Is there such a thing as a router bit extender, and if so, can you recommend one?
Are there any serious drawbacks, performance, safety, etc. to worry about (particular the safety.)
I have a Craftsman 2hp fix based router in a Craftsman table…I know I know Craftsman is not the best but neither am I and I don’t route stuff that often. The problem is I can’t get some bits high enough in the table and often end up not putting the shank all the way in the collet. This scares me!
Ideally, the router bit extender would increase the working height of the bit as well as stay permanently in the collet. I would just change bits by taking them out of the extender. Craftsman makes quick change router bit collet kit but it doesn’t fit my router. Go figure.
Replies
I'm no expert, but raising the bit as you suggest would be a big safety hazzard. I would want that bit as snug as possible in the collet. Two areas of concern would be the bit running true and the obvious of the bit coming out while in use. I added a quick chuck to my router table to ease the bit change not extend the height. Look at the post in this link. It has something you may want to look at called the extreme extention. I have not used it, but I don't think woodpeckers would sell junk. But what ever you do, keep that bit at the reccomended depth in the router. You don't want that comming out!
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-knots/messages?msg=26237.6
emaxxman,
mlcswoodworking.com offers a router bit extender. I have not used it personnally but just to let you know. However a friend of mine has a craftsman 2hp in a craftsman router table and if your set up is like his your router might be limited to a 1/4" collet. The router bit extender is a 1/2" shank.
webby
Edited 10/17/2005 5:17 pm ET by webby
Check Woodcraft. I believe I saw one in their last catalog. Keep in mind, when you extent the bit, you will be increasing the side load one the bearings exponentially.
Grits
Weeby
Grits told you something you should think about.
Even some of the newer routers have extended their arbors & this can only cause bearings to fail faster & increase runout & because of the distance involved decrease the control of the router its'self.
Most shortcuts usually cause problems ? ! ? etc.
Lazyness is a horrable trait but stupidness is worse.woody/LUTHER
True agree on the side load issue. I am not advocating using a router bit extender. I was just letting emaxxman know of the existence of the product.
Webby
Luther/Webby, You must have read Wood Magazines router review about long shafted routers.
I was talking to my Porter Cable rep about the 8 series router recalls and how I felt about the heat build up and lengthy cool down period problems that I experienced. He could not explain the problems that I was having.
IMHO this router series is a prime example of what Wood Magazine was talking about. Long skinny shaft that dissapates heat poorly. That is the type of problem that will cause runout and premature bearing failure.
Most of the production class router manufacturers that have added above the table router bit change capability have done so with great consideration for the problems that could occur.
Steve
My Craftsman router has interchangeable 1/4 and 1/2 inch collets.
Have one. Tried it. It blew apart after about 20 feet of routing. Damn dangerous.
My advice, don't consider one.
I use an Extreme Extension which is more of a long collet. I use it in the big PC 3hp router. I don't need to remove my router from the table for bit changes. I've only had it for a few months but I haven't had any problems with it and really like the convenience. It requires a 1/2" collet to mount in. They are a little expensive $ 65 ?
http://www.routertechnologies.com/extreme%20extension.htm
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
emaxxman,
I don't have an extender, because I have a router lift which gets the collet above the table.
Although I can't comment from my own experience, MLCS makes an extender that got some good reviews. I have bought lots of router bits from MLCS, since 1999, and like their products a lot.
Here's a link:
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/routcollet.html
I have and use the MLCS extender. It extends the bit a little too far for my liking, but until I picked up a Jacobs Power Collet (that was on closeout), it was one of the 1 or 2 solutions for a plunge router out there. The Power Collet appears to extend the bit a perfect distance for my DW625, but I don't have any long term experience. I say long term because the collet is a quick change concept where you put the bit into the collet and push the outer ring down and it "snaps" on the bit tightly. I did a search on the web and never found any real problem, but since it went out of production about 3 years or so ago, I have not seen any recent posts either positive or negative. If anyone has some knowledge about its long term performance, please let me know. I can understand why it went out of favor for handheld use. It demanded extenders for the baseplate of the router and I am sure that was not acceptable to the majority of router owners.
dont do it!
Yes, there are exteders but I will not recommend them. I don't believe that any of the major router bit manufacturers sell them so that should tell you something.
The golden rule seems to be a minimum of 2/3 of the shank in the collet at all times. If that doesn't get you there then get a new router. You can justify the expenditure by not having to pay for the ambulance ride.
I bought the MLCS Extender to use in my DW625/Router Table. I've fired it up a couple of times but the runout is so bad, it terrifies me. I'd have to be desparate to use it and then wear gloves, body armour and full shatterproof face shield.
WhatKnot,
I agree with you, which is essentially why I don't own a collet extender. I use the Precision Router Lift (PRL), which gets the collet above the table, and it is safe and accurate.
Can I redirect the link back to the question of the Jacobs Power Collet? I would like to see if anyone has some experience with it.
Yes and don't.. I've had them in my inventory for over two years now and nobody will touch them if that tells you anything.
Steve
Glad to have the feedback on that item. Thanks
Troy
Maybe yes, maybe no. I had one in my drawer for about 1 1/2 years and did not touch it. Maybe the reason was the same as why your stock is not moving. It is hard to believe that it can hold a bit stong enough with as little effort as it takes to close the snap collet ring. I'm not saying that it is real easy, just that the force does not seem to match what I could give a 8 inch lever arm on a wrench.
Called a fellow at Jacobs and he indicated that it is excellent up to 1 1/2 inches. I guess that matches most of my uses except when I get into raised door panels.
I would still like to hear as much as I can about people using it for prolonged periods of time, not just situations where the reasons it is not used is because of disbelief or that someone has not provided the proper maintenance. By the way, the rep said that you should NEVER use lub on the thing.
Please see my earlier reply! Damn dangerous!
A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working -- yes, I'm retired!
I think there is one in the CMT catolog. I don't have it with me but I will take a look later.
Seems to me there's a lot of urban legends being tossed around here by people who haven't actually used one and are speculating, or have used it incorrectly (the directions say to increase the depth of cut by tiny increments with many passes).
Anybody have any real examples of a problem when one is used in accordance with the directions? I'd like more info from our friend who had a runout problem. What did the mfr. say?
I've been using the MLCS extender with a 2" slab flattening bit for 3 years now. They have 2 models, both with 1/2" shanks.
One model is for 1/2" shanks. The other for 1/4". I haven't had problems with either.
Mikaol
Used one once. Things went bad fast and ruined the project. The only extender I own now is the WiFi kind.
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