Thread: Let's talk ER chucks & collets

Originally Posted by gregoryq

Ken, I'd buy all the bits from the same source just to try and get a combined shipping deal. And I'd get the complete set of collets just because I think (can't recall exactly) there are one or two important gaps in the small set. You can tell by the collet postage that they are using postage rates to make up for the crazy cheap selling price.

Boring heads: Hmmmm. I don't know. I have a German (Wohlhaupter) head that came with my mill. I understand that it cost $3,200.00 back in the day. What were people thinking?. The world is chock-a-block with copies. Maybe the yank forums will point you toward a good 'un. (Although methinks that Vertex is highly regarded? Don't know for sure) Criterion is a US make that is well-regarded over there. Narex is the Japanese version of the Wohlhaupter, similar prices. Ebay, as always...

You'll be wanting a face mills too, and a fly-cutter. And edge finders. etc etc...

GQ

The Narex boring head catalogue is worth downloading. While you are at, download the milling catalogue and check out the adjustable milling attachment. Us usual, the starting size is ISO 40.

http://www.narexmte.cz/prospekty/In_Boring_Tools.pdf


BT

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Plus one for the complete set, mine are from onlineseller on Ebay, mainly because his postage is cheaper than CTC.

My boring head and face mills came from CDCO, bought a heap of tooling from him for the R8 spindle on my new mill to fill a Flat Rate box. He only charges the USPS rate and it arrived here in less than a week. When you get your face mill don't forget to order extra carbide inserts.

How do you find his boring head? I've heard mixed reports. I'll probably shop around for a metric version, but since Frank (CDCO) sends me near weekly "care packages" for my tool addiction who knows

I've used nearly all the tooling I bought in this shipment, except for the boring head. Two reasons for that, I haven't needed to use the boring head for anything and I have never used one before, it looks rather daunting!

It appears very well made, I have put the various boring bars I bought with it in there and played around with the adjustment etc. Had it in the mill, but haven't actually "bored" anything yet.

I have used his face mills and the fly cutter, all this stuff is so much bigger than some of the tooling I used on my little X2.

I said earlier that Narex was Japanese. I see now that they are in fact Czech made.

Originally Posted by Pete F

How do you find his boring head? I've heard mixed reports. I'll probably shop around for a metric version, but since Frank (CDCO) sends me near weekly "care packages" for my tool addiction who knows

Hi, My name is Pete and I am a tool addict...

I am not quite that bad yet... My care package is monthly or bi-monthly...

Ken,

You will find that after fitting the Hercus out with the taper attachment, boring table, extended cross slide, milling attachment, QCTP and maybe even a turret, you run out of things to spend your money on except for the occasional bit of high speed steel.

Now with a mill, it doesn't end! No one's mentioned the rotary table, the dividing head and tailstock, the vise and the power feed you'll be craving for, along with the tool and cutter grinder you are going to need to keep all those cutters sharp.

You can see why some old codgers take up bowls.

BT

Hi, My name is Pete and I am a tool addict...


I just love it RC.!

BT

AB,

Do you ever have time for a Nana nap, I didn't think so?

Sounds like you have one hell of a workshop, I'm surprised your missus has time to talk to you, let alone find you. No doubt at one end will be the pot belly stove, a sink, a kettle, a small old round fronted fridge, and a place to sit next to the dog. I envy you.

One day, one day, I'll get there. Gotta get a shed first.

Ken

Ken,

I was tempted to have a quick kip yesterday arvo but I fought it off.

My shed is so full of s..t that if you fell over you wouldn't hit the floor! Definitely no room for the home comforts you mention. Not even the dog.

It took me a total of 3 days to get my mill into it's final position in the shed because of the amount of junk in the way. Here are a couple of photos of it outside. In a movie my wife took when I'd hauled it off the trailer, I told her it had taken 3 hours to get it from the trailer to it's position in the photo. If you look you will see the base has four stumpy feet, the source of my problems in moving it. I had a baulk of timber and a couple of jacks under that ramp to stop the thing collapsing.

BT

AB,
When you give up your afternoon nap you are bitten by the bug real bad, no hope for you incurable condition worsens with age. From the second photo I see your head space problem, by the time you bolt a decent size vise on that mill there will not be much space left. Nice robust design.
Bob

Have just purchased a 19 set of ER32 collets and chuck from CTC for about $142. This might not be the cheapest price around, but what swung me was the rapid response I got from them.

I sent them an email via eBay, and within 3 minutes, had a favorable reply. Same with follow up emails.

PayPay will hold things up, so let's hope delivery is as prompt as their emails are.

I'll let you know when they arrive and what I think.

Ken

KJ,

My experience has been that the shipping is slow, 2 to 2 1/2 week delivery time but CTC send their gear via registered mail which means it wont be dumped at the front door for all and sundry to see.

What collet nut spanner are you receiving? If it's the simple hook spanner that they usually provide, it would be worth replacing (or augmenting ) it with the 4 pin spanner they or others sell.

BT

Mine usually turn up in around 9-10 days. It would have been cheaper buying through his store. You still pay by paypal so your still covered.

Dave

Forgot to add that Bob's right about the spanner. The C spanners are not much good because you really need to torque the nuts down tight, you want one like this
ER32 SAFETY SPANNER #A47

Dave