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1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=31501		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  James Orr [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:23 pm ]
Post subject:  1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
I love the comedy of errors that goes along with building one or two guitars per year. This time, the 1/4" bits I've always used aren't fitting my PC 310 laminate trimmer.

After looking at these three pictures, is something from the collet missing?

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Author:  enalnitram [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
on your file attachment comment did you mean to say "aren't happily sliding into it?"

can't you take out that center thing, then press the bit into it, and then push it back into the router, and then screw down the collar on top of that?
Author:  Tom West [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
James: If the opening is .230 I don't think 1/4" bits will fit through. Is this a typo,wrong measurement or are the shanks smaller then 1/4" (.250)....??? Maybe the collet is jammed into the holder, making the hole smaller then .250, think it should be loose...!!!
Tom
Author:  Barry Daniels [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Your collet is missing. Check your other bits to see if you left it on one of them.
Author:  James Orr [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
westca wrote:
James: If the opening is .230 I don't think 1/4" bits will fit through. Is this a typo


Nope. That opening is .230"
Author:  James Orr [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Barry Daniels wrote:
Your collet is missing. Check your other bits to see if you left it on one of them.


Thanks, Barry. That tells me I'm not going insane.
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
On my PC trimmer, I have to push the bit in hard. It's not a loose fit.
Author:  Shane Neifer [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Barry Daniels wrote:
Your collet is missing. Check your other bits to see if you left it on one of them.


Maybe I am missing something but it sure looks like your collet is in place on these pictures. You can even see the slots which allow the collet to tighten on your bits.

James, collets are cheap. Head to your hardware store and pick up a couple and replace the one on the router. They can wear out although I have some routers that are over 30 years old and they are still fine. Anyway, that is where I would start...new collet (replacing the one that is in the router...cause I can see it on the picture :shock: )

Shane
Author:  Barry Daniels [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Those slots don't go through. That is just the housing for the collet. I stand by my statement that the collet is missing.
Author:  Tom West [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
James : Again,is the collet loose,if it's jammed in by the nut the opening will be less then.250 if there is nothing in the hole to stop it from collapsing. The collet should be loose.
Tom
Author:  Kent Chasson [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Jammed collet. This can happen if you tighten the collet with no bit in it. It sinks too far into the tapered shaft and closes up. You should be able to remove it with some pliers or vise-grips. You will have to pinch the relief cut closed to free it. The relief cut is the slot on the collet on the left side of the picture.
Author:  Tom West [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Right on Kent....!! I was trying to say something like that....you have a much better way with words.
Tom
Author:  gozierdt [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
I think your collet is there, because if it was missing the opening would be much larger
than .230, probably more like .400 or so (a guess, I haven't measured mine). It's also
impossible to get the nut off the bit if the collet is still on the shank. So it's there...

I've had the same problem, and fixed it by getting it out with pliers/vicegrips as suggested.
Once I got the collet out, I put the wedge shaped end of a manual screwdriver tip into the
slot, held the collet down on my bench, and hit the handle of the screwdriver lightly with a
mallet. The wedge on the tip spread the collet back up over .250, and it fit easily onto the
bit shanks again. If you overtighten the nut, it will swage the collet back down again, and
you'll need to repeat the process.
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
I've got several PC310 routers and about half of them have this problem. The collet is indeed present - it only has a single slit in it (very hokey design IMO). It's just jammed into the end of the router hard, so it has closed up too much for you to put 1/4" bits in. You should be able to pry it out with a flat blade screwdriver and/or some pliers. The ones that stick can be helped by sanding the mating surfaces very slightly with 220g wet/dry paper (wet).....it helped on mine anyway....YMMV.

BTW, I still have a small package for you in the back of my car somewhere!! idunno Since I moved, I haven't had time to find the local PO (it's miles away gaah ). Please send me another PM/email with your address again to make it easy for me, and I'll scive off work tomorrow pm and get it done.

Cheers,
Dave F.
Author:  Tim Mullin [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Some laminate trimmers are supplied with both 6mm (European) and 6.35mm (0.25" - North America, Australasia) collets. You've got a 6mm collet and need to replace it, either with the other supplied, or a 0.25" PC-compatible collet available at almost any tool supplier.
Author:  alan stassforth [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Tap the collet using a piece of hardwood, and a hammer.
Once out,
use a screwdriver in the collet slot to spread it, carefully.
The collet is in that router,
unless you've taken it out after that picture.
Author:  WudWerkr [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Kent Chasson wrote:
Jammed collet. This can happen if you tighten the collet with no bit in it. It sinks too far into the tapered shaft and closes up. You should be able to remove it with some pliers or vise-grips. You will have to pinch the relief cut closed to free it. The relief cut is the slot on the collet on the left side of the picture.



+1 This is answer [:Y:]
Author:  James Orr [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Thanks everyone. The weather was perfect last Sunday. I spent some time working on a new work board, then got the top ready to rout. When I went to put the bit in . . . I couldn't.

I headed back out earlier this evening and swore it looked like one solid, fused piece. After a bit more inspection, I saw that it was indeed jammed. It came out easily with the light pinch of pliers, and I fit some bits in just to make sure.

[:Y:] Can't thank the forum for these tips enough.
Author:  James Orr [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Dave Fifield wrote:
BTW, I still have a small package for you in the back of my car somewhere!! idunno Since I moved, I haven't had time to find the local PO (it's miles away gaah ). Please send me another PM/email with your address again to make it easy for me, and I'll scive off work tomorrow pm and get it done.


Haha, sure thing!
Author:  Barry Daniels [ Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Wow, this crow tastes pretty gamey.
Author:  WudWerkr [ Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Barry Daniels wrote:
Wow, this crow tastes pretty gamey.



Thats cause its " Imported Crow" , Made in USA crow is much easier to swallow ! laughing6-hehe laughing6-hehe laughing6-hehe laughing6-hehe
Author:  Tom West [ Fri Mar 18, 2011 9:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/4" bits are not fitting my PC 310
Barry:Everyone has to eat their share of crow before we die. If we didn't, think of all the crows that would be flying around. They stopped it once for a period of time so that Hichcock could do Birds but quickly realized their mistake....!
Tom
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