Kinda OT- Router question

[ron]

A few years ago, I built Norm's router table. (first version). Having only the money SWMBO would let me invest, I installed a Harbor Freight 3hp router. The router was supposed to be temporary, but the blasted thing has worked great. I am something of a sentimentalist, if a tool works well, I feel it earns a place in my shop and I will try to repair rather than replace it. Well, the collet in this router has decided to stop releasing the router bits. I've resorted to tapping the bits with a block of wood in order to get them free. What a pain. My question. Do any of you know of a replacement collet I could buy that might fit this router? I could try to find a replacement at HF, but I thought someone might know of a better replacement part.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Looks like the HF is not working so well so it may be time to upgrade and see what you've been missing. You get a collet for free when you buy a router from DeWalt, Porter Cable, Milwaukee, etc.

[Puckdropper]

"ron" wrote in news:Z8SdnTjBf_8-yITanZ2dnUVZ [e-mail]:

*snip*

Did you try cleaning it? Warm water and soap may just go a long way in your case. (It's practically free to try, so why not?)

Puckdropper

[bynot]

Try their customer service for parts and buy a couple of collets from them if they are available

[bridgerfafc]

you just might have a shot at finding the part you need.

HF buys their machines from the lowest chinese bidder.

the chinese manufacturers often buy obsoleted engineering from higher end manufacturers. then they adjust the designs for cheaper manufacture by substituting plastic for metal, switching to a lower end bearing, that sort of thing. however, the geometry of things like collets may survive the cheapening process unchanged. the quality of the steel in that collet may not.

this could mean that your HF router might accept a collet from a makita, or a hitachi, or other such machine from a line that was in production a few years ago. you probably won't find the part from HF, or even from makita et al, but a shop that does service and repair of those machines is likely to recognize it and be able to supply you with one. don't be surprised if that collet costs a significant portion of the original cost of your router.

good luck.