I have an old Makita 3600B plunge router. The reason it has not been used in many years is that the 1/2 inch collet will not firmly hold a bit. The collet on this model is threaded on the outside with a taper toward the end, which mates with a taper at the top of the piece into which the collet threads. The collet has three expansion slots (one through) which tighten as the tapers mesh. The collet taper and inside do not appear to be scored (at least to my old eyes), but the taper of the receiving piece is rough and scored. Does anyone have any comments or ideas as to how this router could be safely brought back into service?
Perhaps I should point out that I have not been able to find any parts suppliers that have parts for this model. Also, I believe that most router manufactures (including Makita) have gone to collets more like that on a PC. Of course this belief is based on very little knowledge and could therefore be easily changed. I would also very much like to hear comments and opinions on the question “What makes a good collet design?”.
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Replies
If the receiving part is scored you will need a new armature. Can you remove the scoring with some fine wet or dry sandpaper? Tool Parts Direct has a good parts selection. They do not show a 3600B. It is possible that the collet is the same 3612B. Check the IPB and parts list shown in the link below. They have 5 763622-4 collets in stock at $38 each.
http://www.toolpartsdirect.com/cgi-bin/schematic.cgi/makita/3612B
Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans.
When your ship comes in... make sure you are not at the airport.
Thanks for your reply Jerry! I had thought of attacking the roughness with wet/dry paper or even turning a piece of hardwood to the taper and size and using silicone carbide grit, but thought I would ask advice first. The 3600B has a different style collet than the 3612 and is in fact different from any others that I am aware of. This has made me think that perhaps Makita and others consider this a flawed design. The 3600 has a collet nut that screws to the outside of the armature (or some attachment thereto) and squeezes the collet with cone (taper) between the nut and armature. The 3600 has a one piece collet machined with the taper and threaded on the outside (male threads). This collet screws into the female threads at the end of the armature (or more probably an attachment since it is blued). So no chance of using a 3612 collet. My "flawed design" thoughts come from no more than it "strikes me" that the later designs are better. On the other hand I never heard of a rash of Makita 3600B accidents. Thanks again for your help! --- Woodhors
Is it possible to use some valve grinding compound and lap the parts together.
Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans.
When your ship comes in... make sure you are not at the airport.
Sounds better than silicone carbide (I think). I will get some and give it a try after turkey. Too much time has been spent lately working on rather than in the shop but I would rather work on a tool than on the shop. Have a nice Thanksgiving and thanks --- Woodhors
I enjoy working on tools also. I was thinking, sometimes not a good idea, but remembered my old Hitachi TR12 router uses the same sort of collet. The collet has 19MM OD threads that screw into a blued part that has a hex OD 23MM for the other wrench. The collet has two flats for tightening 21MM. The blued part is threaded to the armature shaft and would be a pain to remove. It would be nice if you could find both parts but I have found no parts breakdown for the 3600B on-line. My collet has never slipped as I always tightened the collet very tight. The TR12 is a 3 hp one speed screaming monster. The collet has just one slit machined all the way through and 2 slits machined half way through.
Have a happy Holiday.
Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans.
When your ship comes in... make sure you are not at the airport.
Thanks once again. Tomorrow I will check and see if the TR12 collet dimentions happen to be the same as the Makita. Perhaps the part was supplied to both companies by a parts supplier. I think the basic problem is still with the female part but a new (or spare) collet couldn't hurt. I will report back but given the season (and age, and inertia, etc.) it might take a week or two. I appreciate --- Woodhors
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