Porter-Cable 310 router, bits stuck in collet

[peter havriluk]

Just use this beautiful tool for the first time, it's been sleeping shiny new for a few years. Went to remove the router bit, and the collet was most firmly hanging onto the bit and the shaft. Any suggestions as to how to make removing bits a bit easier? Any lubricants work?

I did a search on the tool and there was a fair bit of discussion about this problem, but I didn't see any suggestions of a fix known to work.

Thanks, folks.

[John Parchem]

I have this router, and have also experienced this issue. I generally remove the collet and use a drift to tap it out. So I do not have any clean ways of doing it.

[peter havriluk]

John, sounds like a reasonable response if the collet wants to depart. Mine was stuck solid in the shaft.

[Tim Benware]

I've had to wrap the bit with a cloth and wiggle it out with pliers then I sold it and bought one that worked!

[ken cierp]

Knock it out with a drift pin --- do not use lube.

Replace the collect -- we use the ones from mlcs

[peter havriluk]

Ken, thanks for suggesting I replace the collet. Didn't know that they were aftermarket parts. I'll try that. Oh, well, MLCS catalogs a bunch of 'collet extensions', no plain old collets or self-releasing collets, near as I can tell.

Still looking.