Triton TRA001

[SP]

I got this router recently and so far have been extremely pleased.
Today though it twice allowed a 1/4" bit to rise out of the collet and cause the cut to be too deep (router under table).
It was the cutter that moved, not the 1/4" sleeve and yet I had tightened it hard.
Has anyone else had this problem?
Is it possible to get a proper 1/4" collet for the Triton?

Thanks for any help,
Stephen

 

[motownmartin]

Hello Stephen,
personally I have not had the problem with mine, any cutters that I buy now are 1/2" shaft as I don't really trust the collets.
Somebody advised me once not to leave your cutters in the router when not in use.
The collet I use is the one that came with the router.

 

[woodbutcher]

hi sp,

you have a metric collet (6.3mm) and an imperial bit (6mm) you need to get an imperial collet (6mm).

woodbutcher

 

[mufti]

Could it be that you are overtightening the collet? The Great Northern is on at Harrogate this weekend so that would be a good place to ask of someone face to face.

 

[motownmartin]

hi sp,

you have a metric collet (6.3mm) and an imperial bit (6mm) you need to get an imperial collet (6mm).

woodbutcher

You have those the wrong way round WB the imperial being 1/4" (6.35mm) and 6mm being metric, but yes you might be right.

 

[WellsWood]

hi sp,

you have a metric collet (6.3mm) and an imperial bit (6mm) you need to get an imperial collet (6mm).

woodbutcher

Surely that should be the other way round - 1/4" is 6.35mm. If this is the problem it would be metric shank in imperial collet.

 

[OllyK]

Yes, I've had the same problem with a Trend 1/4" straight cutting bit. I assume the reducer that comes with the Triton is 1/4" as if it was 6mm it would be a little on the tight side for a 1/4" bit. The bits just slip in to the reducer, tightened up well and still wandered out. I was using my handheld and it spat it at me, fortunately I moved but there were some nice sparks on the garage floor as the bit got chewed up

 

[SP]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll check to see if there's a difference between the sizes - imperial/metric, but I've been looking on the Triton Australia forum and they seem to have problems aswell. Wonder if it's a design fault. I notice the new Triton router has a 2 piece more convential collet and comes with 1/4" and 1/2" full collets.

Like someone suggested I'll just have to get a whole new set of 1/2" cutters. Oh well

 

[Argee]

I notice the new Triton router has a 2 piece more convential collet and comes with 1/4" and 1/2" full collets.

The collet fitted to the TRA001 is known as an "Hitachi-style" collet for the (fairly obvious) reason that they were used on Hitachi routers. In some countries, notably Australia, the smaller router (MOF001) is also supplied with the Hitachi-style 1/2" collet plus 1/4" insert sleeve.

Currently, in the UK, the smaller router comes in kit form, in a moulded box, complete with two dedicated self-releasing style collets, one 1/2" the other 1/4" as you say.

The difference between the two collet types is apparent when viewed side by side. The Hitachi-style has sharply-angled shoulders on the male part and a coarse thread. The self-releasing type has a shallow slope to the collet and a fine thread. Hence, the self-releasing style is easier to tighten, but requires more physical turns, whereas the Hitachi-style is tight in less than a quarter of a turn, but requires considerably more effort to tighten correctly.

Most of the creep problems with Hitachi-style collets seem to be a product of under-tightening.

Ray.