Precision collet for the Makita

Probably we’re going to need to make a Makita-specific page, but for now, it’s listed at: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Spindle_Options#100_to_999_Watts

and for those who go w/ the Makita (or the MLCS Rocky 30 which seems to be a re-badged one only in black) since Carbide 3D currently doesn’t have a precision collet option, one should esp. note the availability of:

http://www.elairecorp.com/makitaroutercollets.html

I’ve got a pair of them (1/4" and 1/8") and they’re wonderfully nicely machined.

1 Like

Just to clarify the Precise Bits Collets are for the Dewalt not the Makita

You’re right, sorry, missed the OEM.

's alright.

It’s rather unfortunate that the Precise Bits folks feel that it wouldn’t be economically feasible to make an ER-style collet for the Makita — I suspect that that availability was why the Dewalt was chosen as the default option for the SO3.

And there’s now a page on this:

https://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/RT0701

(and it seems Grizzly rebadges this as well, for those who want green).

Will the Elaire collets work with the collet nut that comes with the router, or is there a place where I could get the appropriately-sized nut?

I got 5 of these on ebay to try out. They work just fine in the Makita.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/172059853475

Yes, the Elaire collets are a drop-in replacement for the Makita collet — since it doesn’t snap into the nut as an ER collet does, no need for extra nuts.

@JaredHooper — I used such an adapter on my Harbor Freight trim router for a while, but found the it introduced some runout even at HF QC levels (though maybe I got lucky on my unit — first time for everything) — the Elaire collets are wonderfully machined.