Unisaw

I bought this machine a while ago and use it for the first time today.

I was routing a rabbet in the back of bookcase standards to receive the 1/2" plywood back. The bit was a Porter Cable rabbret bit with a bottom guide bearing. The shaft was 1/4" --- that's all I could find at HD.

Anyway, I chuck up the 1/4" sleeve in the collet and insert the bit. The router stalled and I noticed the bit was climbing out. I tightened it again and the same thing happened.

I finisihed the job with my PC690 with no problems.

Any thoughts on why this happened? Yes I locked the collet with the sliding metal plate and then wrenched it.

Thanks.

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Woodnut65

I would check the sleeve for cracks, and check the collet to see if every thing is clear of rust and or dirt. I hope the collet has not been cross threaded.
Woodnut65

Unisaw

The sleeve does have vertical cracks by design. They allow it to close when the collet is tightened.

steveo

Agreed, I have two M12V's. The so called "cracks" on the 1/4" reducing collet must line up with the "cracks" on the 1/2" collet when inserting a 1/4" dia bit into the smaller collet. This allows for proper contraction of both collets when tightening the smaller bit.
I'm sure that is the problem you are having.
steveo

Unisaw

Thanks. I did not know that the cracks had to be aligned. The directions with this are less than stellar.

Pop_pop1

Hi Unisaw,
I've had an M12V for a few years and found almost immediately that I wasn't comfortable with the slide lock and only one wrench. Initially I had the M12V mounted in my router table. My concerns were realized when a large round over walked out of the collet. Luckly no one was hurt. Since then I have used 2 wrenches to tighten the collet. The second wrench needed is an odd size (23 MM) and hard to find so I made one. Since then I've had no problems with bits, 1/2" or 1/4" shank, walking out. I was too embarassed to call Hitachi and complain.
I believe using 2 wrenches is a more permanent fix to the loose bit problem.
Good luck with it,
Chuck

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Unisaw

Thanks. I thought it was me. I hate the slide lock. It is hard to use and I have a low sense of comfort - translate - I don't have a sense of safety when I lock it down.

steveo

The first thing to do when opening a box with a new router is to take the "stamped" wrench that comes with the unit and open the shop door and throw it as far as you can, then get yourself a real wrench or two.
steveo

kenadian

I plan on picking up 2 [new] wrenches for my M12V; one is a 21mm while the other should be a 23mm wrench. Are these the correct sizes?
Thanks

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