A Better Way to Loosen and Tighten a Router Collet
Lower your risk for injury when adjusting router collets with this quick tip.
I used to use a two-handed approach to loosen a router collet, as shown in the drawing. But this meant that I had to use the muscles in my arms and shoulders. And if the collet released suddenly, I could bash my knuckles or, worse, send the router flying off the table.
Then, one day I discovered that I could loosen the collet easily just by squeezing two wrenches together. But first I needed to position the opposing wrenches so I could grip them in one hand. This way, there’s no harm done if the collet loosens suddenly. This trick also works for tightening the collet itself.
— John Ross; Bethel, CT
From Fine Homebuilding #238
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Sometimes the best ideas are the simple ones. Great tip!