I have an older Rockwell router - sorry, do not have the model number. I am using it to route some half lap jointsa on some older doug fir for flooring and siding.
When feeding some of the boards into the router (on table) they will splinter badly - sometimes casusing a need to rip the board ont he table saw and start over. If I change the direction of the feed - to be with the rotation of the bit, the router will not bite into the grain as much and the wood will not split.
However, after a few passes on a few boards, the bit starts to work it's way out of the router, gradually rising. I've had it apart several times, and I'm certain that it is tight enough. However, the collet, is not symmetric. It has two vertical grooves on the outside. THey appear to be for the function of absorbing the tightening and slightly compressing the collet - to hold the bit. But, on this collet, one of the grooves is actually cracked clear through. At least I think it is cracked.
Does anyone know if this could cause a bit to loosen?
In the meantime, I can conitune to feed into the router rotation if I increase the fence for several passes of smaller bites. Time consuming, but effective.
Robert