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nevanerviss · 06-09-2007, 06:34 PM

Hi guys!! Im Toni, and I just joined today. I've been a long time lurker, but decided to join because I have a ton of questions, but I'll start with something easy. I have never done woodworking before, but I weld and do fiberglass body work, so I'm no stranger to fabrication, just to woodworking. Which brings me to my question. I have a Craftsman (I know, I know) router model 315, and it has 2 collets, 1/4 and 1/2. Since I know nothing of how to use the thing, I decided to buy the cheaper 1/4 shank bits for practice. I put the bit in the collet, tightened down the nut, and went to take it out to try another bit, and it won't come out of the collet!!!

The nut comes loose from the router, but the collet won't come loose from the nut, and the bit won't come out of the collet!!! What am I doing wrong?

I know I used the right collet; 1/2 is too big, and 1/8 if they even make them is too small... I tried to put the collet back in the router and thread the nut just a little bit to make sure it wasn't squeezing the bit shank, and tried to pry it out, but it won't budge... Please help...

curiousgeorge · 06-10-2007, 01:00 AM

Welcome nevanerviss. Glad to have you aboard.
YOU aren't doing anything wrong. The bit is just stuck in the collet. I'm not familiar with the Craftsman router but have you tried putting the nut in a vise upside down and using a punch to drive the collet out of the nut? If you can get the nut and collet loose from each other the bit should come out of the collet. Even if you destroy the collet and or nut doing this you can just get another.

Dr.Zook · 06-10-2007, 01:21 AM

Welcome to the Router Forums Toni. Glad to have another female join our forums. I hope you will become an active member and not be a lurker anymore.

**bobj3** · 06-10-2007, 01:27 AM

Hi Toni

Just one more thing you can try

Put the nut back on the router but not to tight, then push the bit all the up, way out so the bit is above the base plate now put in two wooden blocks in the vise and clamp the bit in the vise now move the router around bit to break the grip on the router bit.
If it will not come out take a pry bar and with care pry on the base of the router and the top of the vise BUT with care it should come free.

Some Craftsman routers can be nasty to get the bit out if it's been clamped in tight.

**challagan** · 06-10-2007, 10:02 AM

Welcome Toni to the router forums!

Corey

kp91 · 06-10-2007, 10:23 AM

Sometimes if you don't have enough clearance below the bit (or you bottom it out) the collet can put a burr on the bit shank making it a pain to get out.

Joe Lyddon · 06-10-2007, 10:29 AM

Toni, I'm glad you decided to join in... I hope you get your problem solved... sounds like it will be solved very soon...

W e l c o m e . . A b o a r d !!

**Bob** · 06-10-2007, 10:49 AM

Great to have you with us Toni. You are the 2nd lady to jopin us in tthe past week or so. I am trying to get this wild bunch in line and shower and shave more ofetn now that we have ladies with us.

Let's see clean shops too guys.

nevanerviss · 06-13-2007, 09:53 PM

I've tried everything I can think of to get this thing out, but it won't come out!!! I've tried prying and crying, I even bought it flowers, but it's a no-go... I think I'm just gonna buy another 1/4" collet and call it a day... When I wanna use my round-over bit, I'll just put that collet in, but otherwise I'll use the "other" collet... My las resort is to take it to my job and have the maintenance guy heat it, but I don't want to compromise the structural integrity of the bit/shank/collet...

**bobj3** · 06-13-2007, 11:53 PM

Hi nevanerviss

Get your hair dryer out or a heat gun and give it a try,, they don't put out a lot of heat but they will do it...

Heat gun is the best...2 stage

I use one to break the loctiie seal I have on some of my bits for my carvewright machine.
The Fac. put's it on and they can be a pain to change without the heat..
rap a wet rag just under the nut to keep the heat from going down ,(a type of heat sink)

06-09-2007, 06:34 PM	#1
nevanerviss Registered User Jr. Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Detroit, Michigan First Name: Toni Posts: 13 View nevanerviss's Gallery	Report This Post! Say hi to the new girl!! Hi guys!! Im Toni, and I just joined today. I've been a long time lurker, but decided to join because I have a ton of questions, but I'll start with something easy. I have never done woodworking before, but I weld and do fiberglass body work, so I'm no stranger to fabrication, just to woodworking. Which brings me to my question. I have a Craftsman (I know, I know) router model 315, and it has 2 collets, 1/4 and 1/2. Since I know nothing of how to use the thing, I decided to buy the cheaper 1/4 shank bits for practice. I put the bit in the collet, tightened down the nut, and went to take it out to try another bit, and it won't come out of the collet!!! The nut comes loose from the router, but the collet won't come loose from the nut, and the bit won't come out of the collet!!! What am I doing wrong? I know I used the right collet; 1/2 is too big, and 1/8 if they even make them is too small... I tried to put the collet back in the router and thread the nut just a little bit to make sure it wasn't squeezing the bit shank, and tried to pry it out, but it won't budge... Please help...
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06-10-2007, 01:00 AM	#2
curiousgeorge Registered User Supreme Forum King Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Fort Worth,Texas USA First Name: George Posts: 1,588 View curiousgeorge's Gallery	Report This Post! Welcome nevanerviss. Glad to have you aboard. YOU aren't doing anything wrong. The bit is just stuck in the collet. I'm not familiar with the Craftsman router but have you tried putting the nut in a vise upside down and using a punch to drive the collet out of the nut? If you can get the nut and collet loose from each other the bit should come out of the collet. Even if you destroy the collet and or nut doing this you can just get another. __________________ George For those who haven't already done so... PLEASE! PLEASE! Fill in your first name and location in your profile.
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06-10-2007, 01:21 AM	#3
Dr.Zook Official Greeter Supreme Forum King Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Lebanon, Ohio "USA" First Name: Dave or "Doc" Posts: 4,714 View Dr.Zook's Gallery	Report This Post! Welcome to the Router Forums Toni. Glad to have another female join our forums. I hope you will become an active member and not be a lurker anymore. __________________ Dave the "Doctor" In woodworking there is no scrap, only firewood. Please edit your profile with a name and location so we can better assist you and make for a friendlier forum.
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06-10-2007, 01:27 AM	#4
bobj3 Forum Contributer Supreme Forum King Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Littleton,Colorado U.S.A. Posts: 8,300 View bobj3's Gallery	Report This Post! Hi Toni Just one more thing you can try Put the nut back on the router but not to tight, then push the bit all the up, way out so the bit is above the base plate now put in two wooden blocks in the vise and clamp the bit in the vise now move the router around bit to break the grip on the router bit. If it will not come out take a pry bar and with care pry on the base of the router and the top of the vise BUT with care it should come free. Some Craftsman routers can be nasty to get the bit out if it's been clamped in tight. __________________ PodCast videos RWS on YouTube http://www.routerforums.com/86898-post1.html Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables http://www.woodworkingonline.com/?s=dovetail Machine Cut ▼ http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/ http://www.woodworkingonline.com/woo...podcast-store/ http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm Bob J. Last edited by bobj3; 06-10-2007 at 01:33 AM.
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06-10-2007, 10:02 AM	#5
challagan Retired Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 4,002 View challagan's Gallery	Report This Post! Welcome Toni to the router forums! Corey __________________ My Carving Website: The Iowa Woodcarver http://iowacarver.tripod.com/ My Shop Website - Woodshop 51503 http://woodshop51503.tripod.com/
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06-10-2007, 10:23 AM	#6
kp91 Marine Engineer Forum King Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Fredericksburg, VA First Name: Doug Posts: 921 View kp91's Gallery	Report This Post! Sometimes if you don't have enough clearance below the bit (or you bottom it out) the collet can put a burr on the bit shank making it a pain to get out. __________________ Doug 1 John 1:9
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06-10-2007, 10:29 AM	#7
Joe Lyddon Banned Supreme Forum King Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Alta Loma, CA USA Posts: 2,168 View Joe Lyddon's Gallery	Report This Post! Toni, I'm glad you decided to join in... I hope you get your problem solved... sounds like it will be solved very soon... W e l c o m e . . A b o a r d !!
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06-10-2007, 10:49 AM	#8
Bob Forum Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 2,542 View Bob's Gallery	Report This Post! Great to have you with us Toni. You are the 2nd lady to jopin us in tthe past week or so. I am trying to get this wild bunch in line and shower and shave more ofetn now that we have ladies with us. Let's see clean shops too guys. __________________ Cheers, Bob
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06-13-2007, 09:53 PM	#9
nevanerviss Registered User Jr. Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Detroit, Michigan First Name: Toni Posts: 13 View nevanerviss's Gallery	Report This Post! I've tried everything I can think of to get this thing out, but it won't come out!!! I've tried prying and crying, I even bought it flowers, but it's a no-go... I think I'm just gonna buy another 1/4" collet and call it a day... When I wanna use my round-over bit, I'll just put that collet in, but otherwise I'll use the "other" collet... My las resort is to take it to my job and have the maintenance guy heat it, but I don't want to compromise the structural integrity of the bit/shank/collet...
	Top - Reply with Quote

06-13-2007, 11:53 PM	#10
bobj3 Forum Contributer Supreme Forum King Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Littleton,Colorado U.S.A. Posts: 8,300 View bobj3's Gallery	Report This Post! Hi nevanerviss Get your hair dryer out or a heat gun and give it a try,, they don't put out a lot of heat but they will do it... Heat gun is the best...2 stage I use one to break the loctiie seal I have on some of my bits for my carvewright machine. The Fac. put's it on and they can be a pain to change without the heat.. rap a wet rag just under the nut to keep the heat from going down ,(a type of heat sink) __________________ PodCast videos RWS on YouTube http://www.routerforums.com/86898-post1.html Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables http://www.woodworkingonline.com/?s=dovetail Machine Cut ▼ http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/ http://www.woodworkingonline.com/woo...podcast-store/ http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm Bob J. Last edited by bobj3; 06-14-2007 at 12:37 AM.
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