RETAINING COLLAR/TOP BEARING 1/2'

consider safety for your health and the people around you
General safety suggestions: It is advisable to always have the following items nearby and in a good condition Eye protection – clean and scratch free Hearing protection – quality earmuffs Dust masks – discard old and dirty masks Gloves – for easy handling of material and hand protection
Wear Gloves	Eye Protection	Hearing Protection	Dust Mask

To use router bits safely (and to get the best results from your router), the router bits need to be installed properly into the router's collet. Improper installation of your bits can cause excessive chatter and could increase the likelihood that the bits will break when in use. 

Clean and sharp

First of all, before beginning any routing operation, check your bits to make sure that they are clean, relatively free of pitch, and most of all, sharp. If the bit is dull, chipped, is excessively burned or has any other defect, it should be sharpened or replaced before use. 

Correct collet and collet nut fit

Most router collets have a recess (groove) that needs to click into a circlip that resides inside the collet nut. Failing to ensure that the collet 'clicked' into the collet nut will cause you to struggle to remove the router bit after tightening. This could cause the collet to break or be removed by a technical repair centre.

Correct fit inside the collet

When installing the bit into the collet, do not tighten the collet with the bit 'seated.' Instead, insert the bit until the shank (bit shaft) reaches the bottom of the collet, then ease it out about 2 mm before tightening the collet.

When the bit is tightened, there should be no less than  ²/₃ 's of the length of the shank in the collet. If your bit has a shank that is too short, then the bit should be replaced. 

Safety gear

There are a few other safety measures to keep in mind whenever you use your router. First of all, remember to always wear appropriate safety gear as indicated above.

Correct speed setting

Second, be sure to set your router to the proper speed for your router bit. Setting your router to an incorrect speed will not only affect the router's performance, but also can cause the bit to break much more easily and even cause bodily harm. The speed at which a router bit turns can be important. The typical router runs at about 22,000 rpm, which is fine for most bits. But as the diameter of the bit increases, you’ll want to slow things down.

Also, before beginning any routing operation, be certain that you give the router's motor time to come up to full speed for the chosen setting. Beginning to cut before the bit is at full speed can give less than desired results. 

Speed Settings