I've occasionally used carbide spiral end mills in my router. The
problem with end mills is that the shank is normally the same diameter
as the cutter. I finally solved the problem by ordering a set of
collets that'll let me chuck up anything (including drill bits!) with
shank sizes between 1/8" and 5/8". They arrived yesterday and I was so
tickled that I almost posted a gloat; but decided that it was more of
a neener than a gloat - then decided to post it anyway. :-)

Photo on news:alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

In article ,
"Morris Dovey" wrote:

I've occasionally used carbide spiral end mills in my router. The
problem with end mills is that the shank is normally the same diameter
as the cutter. I finally solved the problem by ordering a set of
collets that'll let me chuck up anything (including drill bits!) with
shank sizes between 1/8" and 5/8". They arrived yesterday and I was so
tickled that I almost posted a gloat; but decided that it was more of
a neener than a gloat - then decided to post it anyway. :-)

I detect a strong sense of neenerness with a big toe hanging over the
gloat line.
I, for one, appreciate the expanded versatility now at your fingertips.
I buy 3/8" diameter shank spirals and need to use phenolic reducing
bushings. I would like to buy/use 3/16 bits too.

Nice score, Morris... I feel some suction.....

(A 1/8" bit hanging off a 5HP Colombo.....*shudder*.. scatter
shield=ON..)

Robatoy (in )
said:

| Nice score, Morris... I feel some suction.....
|
| (A 1/8" bit hanging off a 5HP Colombo.....*shudder*.. scatter
| shield=ON..)

Thanks. I think you may as well give up now and start thinking
seriously about where you're going to put a 4x8 router table. Methinks
it won't be long now... :-)

I haven't worried much about the 1/8" bits since I chucked up a 1/32"
bit (with a 1/8" shank) and cut to a depth of 1/2" (in 1/16"
increments). Trying to feed too fast (or _way_ too slow) for any
extended distance is what seems to break bits.

I've managed to break four bits so far - and the loose end has always
been left sitting at the end of the (incomplete) cut. Even so, I
recently built a little shield that I can roll between the operator
console and the spindle for "iffy" operations.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

Morris
Can you give me details about the collets you bought?
max

I've occasionally used carbide spiral end mills in my router. The
problem with end mills is that the shank is normally the same diameter
as the cutter. I finally solved the problem by ordering a set of
collets that'll let me chuck up anything (including drill bits!) with
shank sizes between 1/8" and 5/8". They arrived yesterday and I was so
tickled that I almost posted a gloat; but decided that it was more of
a neener than a gloat - then decided to post it anyway. :-)

Photo on news:alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

max (in ) said:

| Can you give me details about the collets you bought?

Gladly. They're standard ER-25 spring collets. These are Bison brand
made in Poland and purchased from KBC Tools (http://www.kbctools.com)
with catalog number 7-171-295. Purchased as a set of 12 collets, they
come in a storage box and cost about $US130.

ER-25 is a European collet standard and I suspect there'd be much joy
if it (or any of the ER standards) were adopted worldwide by router
producers. They're available from a number of different manufacturers
and distributors.

Each spring collet can hold a (small) range of shank sizes. The
nominal 1/2" collet, for example, is suitable for shank sizes from
0.472" to 0.511".

Oh yes - they're available individually; so it's not a big deal if it
becomes necessary to replace just one of the set.

Does that provide the details you were after?

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

In article ,
"Morris Dovey" wrote:

[snip]

Thanks. I think you may as well give up now and start thinking
seriously about where you're going to put a 4x8 router table. Methinks
it won't be long now... :-)

Goodness, am I that transparent?..*G*
Let's just say I downloaded the .pdf plans for those 4x8 tables (wood or
steel) and dropped off a copy at a local steel-fabricator-friend.


[snip]

recently built a little shield that I can roll between the operator
console and the spindle for "iffy" operations.

Smart. I'm not big on flying metal either. I bought a leather apron
years ago.. a heavy one... makes me feel safe. I hand-hold 3/4" full
bull radius bits for those 1 1/2" thick countertop edges. Just the right
height that if one were to shatter, they'd have to change my position
in the choir.

I use them daily in milling machines. Have long wished that my PC would take
them.

"Morris Dovey" wrote in message
...
max (in ) said:

| Can you give me details about the collets you bought?

Gladly. They're standard ER-25 spring collets. These are Bison brand
made in Poland and purchased from KBC Tools (http://www.kbctools.com)
with catalog number 7-171-295. Purchased as a set of 12 collets, they
come in a storage box and cost about $US130.

ER-25 is a European collet standard and I suspect there'd be much joy
if it (or any of the ER standards) were adopted worldwide by router
producers. They're available from a number of different manufacturers
and distributors.

Each spring collet can hold a (small) range of shank sizes. The
nominal 1/2" collet, for example, is suitable for shank sizes from
0.472" to 0.511".

Oh yes - they're available individually; so it's not a big deal if it
becomes necessary to replace just one of the set.

Does that provide the details you were after?

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

Do these fit in your PC router?
max

I use them daily in milling machines. Have long wished that my PC would take
them.

"Morris Dovey" wrote in message
...
max (in ) said:

| Can you give me details about the collets you bought?

Gladly. They're standard ER-25 spring collets. These are Bison brand
made in Poland and purchased from KBC Tools (http://www.kbctools.com)
with catalog number 7-171-295. Purchased as a set of 12 collets, they
come in a storage box and cost about $US130.

ER-25 is a European collet standard and I suspect there'd be much joy
if it (or any of the ER standards) were adopted worldwide by router
producers. They're available from a number of different manufacturers
and distributors.

Each spring collet can hold a (small) range of shank sizes. The
nominal 1/2" collet, for example, is suitable for shank sizes from
0.472" to 0.511".

Oh yes - they're available individually; so it's not a big deal if it
becomes necessary to replace just one of the set.

Does that provide the details you were after?

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

max (in ) said:

| Do these fit in your PC router?

No - that's what makes this a neener. I also have DeWalt, PC, and B&D
hand routers and none of the collets are interchangable from one
router to the other and the only sizes available for these machines
are 1/4" and 1/2", AFAIK.

PC seems to have forgotten how to put decent bearings in a router.
Collets will probably take a while longer...

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

Morris Dovey wrote:
No - that's what makes this a neener. I also have DeWalt, PC, and B&D
hand routers and none of the collets are interchangable from one
router to the other and the only sizes available for these machines
are 1/4" and 1/2", AFAIK.

I have a DeWalt 3/8" Collet for this very purpose. It took a phone call
to DeWalt, but it was available (and the Borg ordered it for me!). IIRC,
a couple of 'European' sizes (i.e. in mm) were also available, but it
was a bit ago...

PK

A 3/8" is available for the PC.

"Morris Dovey" wrote in message
...
max (in ) said:

| Do these fit in your PC router?

No - that's what makes this a neener. I also have DeWalt, PC, and B&D
hand routers and none of the collets are interchangable from one
router to the other and the only sizes available for these machines
are 1/4" and 1/2", AFAIK.

PC seems to have forgotten how to put decent bearings in a router.
Collets will probably take a while longer...

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

CW (in t) said:

| A 3/8" is available for the PC.

Good to know - also good to know that the 3/8" can be special ordered
for the DeWalt.

I'd still like to see the standardization. While I may end up with
3/8" collets for both PC and DeWalt routers, my strong preference is
to buy the sizes I need (once) and use them with whatever tool is best
for the job at hand.

One of the side effects of buying the ER-25 set is that I can now use
metric tooling whenever it's appropriate, convenient, and/or cost
effective - without having to pay more to get that tooling shanked for
standard (inch) router collets.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

Yes, I would like to see it used as standard in routers too but I think that
that may be just wishfull thinking. ER collets have been available in the US
for at least twenty years though other collet types seem to be in wider use.
ER is starting to catch up though and, now that they are available in
standard machine holders, are becoming standard in our shop. This changover
is slow going though as we will continue to use old tooling until it is no
longer serviceable. There are a wide viriaty of collets used in the metal
working industry. If they can't standardize, it's little wonder that router
manufacturers can't. I too use endmills for routing. With the three sizes of
collets for PC routers, all diametters from 1/2" down are covered.

"Morris Dovey" wrote in message
...
CW (in t) said:

| A 3/8" is available for the PC.

Good to know - also good to know that the 3/8" can be special ordered
for the DeWalt.

I'd still like to see the standardization. While I may end up with
3/8" collets for both PC and DeWalt routers, my strong preference is
to buy the sizes I need (once) and use them with whatever tool is best
for the job at hand.

One of the side effects of buying the ER-25 set is that I can now use
metric tooling whenever it's appropriate, convenient, and/or cost
effective - without having to pay more to get that tooling shanked for
standard (inch) router collets.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html