I have a router lift built in to my jet table saw, after making a couple of cuts, the router bit is slipping out of the collet. It is happening on two different collets (1/2 and 1/4) I have cleaned everything, made sure no dust or chips are in there. Cleaned the collet with mineral spirits. Anyone have an idea? The router is a Bosch. Thanks in advance.
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Replies
Beyond the obvious proper way to mount a bit in the router, what popped in my head was a metric / english mix from collet to bit.
You might try applying a very light lubricant to the threads of the collet nut, to where it bears on the top of the collet, and to the outside of the collet. All those places need to slip for the collet to deform and grab the bit. It's also possible the collet is worn or defective.
Search for other threads on this topic.
Do you bottom out the bit in the collet? If so, there might be a chance that you can't get the bit truly tight because of the nature of how the collet works.
It is worth inspecting the collet and the pocket for damage.
If you have previously had no problems then this is the most likely cause of the issue.
Try with a brand new quality bit and make sure you tighten the collet fully. You can easily extract the bit once the collet is loosened by tapping it with a spanner.
If this does not work then the next stage would be to buy a new collet.