I just saw this video by fine woodworking magazine on the musclechuck. It helped me understand it better to see it demonstrated like that. I'm going to get one once I get my table finished and set up with my new Triton.

Quick Change Collets Make Routing Easier - Fine Woodworking Video

I wasn't sure where to post this, so feel free to move it if it's not in the right place.

Good find, Katie.

Fanstatic accessory for a router.
I have one on my Bosch1617. I wish they made em for 1/4" routers as well.
Bob

Thanks, James. I appreciate having found out about this from the forum.

If they made these for 1/4" routers I would have gotten one for my DW611 already! I love that router but hate the darn button you have to push for changing bits. I don't have a lot of hand strength and it's really difficult. I prefer two wrenches to the button, but an allen wrench looks like the supreme luxury!

I was looking over the Musclechuck collet adapters they have for 1/4" bits and will likely get one since I have a bunch of them due to having the DW611 and using it a lot.

Thanks for that great video, now perhaps members will realize why I'm so one eyed about the MUSCLECHUCK.

I picked up a Dewalt 618 set at homedepot for $40 with a missing power cord and a missing collet. I decided to get a muscle chuck instead of buying a dewalt collet. I can't say th muscle chuck is worth the extra money. It does what is says it will do but I have never had that much problem with conventional collets.

What about the convenience of half a turn with a 4mm Allen key to fit/remove the bit and the extra half inch or so depth of cut and in most cases bit change from above the table using a ball ended Allen key.

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I've been thinking about one of these for awhile, but haven't actually seen one in action. Thanks for posting this. It goes onto my wishlist. I have Triton TRA001 and a couple of 1617s, so I think the Triton comes first since its in the table.

Thanks for the video. Wonder why they can't sell us one with the router? I guess the cost would put them out of the market.

The guy in the vid talked about vibration. Any of you guys have trouble with vibration? He also didn't show you how hard it is to get the collet on your router off.

Also, I'm with Katie on the button pushing locks. Sometimes they don't click in at the right place to be able to use the wrench so easily.

I don't need the mussel for my router table because my router is accessible by opening the top. So I don't have to run the lift up either. But I might buy one for hand routing.

Al

The articles included on that same page are worth a look as well.