

Can anyone suggest the best reasonable and affordable router to attach to a cast-iron table? I don't want to spend much more than $350-$400, and of course would love to spend less, but it seems I will have to give up smoking and buy something mid-range. Shopping around on the web I just got totally confused by the various options and opinions! I have a mate here for the next few weeks who can help me to set it up, so want to take advantage of his "experience" - quotes because everything is relative, and it doesn't take much to surpass my level.

Originally Posted by Stuart

Given the Xtreme Extension is toast ...

As far as router tables go in general, I have a number of posts on Stu's Shed (and video) that may, in combination, give a picture into some approaches to tables (think I have a video or two about them too).

Toast, is it? Darn. Was hoping to salvage everything! The collett cost about $65 and the extension - can't remember, but probably about $80 with postage. Oh well ...

Any chance of a link to the best pages in the shed, Stu? Can't see anything in the current thread titles. I am stuck with the Carba-tech table, which is probably a perfectly adequate table - I just don't know how to set it up best. Have totally lost my confidence, anyway, should I say.

Cheers
Hoods

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Didn't mean I wanted the router just a pic of the split part could be why mine keeps letting go of the bit.

OIC I submitted the pic, Broken GMC Router but I doubt yours is that far gone! It worked fine with smaller bits, initially on test runs, but as others have pointed out I was obviously getting a bit carried away with my expectations when I killed it with the flush trim.