pyotr filipivich wrote:
Greetings

I have a harbor freight router table, which "mostly works".

However, the problem I'm having is getting 1/4 collets tight to
hold the router bits. It seems to me that first I must tighten up the
collar really tight ("till it snaps, then back off a quarter turn"),
before I can get the router bit to stop sliding in or out.
This gets to be a problem when I'm having to set a height at the
same time. So far I've been able to support the slot cutter bit to
the height above the table with a bit of wood scrap, then proceed to
tighten things up. But as I said, it seems that I've tightened the
collet "to murder tight" and it "should" be holding, but I can still
wiggle the router bit.

So, is shimming the collet in some manner a "good" idea? Let me
rephrase that, it seems "a good idea" , but is it a smart one?

After you apply something, say duct tape to the router bit see if
you are able to pull it out, even with a pair of pliers. I think
that if the bit is not "secure" then the configuration is not
safe. I would keep checking the bit as you work. As soon as you
detect it's loose, then it's time to buy a new router.


--
pyotr filipivich
Just because they're invisible doesn't mean they are your friends.