Newbie needs help again--stuck router bit --all fixed now thanks! :)

[Stan Tillinghast]

OK, I need help here.
I just drove three hours both ways to buy a 1040 router, and have a tongue and groove set. I put the bit in but did not follow the instructions about not bottoming the bit in the collet.
Now the bit is stuck, even if I completely remove the collet nut from the thread the bit with the collet doesn't come out. I found something useful on Newwoodworker about this, explaining self-releasing collets and how to avoid this.

Can someone help me remove the stuck bit without damaging my router?

Update: I followed all advice below and my collet is back together, including poking the rubber O-ring in place. Bit comes out fine now.

 

[Daviddubya]

Sometimes a stuck bit will release if you tap the collet with a hammer.  You could use something with a flat tip, like a nail set to help get to blow where you need it.  Just don't overdo it.

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

Thanks, Dave.
Do you mean tapping on the SIDE of the collet? If you could be as specific as possible it would help. Thanks again.
Stan

 

[Daviddubya]

Stan - I would put the collet nut back onto the threads, but not tight onto the collet.  Then hit the nut a sharp rap with a hammer.  If that does not knock the bit loose, call Festool on Monday and see what the tech recommends.  Hitting the nut is a bit less likely to do any damage to the collet itself.  I assume you meant a 1400 router, and 1040 was a typo.

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

OK--great! Bit unstuck, router (yes it's a 1400, that was a brain fart not a typo) is working fine. I'm still a little unclear however how to prevent the bit from becoming stuck again. This does NOT seem to be the type of collet that is made to prevent stuck bits, is that right?
Also--where does the O-ring go?
Thanks again
Stan

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

By the way--now I've discovered how to download the USA manuals from the website (click on the tool, then the download tab) and that manual is vastly superior to the one that came in the box.

 

[Daviddubya]

OK--great! Bit unstuck, router (yes it's a 1400, that was a brain fart not a typo) is working fine. I'm still a little unclear however how to prevent the bit from becoming stuck again. This does NOT seem to be the type of collet that is made to prevent stuck bits, is that right?
Also--where does the O-ring go?
Thanks again
Stan

Stan - Glad to hear the bit is free.  The o-ring goes into the bottom of the hole in the collet (where the bit shaft is inserted).  Or you can insert the bit as far as it will go and then pull it back out a little - like 1/16" or an 1/8".  Precision is not important - just give the bottom of the shaft a little clearance from the bottom of the hole.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

I apologize for any potential confusion this may cause, but I have chosen to not participate on this forum.

 

[Daviddubya]

Thanks Rick.  I don't use the "o-ring method" of keeping a bit from bottoming out, and I was basing my post on general practice on routers and not on the OF1400 specifically.  On some routers, folks drop an o-ring into the collet hole so the o-ring rests at the bottom of the hole and the bit cannot bottom out.  I should have looked at my OF1400 router collet first, but...  Thanks for correcting the information.

Can you offer any ideas as to why the bit became stuck in the first place???

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

Thanks again everyone for their help.
I am going to try re-inserting the O-ring per Rick's instructions. I can see where it goes--there is a small groove near the top of the collet--but getting it in there has been so difficult I was scratching my head.
One last question just to try to make sure this doesn't happen again:
the bit goes into the collet while the collet and nut are in place, and one should not remove the collet to put the bit in, is that correct? That may be where I went wrong, although my memory of the exact events is a little hazy.

 

[bill-e]

When a nut and collet get separated from a self releasing collet assembly what happens is this....and it almost always results in a stuck bit.

Normally the collet is pulled up out of the bore by the nut and therefore the bit shank is released.  When the nut and collet are separated, tightening the nut jams the tapered collet into the bore and locks the bit.  When you loosen the nut the collet is not pulled up so the bit is stuck and very difficult to remove.

This separation can sometimes happen if a user runs the router to test it (like when first getting a new router) without a bit in the collet or as an assembly process error from the manufacturer.  The nut/collet will not separate under normal use because the bit shank prevents the collet from compressing enough to become separated.

This exact thing happened to me with the Triton 2-1/4hp router I tested.  Assembled the collet/nut and no more issues.