Thread: ER32 Collet Set

I feel so inadequate.......

Originally Posted by simonl

I feel so inadequate.......

Don't worry we all had to start somewhere, some guys only start when they are around 60, so you are way ahead of them.

I bought my ER32 collet set off ebay for $280 before CTC or anyone else was on the scene. It is a good Taiwanese set, but at double the CTC price.
Now is a good time to buy with the dollar being up, who knows it may go down next week and you will be saying, I wish I had of bought the set back then.
I look at the prices now compared to when the dollar was worth 0.60c or less a few years back, and think of all the money I could have saved, so your starting at the right time.

Dave

Yea you're right. Like I said, CTC are very reasonable and for what I do, they offer a pretty good product.

Looks like I'm getting the full set, then an ER40 holder and some extra ER40 collets as required.... and then I'll get some............................................... and a ....................... oh and I better get one of those..................... Oh my god somebody stop me!
My name is simon and it's been 10 days since I last purchased a collet set. It started off as single purchases but now I only bother with entire sets.......

Dave,
You are correct in saying he who dies with the most tools wins, But unfortunantly you forgot to mention that he still dies..

Matthew,
Dying is the only way it will stop some of us buying tools.

Sinonl,
CTC will sea ship it if your not in a hurry at around a third of the postage price. It is the way to go if your ordering a lot of heavy gear. Bob L put me onto this a while back as he has it shipped that way.
CTC has about it on their "Our policies" page
CTC Tools Store Policy
Large purchases
If you are part of a business that has an on going need for one or more of our products, or you are in need of a one time large purchase, please Email usfor a quote. Include all your contact info and the items you are looking into buying. If available please also include a forcast for your usage.

Dave

Originally Posted by simonl

Looks like I'm getting the full set, then an ER40 holder and some extra ER40 collets as required....

Exactly what I bought when I first got my mill - a full ER32 set, plus an ER40 collet chuck and only the ER40 collets that are bigger than the biggest ER32. From CTC of course.

When I bought my lathe, I did two largish orders from CTC and CDCO at the same time.... Once I'd filled my cart at CTC, I had to take about half the items out - the number at the bottom of the screen was just way too big .

Hmmm, it's about time I did another order, it's at least 3 weeks since my two watercooled TIG torches turned up... Are we banned from shopping on our phones at this meeting thingy?

Thats the trouble with electronic world, it's so easy to spend.

Dave

At the next toolaholic meeting I am going to bring my laptop and dongle...............
Purely for reserch purposes you understand

Originally Posted by Dave J

Matthew,
Dying is the only way it will stop some of us buying tools.

Sinonl,
CTC will sea ship it if your not in a hurry at around a third of the postage price. It is the way to go if your ordering a lot of heavy gear. Bob L put me onto this a while back as he has it shipped that way.
CTC has about it on their "Our policies" page
CTC Tools Store Policy
Large purchases
If you are part of a business that has an on going need for one or more of our products, or you are in need of a one time large purchase, please Email usfor a quote. Include all your contact info and the items you are looking into buying. If available please also include a forcast for your usage.

Dave

You guys are all over this buying capper like white on rice. I'm gunna have a look at that policy. Think I owe you a bourbon...

Well it's been a while since I ordered my ER32 collet set, ER32 and ER40 collet holder and 50mm boring head kit but it's finally arrived!

As discussed, I opted for the cheaper shipping (surface mail from HK) which quoted delivery times of 6 - 9 weeks. Mine arrived in just under 6 weeks. Not bad timing as my mill should hit the docks in a week or so..... unless the ship hits a reef out off NZ....

The collets look pretty good... for what I need anyway. The boring head seems OK too... parts of it are not finished perfectly but hey for the price it's fine. I also figured I may as well get an ER40 collet holder since I was putting an order in anyway. If I need a larger collet than 20mm I can just buy as required at less than $10 each.

I notice people use the ER collets in their lathes too. My collet holders are a MT4, to match the spindle on the mill, my lathe has a MT5 so I also have a MT4 to MT5 sleeve that will allow use in my lathe. Now all I need to know is when would you use a er collet in the lathe?

Is it purely used as a method to accurately hold round bar concentric in the chuck for machining?

What can an ER collet do for your workpiece that a 3 or 4 jaw chuck can't do?

Cheers,

Simon

less likely to mark the work piece , and for smaller jobs no jaws getting in the way . are the 2 main things i see.

Originally Posted by simonl

What can an ER collet do for your workpiece that a 3 or 4 jaw chuck can't do?

Hi Simon

Unless you have very small 3 and 4 jaw chucks, ER collets go smaller.
They are(should be) far more accurate than a 3 jaw and far faster than a 4 jaw(at least for the second part).
I'd also say they are far less likely to mark the work.
If you are filing/polishing there is less to catch on(?)

Stuart

Better concentricity than a 3 jaw. No better than a 4 jaw but quicker and gentler because the clamping forces are more even. Some people say they're not really a work holding device but a tool holder, eg end mills. But plenty of people use them for work holding. I find mine great for holding things like screws.

That makes sense. Thanks for your collective replies guys!

Simon