Router wants to eat my bit...

[Effayy]

So I have this router... I was attempting to loosen the collet tonight to place another bit in, and it wouldn't loosen no matter what I tried (yes I was turning it the right way  ).  It's now getting to the point that the shaft holding the collet is starting to strip and soon I won't be able to hold the shaft in place with the metal tab.

I tried plain old elbow grease (it was hard to remove before, but never anything like this!), I chucked in a little WD-40, and I even tried thwacking the wrench with a hammer a few times.  no luck, the collet almost seems to be fused to the thing.

I'm wondering if any of you have faced a similar situation, and what you used to loosen things up.  I definately don't want to lose the router or the bit.   

- FA

[MYX]

No man you got it all wrong. You buy 1 Router for each bit. 


Did your router come with a collet specific wrench? Have you tried vicegrips?

Carefull of WD40, it is like a dust magnet.

[DaveMMR]

I had the same problem.  Eventually, I pulled the bit (very slightly and carefully) with some pliers to help loosen it a bit and then the collet eventually cooperated with me. 

[WaRpEd]

I agree with MYk about the WD-40 being a dust magnet. Was the bit running hot or the edges blue (burned). There is a method of last resort but I don't like doing it. If your bit has a head and I mean the top of the bit is wider than the shaft you can use a SMALL prybar and hammer to try to break the bit loose from the collet but could break the bit if not VERY careful.
Again I don't recommend it but hit the bit lightly and politely. And say a quick one to the tool gods.

[DrewKaree]

Almost sounds like you've cross-threaded the nut that presses the collet together to hold the bit.  I say this because actually hitting the wrench with a hammer should do SOMETHING.

If I'm understanding you correctly, you can't loosen the nut, because there's no wrench (other than a basin wrench, and you certainly aren't using that) that you can use on the collet itself.

If it's NOT the nut, and you are meaning to tell us that the collect can't be lifted out after loosening the collet nut, then you need to use a needlenose pliers or some other such item to get under the flange that is typically on the top of the collet. 

Something to remember as well - routing heats up the bit, which in turn heats up the collet.  Any debris in there will make the bit almost impossible to remove.  You can take some emery paper to clean off the surface of the shank of the bit prior to putting it into the collet.  Also, DO NOT bottom out the shank in your router.  You should have a gap of an eigth of an inch or so.  Not doing so can make your bit next to impossible to remove. Invert an air can (like for blowing crap out of your PC) and spray.  Use some gloves and then try to pull the bit out of the collet.  It still might resist, but you should find it a lot easier (and the gloves will help you keep more of your skin should your hand slip )

Tell us if what you're saying is that the nut won't come loose or if the nut is loose but the bit won't come out of the collet.

[Effayy]

Ah ok, to clarify, the nut won't come loose.  Sorry for the misleading terminology there.

- FA

[DrewKaree]

I bet you cross-threaded the nut then.  Perhaps it's aluminum, meaning it'd be pretty easy to chew up the threads enough to get it on, but make it a PITA to get back off.

Try the air-can-upside-down trick to see if something expanded and wedged itself together, otherwise I think you might be screwed. 

FWIW, I hope I'm entirely wrong and it's something altogether different that I'm not thinking of right now.

[mccoy178]

Sounds like a job for the crescent wrench.  Also, taping the whole thing with a hammer should help a little. 

[DrewKaree]

Sounds like a job for the crescent wrench.  Also, taping the whole thing with a hammer should help a little. 

Why would you use a hammer to apply tape?  Or are you thinking of taping a hammer to the router?  I don't understand how that'll help him, but you guys in Ohio never made much sense anyhoo

[mccoy178]

I know where you live DrewKaree.

[DrewKaree]

I know where you live DrewKaree.

Right back atcha bay-bee....oh, and make sure you're bringing a case of cold beer if you're planning on visiting.  Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat, if you please

[mccoy178]

You know I don't speak Spanish boy.

[brack]

If the bit is more narrow than the nut, you can try to see if you can get a ratchet on it.  You may be able to get better leverage that way.  If the bit is larger, you may still be able to do it if you can cut it away.

[Effayy]

Well now, after a much needed vacation, I'm back with a resolution to the router bit problem.

I took it to my father-in-law's place, where he works on old cars... After fooling around with every wrench in the place to no avail, he had the idea to use the air compressor... Well, worked like a charm.  In fact it worked so well, it didn't take the collet nut off... Instead it took the entire shank!

Once we had that done, though, it was just a matter of tightening the shank on a voce, and a little elbow grease to remove the nut.  thankfully it even looks as if the router will be spared!

Anyway, decided to post my resolution so i could suggest to anyoe with teh same problem in future... take it to a friend with an air compressor.

- FA