[Hauntfreaks]

Hello... I was using a Ryobi trimmer as a spindle for about a year now and it was working pretty good ,the only problem was the bearing seat was plastic and would start to get a little play after about 6months.. I cut mostly HDPE and G10 so it wasnt a huge deal... so I decided to start using the cheaper Harbor Freight trimmers so i had new mounting brackets made for the HR trimmer... the mounts worked perfect...

but here is the problem... I ran a few parts I notice the cuts didnt seem right.. I put a pair of calipers on them and they were all over cut... knowing the end mill was fine, I put a gauge on the end mill shank (3 different end mills)... and rotated it... it was .009 out .... so I put the gauge on the shaft of the trimmer and it ran true.... so I took a good look at the collet and it seems to be a bit out of round....

heres my question... does anyone know of someone making a precision collet for the Harbor Freight timmer, preferably a one to hold 1/8" endmills.... any ifo would be awesome

[Hauntfreaks]

no one else has had this issue?... or owned this cheap router?...

[hoss2006]

We don't use routers much here in the mill and lathe forum.
You'll get more luck in the cnc router forum.
Hoss

[Hauntfreaks]

thank you... i thought i might be in the wrong section... oops

[hoss2006]

Good luck, I wanted smaller collets for my Dewalt trimmer but they didn't make any at Dewalt so I made my own.
The HF model might be even harder to find but you never know.
Hoss

[Connor]

I wouldn't bother.. Get yourself a Bosh Colt and precision collets from Precision solid carbide tools for woodworking and metal forming.

[atwooddon]

I used the HF trim router for almost a year and was pleasantly surprised it didn't have much run-out at all. Maybe you could exchange the trim router or have them send you a new collet. Have you checked to see if a collet from Bosch, Ryobi or DeWalt might fit the HF. HF typically doesn't design tools, they copy parts and pieces from other manufactures so you might find a fit from another router.

I used it with the HF variable speed control and it worked well also. My only complaint was the noise. My DW611is noticeably quieter.

Don

[Hauntfreaks]

thanks for the ideas and info. here is the collet in question.... i know this is a dumb question does it look like another brands collet??

[Dano523]

Could you not just solve the problem by just increasing your tool table size to account for the run out?

[Hauntfreaks]

Could you not just solve the problem by just increasing your tool table size to account for the run out?

yeah I thought of that... I would hate to have to go in and edit all the g-codes on my drawings...

what I did do was go to Harbor Freight and buy 3 more trimmers and tested all the collets.... I found one out of 4 collets that the run-out was .0025
thats much better but still not perfect.... but I can live with that for right now...

I have also talked to a machinist buddy and he "might" be able to make me a precision collet... time will tell

[CarveOne]

Look inside and outside the collet (where the slot is cut) with magnifier to see if there are any burrs left on the edges. If any are there maybe you can find a way to de-burr it. A burr would prevent the cutter shank from aligning properly.

There are also simple collet adapters available that reduce the 1/4" collet hole to fit 1/8" shanks.

[Hauntfreaks]

Look inside and outside the collet (where the slot is cut) with magnifier to see if there are any burrs left on the edges. If any are there maybe you can find a way to de-burr it. A burr would prevent the cutter shank from aligning properly.

There are also simple collet adapters available that reduce the 1/4" collet hole to fit 1/8" shanks.

never thought of burrs on the inside thanks....

any links on that reducer?... I have a hardened steel one but for the life of me I cant remember where I got it.... all I can find now are brass ones

[CarveOne]

I got them from MLCS Woodworking

#271 is 1/4" OD and 1/8" ID
#273 is 1/2" OD and 1/8" ID

There are other sizes. They appear to be well made, but I have only used one of the #271 adapters (one time) and have not measured run-out in a known good router. $4.00 each (any size) and a set of 7 sizes for $19.95 is a pretty good deal. I saw them while ordering other cutters and got three each of the above two numbers.

These are definitely steel (attracted to magnets) and are 1.025" long. Only one of the three slits goes through to the center hole.

[Hauntfreaks]

I got them from MLCS Woodworking

#271 is 1/4" OD and 1/8" ID
#273 is 1/2" OD and 1/8" ID

There are other sizes. They appear to be well made, but I have only used one of the #271 adapters (one time) and have not measured run-out in a known good router. $4.00 each (any size) and a set of 7 sizes for $19.95 is a pretty good deal. I saw them while ordering other cutters and got three each of the above two numbers.

These are definitely steel (attracted to magnets) and are 1.025" long. Only one of the three slits goes through to the center hole.

thank you for the link... they look nice... I do wish they had a shoulder... I see there retail store is about 30mins from me... might have to go out there and check it out.. thanks again

[Lee DeRaud]

I do wish they had a shoulder...

Murphy's Law guarantees that, if they did have a shoulder, the overall length wouldn't be anywhere close to what you need.

[Hauntfreaks]

well this is the drawing I just sent to my machinist friend.... fingers crossed
OEM length and extended 1/8" collet

[CarveOne]

The reducer adapters just fit into your tapered adapter to allow using a smaller shank. They could actually make run-out worse when you have a poorly made collet. Having a longer adapter length down into the router shaft could also force the short collet into better alignment when the nut is tightened. You never know until you try them.

Bottom line is that the low cost HF trim router isn't a precision made device to begin with. I have one of the $20 cylindrical orange plastic versions on my first CNC machine. There is enough flex in the plastic case that collet precision is essentially lost as the machine is cutting anyway.

A cast metal body trim router is a better choice.

[Hauntfreaks]

Caveone I hear what your saying... right now im using an OEM collet and an old reducer (1/8").... the drawing above is to have a new collet made to accept 1/8" shank bits without having to use a reducer and hopefully solve my run-out issue....

you might know the answer to this question... do you know of a better router that has the same diameter as these cheap HF trimmers??... anyone know of a dimensions list/data base for different brand trimmers?

I ask because i just had these brackets made, would hate to waste them

[CarveOne]

Caveone I hear what your saying... right now im using an OEM collet and an old reducer (1/8").... the drawing above is to have a new collet made to accept 1/8" shank bits without having to use a reducer and hopefully solve my run-out issue....

you might know the answer to this question... do you know of a better router that has the same diameter as these cheap HF trimmers??... anyone know of a dimensions list/data base for different brand trimmers?

I ask because i just had these brackets made, would hate to waste them

Having the longer version made should be an improvement, as long as the smaller diameter end doesn't bump into the bottom of the router shaft hole. It's good practice to insert the cutter shank until it bottoms, then pull it back out just a little. Having the collet end or cutter shank jammed into the bottom of the hole can cause the alignments to go off center when the collet nut is tightened.

I don't know of a cross reference list of router diameters. Maybe there is one though.

I'm using a DeWalt DWP611 1.5 hp trim router with good success. The only thing to point out about it is that the shaft is isolated from the machined aluminum casting and you need to clip directly onto the cutter when using a Z zero setter. The bearings are in a plastic insert, but is much stiffer than a two piece plastic case. It measures 2.715" diameter. My HF 1hp trim router averages about 2.5" due to the plastic case being not so perfectly round. Maybe your mounts can be opened up to a larger diameter as needed.