Looking to get a basic set of 5c collets. I'm finding many different
prices, expensive ones by Hardinge, cheaper ones made in China.

Is there a brand that give good value for the money?

Chuck

"roninchuck" wrote in message
...
Looking to get a basic set of 5c collets. I'm finding many different
prices, expensive ones by Hardinge, cheaper ones made in China.

Is there a brand that give good value for the money?

Chuck

I've had perfect luck with the cheapies.

roninchuck wrote:

Is there a brand that give good value for the money?

Depends upon how you define value and what sort of work you
intend to do. 5C collets should be sprung ever so slightly
open so that exact size stock will readily slip through the
collet without marring the surface. Hardinge talks about
this. Hardinge, Royal, Lyndex are the top names in
descending order of quality, but really, are very close.

I've never found significant runout in a Chinese collet but
have heard of it. What I have found are collets that are
sprung small so that it's difficult to get say, .500
material in a 1/2" collet. If you have time, collect your
collets on ebay. I've got nearly a full set now, at less
than 1/4 the price of new, shipping included.

For occasional hobby use though, chinese collets will
probably suffice.

Jon

roninchuck wrote:

Looking to get a basic set of 5c collets. I'm finding many different
prices, expensive ones by Hardinge, cheaper ones made in China.

I'm fond of Lyndex, Japanese made and less expensive than Hardinge.

My first purchase a was 1/8 - 1 by eights set with a separatedly purchased 5/16.

Assuming you are doing hobby work, you can buy any other sizes you find you have need of
when the need actually comes.

Wes

On Sep 25, 12:42*am, Jon Anderson wrote:
roninchuck wrote:

I've never found significant runout in a Chinese collet but
have heard of it. What I have found are collets that are
sprung small so that it's difficult to get say, .500
material in a 1/2" collet. If you have time, collect your
collets on ebay. I've got nearly a full set now, at less
than 1/4 the price of new, shipping included.

For occasional hobby use though, chinese collets will
probably suffice.

Jon

My collets are a mix of new Enco and used ones of uncertain ancestry.
None of them run true to 0.0001" and IIRC a few show some noticeable
wobble, the hole is slightly angled. The worst one is a Hardinge with
about 0.002" of wear but since it springs open it's good for heavily
anodized aluminum rod from the hardware store that's rarely to size.

For non-commercial hobby work I suggest buying good ones for the sizes
of ground drill rod you use and accumulate others as needed.

You can wedge those tight collets open with three small screwdrivers.

On Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:42:32 -0800, Jon Anderson
wrote:

roninchuck wrote:

Is there a brand that give good value for the money?

Depends upon how you define value and what sort of work you
intend to do. 5C collets should be sprung ever so slightly
open so that exact size stock will readily slip through the
collet without marring the surface. Hardinge talks about
this. Hardinge, Royal, Lyndex are the top names in
descending order of quality, but really, are very close.


This is the biggest thing I have found, My 20 year old TTC(Travers
Tool Co.) set all spring slightly closed.. A bitch to get work in and
out especially if you don't want to scratch the hell out of it getting
it in/out of the collet.

I started to buy Lyndex collets.

Thank You,
Randy

Remove 333 from email address to reply.