Getting at the collet nut on a router to tighten it....

[MaineGeezer]

I recently bought a DeWalt laminate trimmer to use as a small router. It quickly became apparent that it was going to be an ongoing annoyance to tighten and loosen the collet nut, because access was petty bad -- made worse in my case by the custom baseplate I made for it. I'm sure all routers have the same problem to a greater or lesser degree though.

I made a sort-of deep well socket for the collet nut. Convenience has improved about a thousand percent. The extension has a 1/2" hole up the middle, so it will fit over any router bit less than 1/2" in diameter. I suppose I should drill it out just over 1/2" so it will allow 1/2" diamter bits as well. The top has two flats that accept a 17mm open end wrench, the same as that used on the collet.

[tippie53]

nice machining work and great idea

[MaineGeezer]

Well, the machining could be better -- that was a rather hurried proof-of-concept. I think I'll make a better one eventually. Or not. This one works. :)

[Ben-Had]

Nice fix. I abandoned that base because of that problem and went to a thinner base that does the same thing for me.