Ususally tightening the collet nut will grip the router bit.
Is it that your collet is 1/2" and you are only trying to put in a 1/4" bit?
Obviously, if this is the case, it will not work. A 1/2" collet needs 1/2"
diameter shanked bits. You can use 1/4" shanked bits in a 1/2" router if you
have a 1/4" reducing insert available.


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Dean Bielanowski
Editor,
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http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com
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"Tim Simmons" wrote in message
...
My folks bought me a (yeah, "economic") Craftsman router but I cannot
figure
out how the bit secures to the router. I have a half-inch bit (the steel
kind) and the shaft is round and maybe 3/4 inches or 1" long and maybe
1/4"
in diameter and when I put it in the hole and tighten the collet nut it
does
not put any pressure on the bit shaft. I locked the motor to tighten the
nut but still nothing. I can't see how tightening this nut will hold the
bit in place and I can't see that I'm missing a part but since I have
never
used a router, it may just be ignorance on my part.


I have searched the web and Usenet for a solution but have not found an
answer (the Sears store in West Memphis .... went through 3 different
people
and the last guy said he would look at it if I bring it in but he said he
never used a router before!)

So, that's why I am posting. Need experienced and wise human to quickly
solve this. So, just a straight answer would help me HUGELY.

The type is Craftsman 1.5 hp, 1/4" collet.


Thanks,
Tim

I wonder if he is locking or securing the shaft first before he tries
to tighten it. You should be using 2 wrenches (probably).

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 04:00:18 GMT, "Tim Simmons"
wrote:

My folks bought me a (yeah, "economic") Craftsman router but I cannot figure
out how the bit secures to the router. I have a half-inch bit (the steel
kind) and the shaft is round and maybe 3/4 inches or 1" long and maybe 1/4"
in diameter and when I put it in the hole and tighten the collet nut it does
not put any pressure on the bit shaft. I locked the motor to tighten the
nut but still nothing. I can't see how tightening this nut will hold the
bit in place and I can't see that I'm missing a part but since I have never
used a router, it may just be ignorance on my part.


I have searched the web and Usenet for a solution but have not found an
answer (the Sears store in West Memphis .... went through 3 different people
and the last guy said he would look at it if I bring it in but he said he
never used a router before!)

So, that's why I am posting. Need experienced and wise human to quickly
solve this. So, just a straight answer would help me HUGELY.

The type is Craftsman 1.5 hp, 1/4" collet.


Thanks,
Tim

"Ramsey" wrote in message
...
I wonder if he is locking or securing the shaft first before he tries
to tighten it. You should be using 2 wrenches (probably).

The Craftsman has a lock for the shaft, one wrench only.

I wonder if the collet is missing?

Woody wrote:
Is it that your collet is 1/2" and you are only trying to put in a 1/4" bit?

obviously not:

"Tim Simmons" wrote in message
The type is Craftsman 1.5 hp, 1/4" collet.



--
************************************
Chris Merrill

(remove the ZZZ to contact me)
************************************

Have you read the manual that came with it, Tim? Just a thought.

Jim

"Tim Simmons" wrote in message
...
My folks bought me a (yeah, "economic") Craftsman router but I cannot
figure
out how the bit secures to the router. I have a half-inch bit (the steel
kind) and the shaft is round and maybe 3/4 inches or 1" long and maybe
1/4"
in diameter and when I put it in the hole and tighten the collet nut it
does
not put any pressure on the bit shaft. I locked the motor to tighten the
nut but still nothing. I can't see how tightening this nut will hold the
bit in place and I can't see that I'm missing a part but since I have
never
used a router, it may just be ignorance on my part.


I have searched the web and Usenet for a solution but have not found an
answer (the Sears store in West Memphis .... went through 3 different
people
and the last guy said he would look at it if I bring it in but he said he
never used a router before!)

So, that's why I am posting. Need experienced and wise human to quickly
solve this. So, just a straight answer would help me HUGELY.

The type is Craftsman 1.5 hp, 1/4" collet.


Thanks,
Tim

Sounds like you have no collett or a collett for a 1/2" shaft bit installed.
I'm going to try to show a cross section of what it looks like, but I'm not
very good with ASCII graphics:


_____ _____
| / \ | Nut
| / \ |
| ___ ___ |
/ | | \ Collett
| | | |
____________
| | Router

The collett is a round tube with slits on the side. It fits in the router
and the nut is put on loosly. The bit is inserted in the hole in the center
of the collett and the nut is tightened. Tightening the nut allows the ramp
inside the nut to exert pressure on the ramp at the top of the collett and
exert pressure on the shaft of the router bit to hold it in place. If you
have no collett, or too big of a collett the shaft of the bit will be loose
in the hole in the top of the nut.

Gene


"Tim Simmons" wrote in message
...
My folks bought me a (yeah, "economic") Craftsman router but I cannot
figure
out how the bit secures to the router. I have a half-inch bit (the steel
kind) and the shaft is round and maybe 3/4 inches or 1" long and maybe
1/4"
in diameter and when I put it in the hole and tighten the collet nut it
does
not put any pressure on the bit shaft. I locked the motor to tighten the
nut but still nothing. I can't see how tightening this nut will hold the
bit in place and I can't see that I'm missing a part but since I have
never
used a router, it may just be ignorance on my part.


I have searched the web and Usenet for a solution but have not found an
answer (the Sears store in West Memphis .... went through 3 different
people
and the last guy said he would look at it if I bring it in but he said he
never used a router before!)

So, that's why I am posting. Need experienced and wise human to quickly
solve this. So, just a straight answer would help me HUGELY.

The type is Craftsman 1.5 hp, 1/4" collet.


Thanks,
Tim

Sounds like you are trying to put a 1/4" router bit into a 1/2" collet. What
about the instruction manual?
"Tim Simmons" wrote in message
...
My folks bought me a (yeah, "economic") Craftsman router but I cannot
figure
out how the bit secures to the router. I have a half-inch bit (the steel
kind) and the shaft is round and maybe 3/4 inches or 1" long and maybe
1/4"
in diameter and when I put it in the hole and tighten the collet nut it
does
not put any pressure on the bit shaft. I locked the motor to tighten the
nut but still nothing. I can't see how tightening this nut will hold the
bit in place and I can't see that I'm missing a part but since I have
never
used a router, it may just be ignorance on my part.


I have searched the web and Usenet for a solution but have not found an
answer (the Sears store in West Memphis .... went through 3 different
people
and the last guy said he would look at it if I bring it in but he said he
never used a router before!)

So, that's why I am posting. Need experienced and wise human to quickly
solve this. So, just a straight answer would help me HUGELY.

The type is Craftsman 1.5 hp, 1/4" collet.


Thanks,
Tim

"Bruce Rowen" wrote in message
...
So, that's why I am posting. Need experienced and wise human to
quickly
solve this. So, just a straight answer would help me HUGELY.

The type is Craftsman 1.5 hp, 1/4" collet.

There are usually two parts to the collet, the collet nut (the part you
put a wrench on)
and the collet itself. Some designs have the collet removable as an
insert (i.e. Dremel tools). If your router
does not have the collet insert installed under the nut this could be
your problem. Remove the collet
nut and see if there is an insert installed. It should fit closely to
your 1/4" shaft.

Check the small baggies that came with your router if this part is
missing.

-Bruce




Tim S.:

Thanks first to all who replied! I didn't know there was a collet that fit
inside the round part and tonight I went and looked inside that hole
w/flashlight and it seemed to be... a round hole. It didn't have anything
that looked like it would clamp down under pressure of tightening the nut.
So, I think I have no collet to tighten.


An aquaintence put it together and he either lost it, stole it, or it never
was in the parts bag.


So, I guess I'll ask Sears if they'll give me the proper collet w/o charge
and I'll bet that fixes my problem. I thought I was just dumb for a
second. (hmmm heheheheh)

Also, I read that you should position the bit 1/16" above the base rather
than riding on the bottom. Is that true? If so, why? Does it alleviate
extra vibrations by not touching the bottom?


Thanks again for the speedy replies. When do you folk find time to do any
woodworking? hehehehhe

Oh, another thing (for what it's worth)....

My Craftsman miter saw (also bought for me by my folks as a Xmas gift) was
new to me (I'm a musician/computer guy, not a mechanical guy) and I tried to
cut a 45 deg but the four pieces didn't line up and I deduced that since the
lengths were EXACTLY equal that the angle had to be off of 45. Sure
enough, it was. The 45 deg notch was off quite a bit and the other 45 was
almost right. I remedied by manually adjusting beyond the notch and using
trial and error till it was a good 45.

I plan to try making a few picture frames and now I'm almost ready (miter
trimmer next.. when does it end????)



Tim

Yes, leave the bit up a 1/16" or so. The reason is that the collet pulls
down as it tightens. If the bit is already at the bottom, the collet may
never tighten even though you screwed it down tight.
"Tim Simmons" wrote in message
...

Also, I read that you should position the bit 1/16" above the base rather
than riding on the bottom. Is that true? If so, why? Does it alleviate
extra vibrations by not touching the bottom?

"CW" wrote in message
news:85e3b.277843$YN5.190813@sccrnsc01...
Yes, leave the bit up a 1/16" or so. The reason is that the collet pulls
down as it tightens. If the bit is already at the bottom, the collet may
never tighten even though you screwed it down tight.


Tim S.:

Ah, thanks.


Tim

On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 02:49:40 GMT, "CW"
scribbled

Yes, leave the bit up a 1/16" or so. The reason is that the collet pulls
down as it tightens. If the bit is already at the bottom, the collet may
never tighten even though you screwed it down tight.

And it, IME, usually also makes the bit easier to remove.

"Tim Simmons" wrote in message
...

Also, I read that you should position the bit 1/16" above the base rather
than riding on the bottom. Is that true? If so, why? Does it alleviate
extra vibrations by not touching the bottom?



Luigi
Replace "no" with "yk" twice
in reply address for real email address

Quit true. I failed to mention that. Thanks for bringing it up.
"Luigi Zanasi" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 02:49:40 GMT, "CW"
scribbled

Yes, leave the bit up a 1/16" or so. The reason is that the collet pulls
down as it tightens. If the bit is already at the bottom, the collet may
never tighten even though you screwed it down tight.

And it, IME, usually also makes the bit easier to remove.

"Tim Simmons" wrote in message
...

Also, I read that you should position the bit 1/16" above the base
rather
than riding on the bottom. Is that true? If so, why? Does it
alleviate
extra vibrations by not touching the bottom?



Luigi
Replace "no" with "yk" twice
in reply address for real email address