Anyone have trouble getting the 1/8 Makita collet to release the end mill?
I have to take the nut off, remove the router from the LR4 and use pliers to twist and pull to get it out. I have broken two mills already. If I do get the mill out, then the collet is stuck and takes a lot of work to free up.
Is there a trick I am missing?
I have never used the Makita so I am not sure, but on my other ones the collet “clips” into the collet nut, so that when you loosen the collet nut it pulls the collet out for you. I know I have messed up and not got it clipped in before and had the same issue you are having now.
Thanks… I ended up breaking the collet so I am switching to the Dewalt which does have captured collets like you describe. The Makita does not. I am thinking maybe the collet I had was not heat treated properly and had no “Spring” to it. It cracked when I tried to open it a bit to give a little more room for the end mill.
I think I had some trouble like that with my Makita too.
Not that bad, but they were sometimes kinda hard to get out
I’ve only had problems with routers after overtightening the collet. I had a Hitachi that once cranked, it wouldn’t release properly after that ever again. I would have to barely loosen the nut then tap it with a hammer to get it to release. I don’t know if there is a torque spec on these, but you want it tight so it won’t slip the bit out, but not crazy tight that it deforms the end of the shaft. if you can’t undo it with the button and a wrench, it is on too tight.
There are collets and there are collets… a tiny change in geometry can do that.
I have a very cheap router that has the same issue - and it’s still one of my favourites so I take the nut off every time and then use vice grips on the bit and twist back and forth to free it.
It’s an absolute pain, and not something I’d put up with if I wasn’t me! 
Did this happen with the stock collet? If so there’s a problem with the router.
If not, check the dimensions and pitch of the collet against the stock one - it might be a manufacturing error, or an accidental substitute in the batch.
I have had mills.stuck in that collet, but usually the collet comes put with the mill. Sometimes a little tap with the wrench frees it up.
If not, pulling the whole assembly out I have a piece that lets me tap the mill out of the collet.
On my full sized router, bits get stuck all the time. I do these things, which I think help:
When I bought my most recent router they tried to sell me a collet cleaner. Something like this:
https://cncshop.com/products/22588-rust-free-and-t-9-collet-cleaner-kit
Seemed too expensive for something I wasn’t actually having trouble with, but might help if there is any debris or pitting causing it to hang.
A drop of oil you have on hand might help enough too…
Just out of curiosity, what end mill is that?
I think it’s this one: 1/8" 45 Degree Carbide V-Bit – V1 Engineering Inc
I end up with bits stuck in the collet all the time. As above I’ll typically give them a sharp tap on the shank of the tool right where it sticks out of the collet or on the body of the collet holder. In the worst examples I’ve had to spray some WD40 or similar into the collect and then leave it for a bit. Once it’s out, I make sure to give it a clean with some solvent. If it keeps happening, giving the collet and collet holder a once over with some fine steel wool may help.
In my case it usually happens with bits that have been in the router for ages. I have a couple of different palm routers and I typically keep a 5mm roundover bit in one for quickly finishing the edges of whatever I’m working on. If I want to swap that out it typically takes a bit of doing.
I meant to try out the MuscleChuck but by the time I had checked for shipping and import costs they’re half the price of a new router so I just bought a 2nd router and now I need to change bits far less often. That’s all for handheld stuff, though, not the CNC.
