Router collet size

stry...@yahoo.com

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Apr 25, 2013, 2:29:29 PM4/25/13

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If I buy a router with a 1/2 collet, will it still work with 1/4 inch shanked bits?

dpb

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Apr 25, 2013, 2:35:30 PM4/25/13

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On 4/25/2013 1:29 PM, stry...@yahoo.com wrote:
> If I buy a router with a 1/2 collet, will it still work with 1/4 inch shanked bits?

W/ a bushing, yes. Most come w/ bushing I think; at least the Makita I
last bought came w/ both 1/4" and 8 mm bushings.

--

Puckdropper at dot

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Apr 25, 2013, 2:35:46 PM4/25/13

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stry...@yahoo.com wrote in
news:9b671bb9-ebe4-4e79...@googlegroups.com:

> If I buy a router with a 1/2 collet, will it still work with 1/4 inch
> shanked bits?
>

The router will probably work with a 1/4" bit, but you'll need the 1/4"
collet to do so. Many come with both.

Puckdropper
--
Make it to fit, don't make it fit.

-MIKE-

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Apr 25, 2013, 2:39:18 PM4/25/13

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On 4/25/13 1:29 PM, stry...@yahoo.com wrote:
> If I buy a router with a 1/2 collet, will it still work with 1/4 inch shanked bits?
>

Most come with a 1/4" collet, or one can be special ordered.

--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
mi...@mikedrumsDOT.com
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Pat Barber

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Apr 25, 2013, 3:39:42 PM4/25/13

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On 4/25/2013 11:29 AM, stry...@yahoo.com wrote:
> If I buy a router with a 1/2 collet, will it still work with 1/4 inch shanked bits?
>

The Porter Cable routers all have 1/2" and 1/4" collets and a 3/8"
was also available.

In the old days of the 690 family, they would ship both in the box.

I don't know if that's still true, but you can certainly order either
one for almost all of their routers.

I think most of the major routers are that way.

stry...@yahoo.com

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Apr 25, 2013, 5:17:09 PM4/25/13

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On Thursday, April 25, 2013 1:29:29 PM UTC-5, stry...@yahoo.com wrote:
> If I buy a router with a 1/2 collet, will it still work with 1/4 inch shanked bits?

I was looking at them on lowes online the bosch router only comes with 1/2 it says.

Are the thread sizes universal? I mean, can I take the 1/4 collet off my bad ryobi and use the collet on the bosch if I were to buy it?

no...@none.com

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Apr 25, 2013, 5:24:51 PM4/25/13

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On Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:17:09 -0700 (PDT), stry...@yahoo.com wrote:
>Are the thread sizes universal? I mean, can I take the 1/4 collet off my bad ryobi and use the collet on the bosch if I were to buy it?

A 1/4" size collet "should" fit in a 3/8" chuck, but I wouldn't take
the chance of it not being a proper fit. With the speed those bits are
spinning, you're taking a big chance in my opinion.

If it were me, I'd only buy a router that came with a 1/4" collet or
at the very least, had the option to buy one specially manufactured
for your rouiter.

no...@none.com

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Apr 25, 2013, 5:26:26 PM4/25/13

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On Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:24:51 -0400, no...@none.com wrote:

>A 1/4" size collet "should" fit in a 3/8" chuck, but I wouldn't take
>the chance of it not being a proper fit. With the speed those bits are
>spinning, you're taking a big chance in my opinion.

Mistke there, should have been "fit in 1/2" chuck".

-MIKE-

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Apr 25, 2013, 5:34:15 PM4/25/13

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Probably not and you don't want to try it unless you know for sure, ie:
manufacturer oks it.
You could chuck up a bit and it may feel tight, but turn the machine on
and it could come flying off at very high speed.

SonomaProducts.com

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Apr 25, 2013, 6:58:53 PM4/25/13

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Just get a bushing. They are very cheap. They slip inside any 1/2" collet and let you use any 1/4" bit. The ones I have used look like they are made from a fiberglass tube. They have slots cut on 4 side so they compress when tightened.

SonomaProducts.com

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Apr 25, 2013, 7:00:22 PM4/25/13

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Here is a metal one http://www.amazon.com/Router-Shank-Adapter-Whiteside-6400/dp/B0012JG9QM

MaxD

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Apr 25, 2013, 8:45:33 PM4/25/13

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On 4/25/2013 12:29 PM, stry...@yahoo.com wrote:
> If I buy a router with a 1/2 collet, will it still work with 1/4 inch shanked bits?
>

May I be so bold to suggest that you go to Amazon.com and, under books,
search for "using routers".
You seem a bit :-) naive on the subject.
There is a lot to know about using routers and there are certain safety
aspects that you will find valuable.

Max

woodchucker

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Apr 25, 2013, 8:56:58 PM4/25/13

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I have a couple of bosch 1617 evs and they came with both 1/4 and 1/2.

I would think the new version does...
Boy is that thing heavy.

--
Jeff

dadiOH

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Apr 26, 2013, 7:35:11 AM4/26/13

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No.

Collets fit *into* a chuck and are held in place and tightened with a nut on
the outside of the chuck. None of those parts are interchangeable
manufacturer to manufacturer because the taper and depth of the chucks are
not standardized AFAIK.

I am reasonably certain that Bosch has collets for any standard size bit
shank available for any of there routers. Buying one would be the best
solution. A less good solution is buying a 1/4>1/2 adapter for the bit
shank. They look like this...
http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2008167/3158/whiteside-6400-router-bit-shank-reducer-12-to-14.aspx

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Taxes out of hand? Maybe just ready for a change?
Check it out... http://www.floridaloghouse.net

dadiOH

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Apr 26, 2013, 7:51:08 AM4/26/13

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dadiOH wrote:

Stryped, here is an illustrated manual for your type of router. It's for a
Dewalt but the mecahism for raising/lowering the bit and removing the motor
units would be very similar to your router. Pay particular attention to the
sections on depth adjustment and removing the motor unit and to the
illustrations which are about 1/3 of the way down.

http://pdf.lowes.com/installationguides/028877357461_install.pdf

Leon

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Apr 26, 2013, 8:59:46 AM4/26/13

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<stry...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> If I buy a router with a 1/2 collet, will it still work with 1/4 inch shanked bits?

Yes, most decent brands will come with a reducer insert or you can buy one

stry...@yahoo.com

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Apr 26, 2013, 9:01:38 AM4/26/13

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On Thursday, April 25, 2013 1:29:29 PM UTC-5, stry...@yahoo.com wrote:

> If I buy a router with a 1/2 collet, will it still work with 1/4 inch shanked bits?

This is the router I was talking about: http://www.lowes.com/pd_136633-353-1617EVSPK_0__

Leon

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Apr 26, 2013, 9:33:49 AM4/26/13

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I have two Bosch routers, IIRC you replace the collet and nut to go to a
smaller size. Many of the Bosch routers have self extracting collets
which are sold as a collet/nut unit. It does not easily come apart. so
you buy another unit for the size you use.

I prefer an insert as I go between 1/4" and 1/2" pretty often and
screwing the collet/nut off, and a different one on, for the change and
back again becomes tedious.

MaxD

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Apr 26, 2013, 12:09:57 PM4/26/13

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I have one of those routers.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005RHPD/ref=nosim/15050357-rg3454-00-20?s=merchant&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

It came with both collets, 1/2" and 1/4" (from Amazon)
I don't know why one from Lowes wouldn't have both collets.

Max

G. Ross

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Apr 26, 2013, 2:34:34 PM4/26/13

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stry...@yahoo.com wrote: > On Thursday, April 25, 2013 1:29:29 PM UTC-5, stry...@yahoo.com wrote: >> If I buy a router with a 1/2 collet, will it still work with 1/4 inch shanked bits? > This is the router I was talking about: http://www.lowes.com/pd_136633-353-1617EVSPK_0__ Looked at this router at Lowes this morning. It states on the shelf tag that it comes with 1/2 and 1/4" collets. GW Ross In nature, there are no rewards or punishments, only consequences.