John,
Some months agoI bought a PC 310 router based on your advice “not being made anymore”, and I have wanted a compact router for some time. I took it out of the box, inspected it, turned the collet nut down, but not tight, and turned it on, turned it off, repacked into box, put it on the shelf.
Today I had occasion to use it to roundover a chair part. I used a Whiteside 1/4 X 1/4 roundover.
Problem: This bit seemed a bit hard to insert into the collet, but it did go with some pressure. When I tried to remove the bit, with the collet nut completely loose, it would not budge! I ended up using a pair of pliers (I thought about using penetrating oil, but was unsure of consequences). It seems to have been a mistake to use any pressure to insert the bit, should I have lubed collet, what should I do?
I did not try any other 1/4 bits, first thing in a.m. Any advice?
Thanks!
Pete
Replies
Pete,
The taper on the 310 is shallow enough that it isn't quite self releasing, but usually just lightly tapping on the side of the bit will pop the collet free.
I suspect that running the router without a bit in it caused the nut to overtighten and this jammed the empty collet in the bore, possibly distorting the collet. The general rule is to never tighten up a collet without a bit in it.
That said, there is probably no harm done. Just remove the nut and the collet and clean up the collet and the bore with fine steel wool and apply a tiny swipe of machine oil on the taper surfaces to make them less likely to seize. I have learned from sad experience that you shouldn't leave a bit in a collet long term, they get harder to remove the longer they sit.
John White
John,
A very late thank you!
Pete
An even later "You are welcome."John W.
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