Finding a safe way to remove Freud Bits wedged tightly storage case

[Steven Owen]

I ordered the Freud Incra Router bit set from Amazon.  The quality of the router bits are amazing but the vase they came in, well not so much.  I drew some blood trying to wiggle out a bit from the case.  The bits are wedge into the plastic holes pretty good.  It would’ve been better off they came in a plastic pack.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to safely remove the bits that are wedged in a poor designed Freud Router bit caring case?

 

[bnaboatbuilder]

Thick leather work gloves. I have to do that sometimes with large bits that get stuck in the one-off packages.

 

[justaguy]

The wood has probably expanded due to humidity and is squeezing the plastic bit inserts. You have a food dehydrator?

Get some heavy leather gloves and grab the bit. Try to focus on spinning the bit not pulling on it. Once it starts rotating apply a little upward pressure and work like you are unscrewing it. Otherwise, try to work a small standard screwdriver under the plastic bit insert and see if you can lever it out of the wood.

My last idea would be some rubber fuel hose cut into small sections and slipped over the jaws to a set of pliers. Use the pliers to "unscrew" the bits like described above.

 

[rst]

Wood expansion is probably not the problem, I have a couple cutter sets and those holders are tight even in plastic cases.  I've had this extraction problems with my Eliminator chucks already, the set screw scours the shaft making it problematic to remove.  I use a pair of slip joint pliers and judicially grabbing the bits, avoiding the carbide.  Profile bits are much easier, I just pry under the flats, again avoiding the carbide.  You should be able to grab these by the shanks protruding above the holders.

 

[semenza]

Iv'e had this with quite  a few  cases mostly all plastic. I use soft jaw pliers and pull while twisting.

Seth

 

[Michael Kellough]

More likely wood shrinkage is the problem. If Seth’s method doen’t work might have to wait until summer.

 

[Mario Turcot]

Would be nice to have a push feature from the bottom  [eek]

Drill a hole through each inserts and make a pin you could fit under to push up the bits, that way you can use your bits all year long [big grin]

Mario

 

[JFelchlin]

I love my Freud router bits. Would’nt use any other.
But... The way they’re so “safely” packaged is, indeed, often a problem.
I grab the “rounded” (non-sharp) sides of the bit -
And wiggle it back and forth.
This loosens/breaks the shaft free - Just a little.
Then I wrap a rag around the “working” part of the bit (to protect it) -
And use a set of pliers to rotate it back and forth - Pulling it up and out.
After a time or two, it’s no longer a problem.
As Sedge says: “Hope this helps.”
Joe

 

[Steven Owen]

Thanks guys.  These are all good idea.  It beats drawing blood just to get a Router bit out of the box. 

 

[semenza]

Thanks guys.  These are all good idea.  It beats drawing blood just to get a Router bit out of the box.

Or worse  [eek] Would not take much for a carbide bit to slice deep.

Seth

 

[Rutabagared]

Place the entire case in the freezer for several hours.  That may help.

 

[Steven Owen]

I plan to build a “jewelry case” Router bit storage into a cabinet that I plan to build into the IncraLS table stand.  The case won’t matter once I get them out.

 

[BillF]

I found this post after chipping a cutting edge trying to pry the 1/2 inch straight bit. I wasn’t even sure if the black rubber sleeves we’re supposed to stay and if they were you’d be in danger of slicing a finger or thumb even with gloves.
I found an easy SAFE way to get the bits out and realized the sleeves were just for shipping.
First I removed the gold pin stopper so I could straighten the bit holding bar.
Then I used a razor knife to cut each little rubber spacing bar.
Then with the knife cut some of the rubber off around the bit
This made it so I could wiggle the bit out without holding it around the cutting blades.
When the bit was free using a paint lid opener I just pried the rubber out.
The bit then drops nicely into the 1/2 inch holding column that’s under the rubber.
Replace the gold pin and you’re done safely with no cuts or even close calls

 

[nclemmons]

You might try wooden hand screw clamps.  They give you plenty of clamping pressure with no risk of injury.

 

[DeformedTree]

Put case near fire to dry out wood. If that doesn't work, put case in fire to burn wood away, put bits in new case.  Keep your fire temps low to eliminate taking heat treatment out of bits

 

[Bob D.]

Iv'e had this with quite  a few  cases mostly all plastic. I use soft jaw pliers and pull while twisting.

Seth

Same here, I recycled an old pair of spark plug boot pliers that have hard plastic jaws to do the extraction with. Works better than getting my fingers sliced. Once I get the bit out it doesn't go back in there without a slight mod. I pull the soft plastic around the shaft and ream the hole in the plastic or wood slightly to let the soft plastic insert expand outward. I also think the sealant they put on the bits sometimes is still damp or wet when the bits are inserted in the holder and it ends up gluing the bit in the holder. Once I've clean the bit shaft on a new bit I don't have so much trouble. And if I do I use my reaming trick to make it right.

 

[James Carriere]

I have always wondered about the engineering choice of their packaging.  [censored]
Lately I have been inverting the bits upside down and support the shoulders of the plastic holder either on the wood lined jaws of my vise or two scraps of wood over my vise for larger bits so that the bit is hanging free below the shoulder supports and the plastic is above.  There is already a hole in the bottom of the plastic holder and a couple of quick taps with a small punch and mallet loosens the bit without pushing it all the way out.  From there a gentle wiggle pulls it free without risking yet another sliced finger.

 

[Stone Message]

Would be nice to have a push feature from the bottom  [eek]

Drill a hole through each inserts and make a pin you could fit under to push up the bits, that way you can use your bits all year long [big grin]

Mario

Absolutely the right idea. You could also try putting the whole box in a warm oven say between 80 and 110 deg C for about an hour.

Peter

 

[xedos]

Wouldn't the oven heat both the sleeves and the bits at the same time making both expand , putting you back at square one ?

 

[Stone Message]

It might but the main thing is to get the wood to shrink back.

Peter