Popular Post gee-dub Posted January 26 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 26 As promised here is the initial setup of the Musclechuck quick change router chuck. This is on a Milwaukee 5625 router (Musclechuck Type 10) in a Woodpecker PRL version 1 router lift. The instructions are microscopic in order to fit in the little package. I scanned the 3" x 4" square and blew it up to 8-1/2 x 11 for easier reading. The included instructions do not discuss setting a baseline prior to installation but many online sources do. I did not bother with a dial indicator to compare run out . . . yet. I tend to follow the "don't fix it if it ain't broke" philosophy. The router, lift, and chucks I have been using have been flawless for many years so I am going to assume I have a "good" starting point. I took the opportunity to clean the arbor and surrounding areas. I put the chuck on and tightened it as instructed. I set the router to full speed (22k RPM) and fire it up. I let it run a while and set my hand on the table, plate, etc. to get a feel for the level of normal vibration. I add a long straight bit and repeat. All seems the same. I set up a fence and make a cut to check for any washboarding, etc. Looking good. I repeat the test with a 3/8" reducer / bit and with a 1/4" reducer / bit. All results seems nominal. In short the chuck seems to behave just like the stock chuck. The main difference is that I normally don't use reducers for 1/4" bits but adding a reducer and removing it is about the same as swapping from a 1/2" to 1/4" collet and back so that is moot. If I had experienced increased vibration / run out the instructions outline a procedure to eliminate that. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legenddc Posted January 27 Report Share Posted January 27 How is it on your hands? That was the main driver in picking one up right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gee-dub Posted January 27 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted January 27 On 1/27/2024 at 6:03 AM, legenddc said: How is it on your hands? That was the main driver in picking one up right? Yes. Sorry, I should have focused . This will vary with what bothers you about your hands but . . . the 1/4 turn with a 4mm t-handle hex wrench is much easier on my hands than the two-wrench method. I am a big fan of the two wrench method and the tightening is OK. It is the loosening that causes problems with my hands / wrists despite trying various grips and positions. After doing some work with it for a day I am pretty sure it is a winner. You would think for the price they would include a wrench. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlyoak Posted February 9 Report Share Posted February 9 On 1/27/2024 at 2:32 PM, gee-dub said: It is the loosening that causes problems with my hand Have you tried to situate the wrenches so they both fit in one hand and squeeze the 2 into 1? I try to do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted February 9 Report Share Posted February 9 I know they say not to do it, but I use full size wrenches on most routers I have. I'm sure it's easy to overtorque one, but I have fairly good calibrated hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legenddc Posted February 9 Report Share Posted February 9 I bought a full size wrench for my table saw arbor nut. I make sure when I tighten it I hold the wrench lower, about the height of the original one. I'm always amazed at how easily the arbor nut comes off when I use the full size wrench. Might go pick some up now for my routers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted February 9 Author Report Share Posted February 9 On 2/9/2024 at 3:16 AM, curlyoak said: Have you tried to situate the wrenches so they both fit in one hand and squeeze the 2 into 1? I try to do that. That was always my preferred method. Father Time is a cruel dude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted February 9 Author Report Share Posted February 9 On 2/9/2024 at 6:42 AM, legenddc said: I bought a full size wrench for my table saw arbor nut. Agree. The supplied wrenches with the Saw Stop and the Milwaukee routers should be standard. Using real tools to work on your tools is a pleasure. Wimpy wrenches and weak collet locks are as dangerous as a dull knife. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted February 9 Report Share Posted February 9 Yes, I said "most" routers because I use the wrenches that came with the Milwaukee routers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 I use 2 full size adjustable wenches on my router colletts I probably over tighten them. I had a bit slip once and that wasn't fun lost a good work piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted February 12 Author Report Share Posted February 12 This method gives good torque without overdoing it. By using one hand and squeezing I would get things tight enough, no slip, and easy release when done. The Musclechuck is just as effort to make things more comfortable with my new reality. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 On 2/12/2024 at 8:06 AM, Chestnut said: I use 2 full size adjustable wenches on my router colletts I probably over tighten them. I had a bit slip once and that wasn't fun lost a good work piece. I don't use adjustable wrenches for anything. Right out of college my only job and experience as an employee was working at a FBO at RDU airport for three months. The mechanics were not allowed to have either adjustable wrenches or automatic center punches in their toolboxes under threat of being fired. That just always stuck with me. That job was enough for me to decide that I did not want to be an employee, but had nothing to do with the wrench rule. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JohnG Posted February 12 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 12 Tom, but then how do you round out your nuts and bolts? Do you use metric on imperial and imperial on metric? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 I have to admit that before I bought a set of proper wrenches, I used to refer to my adjustables as my "metric" set. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tom King Posted February 12 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 12 7/16 plus 10 cents equals 10mm 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 1 hour ago, Tom King said: I don't use adjustable wrenches for anything. Right out of college my only job and experience as an employee was working at a FBO at RDU airport for three months. The mechanics were not allowed to have either adjustable wrenches or automatic center punches in their toolboxes under threat of being fired. That just always stuck with me. That job was enough for me to decide that I did not want to be an employee, but had nothing to do with the wrench rule. Oh i hear you loud and clear. The only place my adjustable wrenches get uses is on router chucks. It started mostly because the stamped wrenches that come with most routers are so awful i rounded a chuck with the wrench they sent with the tool. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 I had a whole stack of those stamped wrenches somewhere, never used. I may have thrown them away. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted February 12 Author Report Share Posted February 12 On 2/12/2024 at 9:06 AM, Tom King said: I had a whole stack of those stamped wrenches somewhere, never used. I may have thrown them away. As well you should . There are some that are stamped from an adequate gauge of material to be safe / useful. I'm sure we have all had some of those that are not for routers, tablesaw, circ-saws, who-knows what. I often laugh at myself when I find a cache of "stuff" that should have been tossed from the git-go and was saved for some reason I cannot possibly defend. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted February 12 Report Share Posted February 12 The stack I had all came with routers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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