Thread: Trim Router advice

Hi Peter
Take away the promotional pricing, adjust for US to AUD conversion, shipping and GST and the price looks comparable with buying from Bunnings.

or am I missing something?

The Ebay one looks surprisingly similar to a GMC .

And in the USA it is sold by Grizzly (the American version of Carbatec) ...

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Gri...ge-Base/T27139

Regards from Perth

Derek

I've written the review on the Chinese trimmer and posted it HERE

I’ve updated the review thread, but just in case someone stumbles on this one - I can confirm that the Standard Makita RTO700 collet and collet nut fits this Chinese copy, and (in my case at least) solves the Wobble issue.

EDIT: and today I received my 6mm spiral bit along with a Makita-compatible 6mm collet - once again, it fits perfectly

Originally Posted by Bernmc

I’ve updated the review thread, but just in case someone stumbles on this one - I can confirm that the Standard Makita RTO700 collet and collet nut fits this Chinese copy, and (in my case at least) solves the Wobble issue.

Another coincidence. Or Makita copied the chinese?



Cheers

Graeme

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Another coincidence. Or Makita copied the chinese?

It’s a pretty blatant copy - I have a mate with the Makita so we had a good look at both side-by-side. Apart from the position of the speed control, there’s little to tell them a part. Quality of the Makita is clearly better - everything just seems a little more robust. But the attachements (I only have the fixed base and bits) are all easily interchangeable. I had to be careful to keep the genuine and the copy bits in clearly separate piles.

It’ll be interesting to see how long the copy lasts. I’ll be using mine a fair bit.

I also have a Makita RTO700 collet coming for an AU supplier, good to know it should fit.

Mike.

MandJ:

If it does, could you possibly post a link to the supplier?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Gassito

MandJ:

If it does, could you possibly post a link to the supplier?

Thanks.

Hi, here is the link anyway: 6.35mm (1/4") $10.95 + around $3.00 standard AP postage or a faster option for around 7.00$.

Collets for Makita RT0700/

Mandj, Gassito;

Just be aware that those collets aren't genuine Makita; they are "suitable for". If you are still getting run out after fitting one of those you might be back to square one again, although you should be able to get a replacement so long as you can measure it up and prove it's defective. I truly hope it does work though as that would be closure for you.

Proving or not that a genuine collet cures the wobble is an essential part of the review I am writing; although if the you find that the copy is also effective can you please post this info in both threads? I'll probably buy one myself as I now have two of the trimmers but will only have one working collet.

Trade Tools are supplying a genuine Makita one for me for $21, but that's delivered to the store. If you don't have a similar dealer close to you then you'll cop a shipping fee also.

Yes no problem, if it does not measure up then I'll let everyone know either way, at such a low cost I'm not risking much in trying one of these, I've already proven the rest of the router by trying the 3/8" collet and the bit ran true with that.

Thank you everyone.

Collet finally arrived, at first it looked perfect with my centering bit. This bit is a typical HEAVY 80mm long combined 1/4" and 1/2" shaft centering tool, I doubt it's actually balanced at higher speeds, or even meant to run at speed, but I'm glad I continued to play around with the router before posting.

There is something strange going on. When I tried the original collet again it was as usual slightly out, I placed the new collet back in and now the centering bit was out by a small amount???

Turns out that I had fluked putting it in the one position that it ran true, any other position and it doesn't??

The original collet does this to some extent but is always slightly out. I marked the position, and every time I place a bit in the collet it runs true.

However: If I spin the centering but up to a higher speed, I reach a point where it suddenly starts to vibrate, AGAIN! I doubt the centering bit is balanced and meant to spin.

The problem is that when I drop the speed back to slow, the centering point is no longer turning true. I have the collet locked down tightly but I suspect that the collet is moving / tilting slightly in some way? If I undo the collet slightly and then retighten, the centering bit runs true again?

Without further testing it appears that either the clone collets are not mating into the holder perfectly OR the holder is not machined correctly.

I don't have the time at the moment to set this up with the dial gauge so I'm unsure of the cause. I'll hold off doing any more until someone tests this thoroughly with a real Makita collet.

Obviously at this stage I can't recommend this collet, if a genuine collet does not work correctly then it's a machining issue with the router head and shaft, the 3/8" collet is shorter in length and a different shape, it appears to mate correctly when tightened.

Mike.