Thread: Set of Er20 multi sized Collets?

I got my ER25 set of collets from this guy, very good quality and service.

I have brought the Chinese collets ER11, ER16 and ER25 from the ebay sellers and had no problems with runout. An issue you might find is the nut on the spindle is a ER20B which means it does not have the second ring on the collet. No problem as you can order a ER20 nut at the same time and same supplier as your collets. When my new nut arrived I had to use a bit of valve grinding paste to relieve the thread on the nut.

I got a set of ER25 collets and holder from the same guy. Good stuff.

I also have a full set of ER25 (X3 mill) and ER16 (router) and quality seems fine to me.

However on the mill I use a variety of sizes, but on the router I only use 1/4" and 1/8" shanked bits. So the metric set was a bit of a waste for me.

I have also a 1/4" and 1/8" collet for both the mill and router.

Now you will hear it said that the metric collets cover those sizes so why the imperial size collets.

1/8" is 3.175mm so a 4mm collet must be used which means it must squeeze down from 4mm to 3.175 before it will grip the shank and also 7mm must be used for a 1/4" bit (6.35mm)

When they are squeezed down like that they only grip the tool on a series of points and as you are tightening the nut you realise how much the collet must be reduced before gripping the tool.

So in a situation where I only occasionally used imperial sizes I would live with it, but on my router where I only use imperial size shanks I prefer imperial collets.

Greg

Rod - thanks for the heads up on the nut will ensure i get the Er20!

Greg - thanks for that i wouldn't have thought about that and just bought metric, definitly makes sense in regard to the presure required to secure the bit and only connecting on certain points, i guess that in turn could possibly put your tolerences out ever so slightly and also how well the collet is holding onto the bit.

Fred/Geoff looks as though i'll be buying off the same bloke!!

Thank you all for your advice definitely helps me make a more informed decision!
Cheers

I just ordered a set too, the one that came with spindle did not handle the 1/4 inch bits...

So do we have an imperial supplier or ER collets I found a couple some time back but it hurt my eyes looking at the prices

I guess I may have to wear sunglasses and check them out again.

This is as good as you will get today
Dealt with these guys and had no problem.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/9-Pc-ER16-Spr...1%7C240%3A1318

Yeah Rod is the ebay expert in my book.

I bought only a couple of sizes and paid almost as much as this set.

Greg

I have bought several things from CTCTools through Ebay and found him very good for quality as well as service.

Just learned that he also has his own shopfront/website, may be handy to know as not all the things they have are always on Ebay

Here is the web address:

http://www.ctctools.biz/servlet/StoreFront

I just bought some ER32 unts with collets from CTC. Look, just make sure you get a price on shipping as i paid as much for shipping as the units. Also make sure you buy from one ebay store as items listed on Aus and UK, etc can not be combined.

I am sure i got stiffed a bit on the shipping, just want to make sure no one else does.

I find a lot of ebayers out of China and Hong Kong over charge for shipping. It seems to be a tactic from these places that you keep the price low and pick up on the shipping/handling charge. I hope you rated them accordingly in your feedback as this is the only way they will change when they see their shipping and handling rating very low.

Hey Rod,

I haven't rated him yet. I am waiting to get my goods before i provide feedback.
I want to weigh the goods, check the cost of freight from the shipper to see how much the goods actually would cost to ship.

Nigel bought 40 collets from the USA which weighed 5Kg and cost US$40 to freight.
I bought 38 collets and 2 R8 holders, which ship from Honkers and i got charged Aus$190, which implies a difference of Aus$120 after conversion.

Now it was my fault not to ask for the freight cost first, so I may just have to wear the cost. But i don't think i'll ever buy anything from CTC again.

Mike

I can understand you being a bit miffed.

I would be too.

Greg