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If the collet (which holds the bit) gets scored or worn it will not tighten fully. Another possibility is that the collet needs a good cleaning. Check the shaft on your router bit for scoring and wear as well. Since it's been slipping, probably both the collet and bit are bad.
My guess is that it's time for a new router. If the bit is slipping, it could be a safety issue...that's always a good tactic to take with family members... 'Honey the guys online say I could lose an eye, and I should buy a new Bosch router to be safe..."
Anyway, you don't have to ruin much wood to pay for a good router.
John

I have an older Craftsman also that had the same problem. I turned the
collet over, tighten it really well and it now works fine. Collets are pretty
inexpensive. Not a bad upgrade on a good old router.

Good Luck!

I soaked mi\y collet in thinner and cleaned the inside with a brush to remove the pitch that had collected from years of routing pine. It holds well now.

one question about an aspect of which you may or may not be aware; do you ensure that there is space at the collet end of the bit before you tighten it? if you don't the bit will bottom in the collet and not tighten properly because the collet pulls the bit inword as it tightens. no room to pull, no tighten.

take the collet apart, clean if necessary, then when installing the bit push it in till it bottoms, the pull it back out 1/8" or so.

Another reason a bit will move from it's original setting is trying to cut too deep at once. Trying making three 1/8 inch passes versus one 3/8 inch pass.

I've had the same problem, but light cuts answered my problem. Now, I just use the table saw.....   

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I had the same problem, which went away when I took the collet complete apart, cleaned all parts with solvent like Jeffery, and reassembled. If that doesn't work, then it's time for a new router.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

[QUOTE=RobertJeffery] I soaked mi\y collet in thinner and cleaned the inside with a brush to remove the pitch that had collected from years of routing pine. It holds well now.[/QUOTE]

BTW, if you know a gun enthusiast you can probably get/borrow a bronze/brass cleaning brush of just the right caliber for a 1/4" router collet.
John

just a question for those who are recommending trashing the router: aside from the fact that it is craftsman, why are you ignoring the option of buying a new collet? seems totally wasteful and extravagant to me.

[QUOTE=crazymanmichael] just a question for those who are recommending trashing the router: aside from the fact that it is craftsman, why are you ignoring the option of buying a new collet? seems totally wasteful and extravagant to me.[/QUOTE]

Perhaps parts are cheaply available in your area; whenever I tried to get parts for Craftsman (in Canada) the prices were very high. If you could get a new collet for $10 or so, it would make sense. Most of the Craftsman routers go 'on sale' often for under $100. I've had 3-4 Craftsman routers and all of them either threw armature sections or blew bearings after 5 yrs or so. Even within Craftsman, there's probably a range of quality available-the 8 yo router in question may be one of the good ones.
I'm all for fixing up tools if you can do it economically. Sometimes it's more sensible to just buy something new (or better quality, or both).

I've got a bunch of Chinese lam trimmers and a Chinese 1/2" router in addition to my Craftsman in the router table (screaming its way to oblivion) and my 1/2" Bosch router, so I've nothing against 'cheap tools'.
John

admittedly, the cost and availability of parts can affect such repair/replace decisions. but in this case the person posting with the problem is in the us, sears parts tend to be fairly readily available at sears locations and online, and since even porter cable collets are less than $20, considerably less on ebay, i would think craftsman might be cheaper, and certainly cheaper than a new router.

i just found it puzzling odd that only one poster even mentioned the option of replacing the collet whilst several said trash the router, even though no description of the condition of the collet, or the shaft, or the routers general condition, or its usage history had been posted upon which such a recommendation might reasonably be based.

unfortunately sears has been trading on the great reputation of the older craftsman tools for far too long. i have heard many stories of unreliability such as you relate.

i've only ever had one recent era craftsman power tool, a mig welder and for the light duty work i use it for it is adequate. i have noted that sears is selling a badge engineered version of the bosch 1617 routers so perhaps they are recognizing and reacting to their quality issues.

Jon is the router a plunge router? If so check that it is locking properly. I have seen this mechanism sometime loosen and when in use you will plunge the bit to a deeper depth unknowingly. If it's not a plunger router I would go with the suggestions above; clean and maybe a new collet. The collet is usually interchangeable between similar size router so you might be able to pick it up at the locate hardware.

Good luck and stay safe.

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Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

collets are usually not interchangeable between brands, with a few exceptions such as, for example, some elu/dewalts, or more recently some bosch/craftsman where the same router is badge engineered. unfortuately they are not like machine collets that have a lot of interchangability.

lots of option and ideas, thanks you guys are great.

i will try cleanin it tomorrow and if that does not work i will take michael's advice and just get a new collet.

i probably was going to deep at once though. i wll clean the collet and goes 1/8 or so at a time.

thanks again

 

jon

I have a Craftsman 3.25 hp industrial router, about 7 years old. Its been through a couple bearings, but the collet is worn on it, wont hold the bits, problem is that collet is manufactured into the main shaft, no replacing it.