Router Bit coming loose when attached to router table

[Luis Reyes]

Hi All,

I'm curious to get your opinion on this. I have a Ridgid router which I've attached to a Ryobi router table. I've used it probably about 15 times (bought used) but in the last 3 times I used it the router bit has come loose during use. Both times was a 1/4 inch shank. I tightened the bits a fair amount (put some effort into it but didn't put my whole body weight into it). The first time I figured maybe I just didn't tighten it enough. I could hear the router struggling and when I stopped the router the bit actually had come off. The second time was today where I heard it struggling so stopped immediately and sure enough it was a bit loose (not loose in a wobbly way but I could remove the bit with my fingers out of the collet). I re-tightened it and was fine the rest of the time.

Is this just me not tightening it enough or could the 1/4 in collet potentially be damaged? Before all this happened one of my bits had become pretty tight in the collet to the point where I had to use a lot of force to take it out.

[Bob Riefer]

I had a loosening situation like this awhile back and I ended up cleaning the collet and making sure to take shallower cuts and my problem was resolved. If that hadn't worked, I would have replaced the collet (and continued taking shallow passes) as a next step.

[Mark Brewer]

I also keep the collets clean. I did a few years back make the move to only 1/2 inch shank router bits. I also bought and use a couple of correct size open end wrenches to tighten the collet nuts. Much easier to use than the thin supplied wrenches.

[Dan Hahr]

Man up and tighten it up (after making sure it is clean). Not just snug or tight, but it won’t go any more tight.

And no offense, but cheaper tools seem to have cheaper collets with less slots in them. An old Crapsman I have never would get tight enough to keep from slipping. Never had a problem with Dewalt, Bosch, or Porter Cable (no new versions, old good stuff).

Dan

[Tom M King]

collets do wear out

[Warren Lake]

I use heavier stuff like someone else said, if you bottomed the router bit when you put it in that might have caused it.

[Frank Pratt]

Man up and tighten it up (after making sure it is clean). Not just snug or tight, but it won’t go any more tight.

And no offense, but cheaper tools seem to have cheaper collets with less slots in them. An old Crapsman I have never would get tight enough to keep from slipping. Never had a problem with Dewalt, Bosch, or Porter Cable (no new versions, old good stuff).

Dan

This. Of all the things in my shop that need tightening, the router collet by far needs it the most. Even an unworn, clean collet needs to be TIGHT.

[Myk Rian]

Don't drop the bit shank all the way into the collet. Lift it off the bottom.
Tightening a collet will push the bit into it, preventing the collet from tightening.

[Brice Rogers]

Warren Lake and Myk Rian have an interesting comment regarding bottoming out the router bit.

I've had the same problems that others have mentioned. I wonder if the problem is related to the bit being bottomed out and also - - heat from the router motor or bearings expanding the collet and nut through differential heating ??

[Luis Reyes]

Thank you for all the replies! I'll definitely tighten the collet more than I have been. I just checked the collet and there was a small wood chip in a gap plus some dust so the comments about it being dirty definitely applied! I'll have to try again and see how it goes. The bits that were loose were the cheap amazon kind to start off with and see which ones I use the most. I guess I'll be buying more 1/2 in shanks as those have worked well and I really like them so far.

I usually lift the bits off the bottom a bit but I wonder if it bottomed out because the collet wasn't tight enough so it slipped down. Definitely learned something today so thank you all!

[Rick Potter]

When you finish cleaning it, find a rubber grommet small enough to fit loosely in your collet. Drop it in and drop the router bit on top. Tighten and the grommet will give a bit, allowing the bit to tighten. Auto parts store should have the grommet.

Just leave it in the collet.

[Zachary Hoyt]

The wood chip in the collet is always bad. I had that happen once and it took me a little while to find the problem. Also some collets are better than others. I have a middle-aged Makita router that I mostly use and a Craftsman that I use occasionally, and the collet quality is vastly different.

[Kris Cook]

Good answers all here. You can also put an o-ring around the shank to keep the bit from bottoming out.

Having a router bit move, much less come, out can be dangerous and obviously ruin your work. If the collet is suspect I would replace it.

[Greg Quenneville]

I used 8 or 9 different bits from Infinity in my router with never an issue. Then I tried a bit from MLCS, tightened in the usual way and the bit pulled out just seconds into the first cut. I have four bits from MLCS: 2 are good and the others just too undersized to stay in the collet without using bad mood 300 lb human strength.

[Richard Coers]

Definitely change the collet. They wear a bit like an hour glass on the inside bore. Replacements are not expensive.

[Kevin Jenness]

Collets are an overlooked wear item that should be cleaned frequently and replaced when worn.

Bits can be out of tolerance too. I once had an Amana bit show up so bad that I could see something was off right out of the package. The shank measured something like .025" under 1/2". The collet would never have held it securely.

If you really have to reef on your collet take a close look at it. Manufacturers usually provide wenches long enough to tighten their collets properly with normal torque.

[Thomas Wilson]

Bits that have an up cut angle put some pressure on the bit pulling it out of the collet. Real bummer when a dovetail bit walks down 1/8” while making a pass in the dovetail jig. Light passes reduce the pulling load. In the case of the dovetail jig, plowing out the bulk of the waste with a 1/4” straight bit helps a great deal.

[Frank Pratt]

I guess I'll be buying more 1/2 in shanks as those have worked well and I really like them so far.

That's a good plan. Never use a 1/4" shank where you could use a 1/2". They're just so much more stout.

[Grant Wilkinson]

All of the above, plus, be sure to measure the real shaft size of those cheap bits from amazon. We are finding that many of the "1/4" bits are really 6mm bits, especially the ones from China. Those bits have a shank size of .236" and will be loose in the collet, no matter how tight you make it.

[Roger Feeley]

Don't drop the bit shank all the way into the collet. Lift it off the bottom.
Tightening a collet will push the bit into it, preventing the collet from tightening.

+1 on not bottoming the bit. I make it a habit to lift the bit just a little before tightening.

I’ve read that an easy way to prevent bottoming is to find a nice thick but squishy o-ring and just leave in there.

[Curt Harms]

Definitely change the collet. They wear a bit like an hour glass on the inside bore. Replacements are not expensive.

There is another thread active here about router collets. I haven't needed a replacement yet but when I do I'll probably get one from Elaire Corp. I have 2 Porter Cable routers, one Freud FT2000E and one Grizzly trim router that is 1/4" only. None of them have an issue with the bit coming loose and I don't use much force to tighten them. All but the Freud use two wrenches and it's pretty easy to get a fair bit of torque using two wrenches. Interesting comment about 6 mm vs. 1/4" upthread, that would certainly be something to check.

[Mel Fulks]

Leaving a space between bit and collet doesn’t get much press. I worked with a guy who did mostly laminate work , one time he had a
problem with a bit moving . I told him to leave about a slight 1/8th . He replied “I ain’t never heard that before”. He tried it and it worked.
More would know about it if there were more slipping bits , then the fix would get ‘famous’. He had worked for many years and never had
a slip until that day.

[Mark W Pugh]

Or, if you have a Space Ball from building cabinet doors, drop one down the collet before putting bit in. Cut in half if you're worried about it being too thick.

[Lee Schierer]

+1 on not bottoming the bit. I make it a habit to lift the bit just a little before tightening.

I’ve read that an easy way to prevent bottoming is to find a nice thick but squishy o-ring and just leave in there.

A 1/4" space ball dropped into the collet will prevent the bits from bottoming out.

[johnny means]

Your problem is the 1/4" collet. Nothing bigger than an 1/4" round over should even be made with a 1/4" shank. They just don't have enough of a mechanical advantage or gripping surface to resist slippage.