Stuck 1/4" router bit in collet

[Janmara1]

I had tremendous difficulty in removing a 1/4" router bit from my new 1400 router
Has anyone else experienced that issue and if so was it the collet or bit that caused this issue . Does anyone have a solution?

 

[Brice Burrell]

You may already be aware, you need to loosen the collet twice.  After the collet loosens, it will turn easily for about one full turn or so then feel tight again.  You then have to loosen it a second time and the bit will come free.

 

[Janmara1]

I did that and it was still really stuck in the collet .i attempted to unscrew the collet however it seems that once it ran out of threads it was really stuck. I got it free by using vise grips on the bit and then hitting the vise grips with a mallet until it came loose

 

[mastercabman]

Are you using the right size collet?

 

[tjbnwi]

Never had this type of problem.

Tom

 

[dltflt]

Never experience that but I rarely use ¼ shaft bits.

 

[Bohdan]

Is the collet nut attached to the collet or does it lift right off?

 

[Stoli]

I have had this problem with a porter cable trim router.  The solution there is to tap the collet nut with the wrench.  I have never had this problem with my 1400. 

 

[andyman]

Have this problem with old makita router there is a little clip that disengages from the bottom of the collet that stops it being removed it will push back in but can be a real pig to get the bit out

 

[Janmara1]

When I got it out I noticed that the shaft of the collect wasn't straight and kind of wobbly. I switched collect to the 1/2 and the issue disappeared. I am convinced that the problem is directly related to the collect itself. I will call my Festool dealer and
I will post the solution.  Thanks all

 

[splinter]

You are not alone.
I had exactly the same problem which was resolved by changing the collet.

 

[Janmara1]

Thanks for the confirmation  I know that collet is defective I will get Festool to send me a new one

 

[Kev]

I ws going to jump in and say damage collet, but you're there!

Also check the shafts of the bits you're using, if one is irregular/damaged it may cause harm to the collet when it's tightened.

 

[Janmara1]

Just received a replacement collet and it now works great
The back end of the collet was incorrectly mfgrd and being in on an angle jammed
Thanks all

 

[Brent Taylor]

If you can get the collet and bit out of the router set one of the flats on a solid surface and take the wrench a day give the opposite flat a sharp rap. The bit should pop free. If you can't get it out of the router you have to find something to rest the collet on and go through the same process. Your bit or collet may have some rust or you may have over tighten the bit and deformed it slightly.  Don't worry it happens, I have run into it more since moving to the south,  living on the coast the salt is in the air. 

 

[Ostap]

Make sure the collet tightening nut is in correct place on to collet. There are two rings inside the nut, one that tightens collet, another that pushes it out. If the nut is in wrong place, the push-out ring will tighten collet, but there is no ring to release it and the nut will rotate freely being stuck between collet and bit.

 

[josephgewing]

2 cents more.  I have had this problem several times and have learned a trick to solve the problem.  This assumes that the collet itself is not faulty.

Any more, I never put the router bit in the collet so that it *bottoms* all the way into the collet.  This allows me to tap the router bit on the working end along the axis that  drives the bit further into the collet.  This makes a space for the bit to move in the collet toward the router.  When the bit moves toward the router it always *releases* and I can get the bit out of the collet easily because the bit has a mm or 2 of space to move- Or more if the bit does not need to be in the collet deeply.

Of course always tap the router bit on the end and with something that will not damage the bit.

My solution will not work if I put so far that it has no room to move toward the router.  Then I have had toresort to prayer and a bigger hammer, duct tape, WD40, block and tackle, multiple pipe wrenches, dent pullers, and a great deal of sweat. 

Hope you get the bit out soon.