High quality 6mm router bits in Europe?

[ElectricFeet]

Many years ago, I bought a router -- a Black and decker BD780E, if you're interested; 600W, variable speed: that was impressive 20 years ago  [unsure] -- with a few (poor quality) router bits. My career took over and I never really used it. I took it out of it's box some years ago and gave it a (freehand) spin, not knowing what I was doing really ...  with predictable (that is, bad) results.

Now I'm retired and I've taken it out of it's box and I'm trying to bring it up to date / make it useable. And with the benefit of YouTube, I've learned how to use it properly. I've added a perspex base, as shown in the Samurai Carpenter's video ( ).

Now to buy some decent bits. Things have moved on since I first bought it, and I'm looking for upcut and downcut spiral bits and a few basic bits (45 degrees / rabbetting bits). (This video is fantastic on explaining all about spiral bits: )

BUT (and that's a big BUT)... the shank diameter is 6mm. Looking online, I seem to find very few 6mm router bits. They tend to be bigger 8mm or imperial shanks.

I found thesehttps://www.fine-tools.com/spiralnutfraeser.html and generally find that Dieter Schmid has good quality stuff. Strangely, they have spiral bits in 6mm, but they don't have the normal run-of-the-mill bits in 6mm -- they all seem to be 8mm.

Questions:

- Is it worth investing in the 6mm bits, or am I just throwing good money after bad? The router was pretty good (and pricey) when I bought it, but that was 20 years ago. Should I simply cut my losses and move on to another more standard (8mm?) router? Seems a shame to throw away a perfectly good router.

- Can I change the size of the "thing" in the photo to accept 1/4 inch? (I don't know what it's called, sorry). It's currently just shy of 10mm diameter on the outside (flaring out to 12mm) and 6mm on the inside. It's about 17mm high, with 12mm sitting inside the spindle screw before it starts to flare out. It will not take 1/4" (6.35mm) bits.

- Am I missing a major source of good quality 6mm router bits in Europe?

[Included 3 photos: (1) the "thing", (2) the thing inside it's spindle screw and (3) with the collet screw]

 

[bertv]

CMT (from your country!) may have a wider selection. Their site is hard to navigate, so I did not check myself. You could also check this shop:https://www.systemshop24.de/KLEIN-Oberfraeser-/-Holzbohrer

They sell CMT, KLEIN and other brands and are fairly inexpensive. Their site is ok : )

EDIT: This part of the shop-site is kind of a reverse directory: you choose the kind of bit (profile) and it shows you available shanks dia's etc.:https://www.systemshop24.de/Fraeser-fuer-die-Holzbearbeitung

 

[Dick Mahany]

I believe your router "thing" can be replaced with an 8mm collet which may be another way to go for router bits.  A quick search turned this up.

 

[SteveW]

Depending on the model of Router you should be able to get a replacement from Trend they list a large number of different size collets for various routers.  Send them an email with details of make and model and ask whether you can buy from someone local or you need to order from the UK

 

[RKA]

My search turns up 6.35mm collets for that router, which is a standard 1/4".  I'm thinking that's probably what you have, so you should be able to use it, however, your 1/4" bits will largely be used for edge trimming operations.  Everything else will either be 8mm or larger.  So you'll probably need to entertain another router capable of running the larger bits anyway.

 

[ElectricFeet]

YES! Brilliant!

Thanks to all, especially [member=59951]Dick Mahany[/member] who found the replacement collet. While that seller doesn’t ship to Italy, I’ve found another supplier who does (and also emailed Trend for advice). It’s a really cheap solution that will take me into the world of 8mm bits without breaking the bank.

[member=21249]RKA[/member] The 1/4” bits definitely don’t fit. I bought one by mistake in the past and tried hard this afternoon to make it fit. The other old bits are all 6mm and they fit fine.

Quick question: Do collets break? i.e. should I order 2 before the ones that fit my router stop being available?

 

[RKA]

They don't typically break, they can wear but that would take a lot of use and swapping bits, by which time you may have added 2 or 3 more routers to the tool stable.  More commonly, they get misplaced or lost as you swap in different sizes.  Not to worry, they are usually found after you order a new one.  And this happens with spares parts too.  [tongue]

 

[ElectricFeet]

Thanks [member=21249]RKA[/member]

That happens to me a lot too; the same way that you can infallibly insert a USB correctly by simply inverting it from the first orientation that you tried. ;D

 

[ElectricFeet]

CMT (from your country!) may have a wider selection. Their site is hard to navigate, so I did not check myself.

Thanks also to [member=5467]Bert Vanderveen[/member] .

I've now got various collets and am still researching. I still haven't ordered anything, but CMT (and maybe) Festool seem to be the way to go.

In particular, I'd like to point out (for future readers) that CMT's catalogue (http://www.cmtutensili.com/bom/downloadfree.asp?lib=Files&ID=1895 ) is an excellent primer on which router bits you might need.