Collet Extention

[S Bolton]

Are the Collet Extensions from MLCS worthwhile. The price is right. I ordered a Katie Jig from Sommerfeld and it isn't here yet, but should be in a week or two. I wonder if an extension if in order?

Bob, I rememer when you added those while round things (UWHW?) to your Katie. I wonder how hard that would be to do to the Sommerfeld Katie? I suppose I could take two of the square peices and make them out of wood and do it. How hard would it be to do with metal? Super glue?

Two questions in one. Hope I don't get kicked out.

Steve Bolton

[bobj3]

Hi SB

Some don't like the Collet Extensions but I do and I have both from MLCS

They work great for me in two ways,, I can clamp one in the vise and use it to hold router bits to take off the bearings or to remove the cutters without any damage to the router bit shank plus I also use them on the router table, many times when I use a jig/fixture the bit is just to short..

Many router users will cheat and pull the bit out just a little bit more out of the chuck/collet than it should be and all router users do it.. ,and say well lets try it out and hope the bit stays in place, that is very unsafe...it comes down to using the right tool for the job, I look at it like the guy that will use a 6ft. ladder to get on the roof of his house, it will do it, but it's not the safe way...it only takes one time to learn the hard way...right tool for the job...


" those while round things " you can drill the Alum. on the Katie jig the same way you drill hardwood...then just super glue them in place...
a quick and easy job...

I use the Tenon Cutters and Plug Cutters to cut the plugs out
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shops.../plgtenon.html

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Originally Posted by S Bolton

Are the Collet Extensions from MLCS worthwhile. The price is right. I ordered a Katie Jig from Sommerfeld and it isn't here yet, but should be in a week or two. I wonder if an extension if in order?

Bob, I rememer when you added those while round things (UWHW?) to your Katie. I wonder how hard that would be to do to the Sommerfeld Katie? I suppose I could take two of the square peices and make them out of wood and do it. How hard would it be to do with metal? Super glue?

Two questions in one. Hope I don't get kicked out.

Steve Bolton

[Mike]

Steve, the reason most people do not use the extensions is the fact that when spinning at 20K RPM it is one more item that can come loose. In a perfect world we would have bits that were always long enough. In the real world we have to make do with what is available. There will be times when you have no choice but to use an extension. I guess the best advice about them is to use them only when you have to.

[harrysin]

Mike's advice is exactly what I would have said.