Hey Brian, welcome to our little corner of the 'net.

As for your question, you can't safely go from a 1/4" up to a 1/2" collet unless your router was designed for it. Look in your manual, or contact SKill and check with them. At best, you will have to purchase another collet. At worst, a new router that will accept 1/2" shank bits.

 

Thanks Brian. Since a 1/2" adapter didn't come with the router I was afraid it might not be possible...

 

Hi Brian, welcome to the forum.
I dunno, are you sure the model number is 1823? I did a quick search and the Skil 1810,1815, and 1820 just take 1/4" colletts. The Skil 1825 takes both 1/4 and 1/2" but I couldn't find the 1823 quickly. You may be in luck yet, 1823 is right between them. I would contact Skil. Try to get ahold of someone that seems interested. So often you will get a NO just because it's the easy answer.
Good Luck

 

Welcome to the RouterForums Brian.

 

Not enough power, shaft size or the router is not sturdy enough to drive a 1/2" shank cutter, why not use a 1/4" shank cutter and do small, reduced cuts that build up to the correct size of groove?

 

Greetings Brian and welcome to the router forum.

 

one way to tell is, remove the collet, can you fit a 1/2" bit in the shaft hole? if not then you can't. the shaft hole has to be much bigger than 1/2" to accomodate the 1/2" collet.

 

Hi brian129

If it's one time thing why not rent a router that can take on the 1/2" shank bit..for 10.oo to 15.oo bucks you can get the job done.. then return it after your done ...

I can tell you how to make adapter ,if you have a lathe but just rent tool you need.. you will better off in the long run..



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i can tell you if you mean a 1/4" shaft that goes into the router with a 1/2" collet on the other end, an adapter like that would be VERY dangerous.. if a 1/2" bit fits into the routers armature, then a 1/2" collet could be made, it would have to be hardened though..

 

if it ever broke it would break at the 1/4" section with the rest flying around at 20,000 rpm.. for myself, i'd much rather get an armature from a router that accepts a 1/2" bit and adapt the router bearing cups in the router to accept the larger armature.(the bearings would be larger). IF i needed to go that route.. the armature for my craftsman router that accepts 1/2" or 1/4" bits is only $25 from sears.. of course, the new armature needs to be about the same length and width inside the router.

 

Thanks John.

 

Thanks Mike.

 

Thanks Jigs.

 

Thanks Bob. I think this was is probably the best advice for my situation.

Brian



QUOTE=bobj3;137533]Hi brian129

If it's one time thing why not rent a router that can take on the 1/2" shank bit..for 10.oo to 15.oo bucks you can get the job done.. then return it after your done ...

I can tell you how to make adapter ,if you have a lathe but just rent tool you need.. you will better off in the long run..



=======[/QUOTE]

 

Hi Colin,

The quickest way is to get a 1/4" reducer sleeve to fit your 1/2" router collet.

Many routers outside the US use this system.

MLCS Woodworking Adaptor Bushings and Ball Bearing Guides

 

Thank you James ! It seems obvious now but I just didn't think,in my defense I didn't know that such items were made and also I'm getting old and my thinking is not what it was ! Anyway thanks again, I

 

Brian,

Forget the Skil for routing aluminum. Period, end of discussion.

Buy a big router that takes a 1/2" bit. Bigger is better. Cutting aluminum with a router is a no-joking-around task, that router isn't up to it unless you want to spend all day taking off a 1/4" of material in .003" passes. You need something with a lot of mass in the armature like the big Milwaukee or the Porter-Cable 7518. Cutter traction in aluminum is a lot greater than in wood, you need power and mass to keep things in control. This is the Big Show of routing you're venturing into, Little Leaguers need to stay home or be prepared to get hurt.

Quillman has routed a lot more aluminum than probably all of us here combined, check out his site for reliable info: Router Woodworking. Send him an email, drop a few bucks, the info is well worth it. He'll give you the straight and skinny.

My $.02 worth, HTH.

Bill