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Recent router purchase

2802 Views 26 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  DaninVan
Hello everyone.
I purchase an inexpensive Harbor Freight Master Drill router. It came with 1/2" bit and two (reducer collects) 3/8" & 1/4". I purchase a three set of Warrior 1/4" bits. BUT the 1/4"shaft bits will not fit into the 1/4" collet and are obviously to small for the 3/8". Can anyone point me in the right direction to purchase a collect that I can use on this machine with the 1/4" shaft bits. User guide is useless and I cannot find any info for additional parts for my unwise purchase.:frown:
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metric shanks and SAE collet or vice versa...
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Maybe, but why would HF be selling metric collet routers???
You could be right about the bit set, but again, why would HF be selling metric sets? Just asking.
Especially since Petelli quite clearly states that the additional collets are 1/4" and 3/8".
I'm wondering if Petelli opened up the collet nut until it stopped but didn't go past the resistance to open it fully?
Mind you, he had to take it apart to install the 1/4" collet (?).
-defective collet sleeve?
-collet nut not fully tightened?

If it's convenient, take it back and get them to check it out. If it is defective, don't take an exchange unit, up grade to a Bosch (or other).
Sounds like you need to make the trip anyway...hopefully it wasn't an online purchase.
Petelli did you by chance tighten the collet nut without a bit in it? If you did you may have squeezed the slots in the collet together making it too tight to get a bit in it. Another possibility is the cheap quality bits you bought. I bought a cheap set a few years ago and 1 bit would not go in the collet. All the others did. I measured it and it was several thou larger than the rest. If the collet is fine then try taking it to a store that sells quality bits like Freud, Amana, or CMT and try one of their 1/4" bits in it. If they don't fit either then it's the collet. There is also the possibility as Stick suggested that the collet may be a 6mm. That router is probably sold in other parts of the world where 6, 8, and 12 mm bits are the norm and that collet may have been included accidentally.
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These guys have pretty well covered it. Treat yourself to a Bosch 1617 EVSPK, You'll never regret it. There are some tools you don't want to compromise on, and a router is one.
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Maybe, but why would HF be selling metric collet routers???
you ask a question like that about something from HF???
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I am not one to knock people getting in to woodworking at a price they can afford, but this particular router has collet issues, so return it. You will never get it to work correctl, it';s a known issue.

If you can spend a little bit more money let us know, I dont think just telling you to jump from a 55.00 router to a 160.00 to 225.00 router makes sense. if you had that kind of money I suspect you would have spent that to start. If you do have a better budget there are meany good routers, some for the way I work better than the Bosch 1617 so many here seem to love.

I am all for getting into woodworking on a budget, getting a good, used router might be the better choice.
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Quite a few members have purchased remans from this company with very good results: CPO Outlets | New and Reconditioned Power Tools, Pressure Washers, Tankless Water Heaters, Vacuums, Ceiling Fans, and more!
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Craigslist always has used routers for-sale i've seen some good routers for sale at fairly reasonable prices.
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Blind Man's Bluff

you ask a question like that about something from HF???
We don't have HF up here; I'm only going by comments from the forum. 0:)
Welcome to the forum.
Craigslist always has used routers for-sale i've seen some good routers for sale at fairly reasonable prices.
when did we get into playing router (aka Russian) roulette???
We don't have HF up here;
hope yur luck holds out...
Why i like bosch...

2nd to none CS/TS support (American based) that's absolutely painless... They even support their tools that have been discontinued really well...
Their tools are real work horses...
planned obsolesce isn't an issue and less all around grief...
they make tools that last a very long time... decades of hard heavy use..
they make tools that protect the bottom line...
Besides them being comfortable to use routers, they are much more feature rich, mighty fine soft start, way better fine depth adjustment, nice collets, and so much more...
I think/believe Bosch to be an excellent and outstanding company... they always ''man up'' to any found problems in a w/o issues...
When I had problems with two of their 1617 routers... a really old abused one and and a new one out of the box.. (it sounded terrible - gravely).... only took a day and all is well even with the old one and I never had to leave the shop.....

Keep in mind, that saving some money now just may cost you more down the road... Do yourself a huge favor and get a Bosch...

Bosch consistently scores high in/on all categories of quality, CS/TS, reliability and support, is as close as a phone call and your mail box...
In short... They, Bosch, respect us, the consumer...

Have a ''no worries'' look to CPO outlets for reconditioned Bosch... I have never heard a true negative word about them, (CPO), or any reconditioned Bosch tools...

Start here...
Bosch Tools | Bosch Power Tools | CPOTools.com
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You can return HF's products to a store that you bought on line. I have done it.
hope yur luck holds out...
Stick, we have Princess Auto... same concept, almost the same junk, er, products.
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We don't have HF up here; I'm only going by comments from the forum. 0:)
Dan, just think "Princess Auto" and you will understand.
Stick, we have Princess Auto... same concept, almost the same junk, er, products.
from what I understand PA is several notches better than HF...
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Slow Boat From China

from what I understand PA is several notches better than HF...
Lol!
https://www.princessauto.com/en/flyer
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