brady Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 It should be exactly (or very close to) 1/2", right? I'm battling with a couple of collets from Bosch that they say are 1/2", but appear to be too small. I got a great deal on a used Freud FT3000VCE (3.25 HP) and Freud router table, however, the seller only had the 1/4" collet, but he had all of the manuals. So I dug out the parts list, found the part # for the 1/2" collet and called Freud. They apparently got out of the router game so they passed me on to Bosch who handles their router parts now. I gave them the Freud part #, my payment info, and they shipped it out. I received it and tried to fit a 1/2" bit into the collet and it would barely budge without more force than I was willing to apply. So I grabbed my digital calipers and measured the inner diameter - came to 12 mm almost on the nose (for reference 1/2" is 12.7 mm). Turns out there are 12 mm collets and bits, so I called back Bosch and told them they sent me the wrong size. They insisted they don't carry any 12 mm collets of any size, so it must just be a bad part. So they sent another. Just received it and the second one is exactly 12 mm as well. I also have a Bosch router with a 1/2" collet that works great. So I measure that, and what do ya know - almost 1/2" on the nose. I'm not losing my mind, am I? I think Bosch has some 12 mm collets and they aren't aware of it. To be fair there is not a 12 mm collet on my parts list, but I would imagine Freud, being a Canadian company, would have had metric collets. I'm going to call back Bosch in the morning, but I'm afraid I won't get anywhere with them. Any other options I might have? So far I really like the router and it's a beast, but 3 HP isn't much use unless I can use some big panel raising or tongue and groove bits on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 Hmm, I was going to suggest measuring but you're all over it. I have a Freud router, I'll measure mine and see what it comes to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-astragal Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 That sounds too small to me. I had a Milwaukee router that the collets were so tight that the bit would usually have to be beaten and twisted out with vice grips. Maybe it was a 12mm. I have never seen a 12mm router bit, oddball 3/8" now and then maybe. I have a machine that uses a 13mm shank bit that looks like a router bit, but it's a Ballestrini Micron mortiser. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 Collet stretchers are usually in the same drawer as the board stretchers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brady Posted July 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 I ended up finding someone else who sells this collet - www.routerbitworld.com I called them up, explained my situation and the gentleman measured the collet they carry for me while I was on the phone. Came out to 12.7 mm so I ordered one from him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 Even in the UK a 1/2" collet is 12.7mm inside diameter. Never heard of a 12mm shank. I have 8mm shanks on some router bits and a corresponding collet but 12mm is a new one on me. Edit Just looked on Trend-UK website and found they stock 12mm shank router bits. Also found a Bosch router with a 12mm collet so they must have sneaked them in while I wasn't looking. Long live imperial sizes I say . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponderingturtle Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/12mmcolletforporter-cablerouters.aspx So they make them for some routers at least. and here are bits that claim to be 12mm http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-SMATO-12pcs-Router-Bit-Set-12mm-Shank-Bits-/260855778973 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brady Posted August 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 I forgot to provide an update. I received the collet from routerbitworld in a couple days and it measured in at exactly 1/2", and my 1/2" router bits actually fit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weithman5 Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Even in the UK a 1/2" collet is 12.7mm inside diameter. Never heard of a 12mm shank. I have 8mm shanks on some router bits and a corresponding collet but 12mm is a new one on me. Edit Just looked on Trend-UK website and found they stock 12mm shank router bits. Also found a Bosch router with a 12mm collet so they must have sneaked them in while I wasn't looking. Long live imperial sizes I say . countries that use metric that have been to the moon - 0. countries that use imperial that have been to the moon - 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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