Which and why

Hi, I seem to remember there being a reason for colletts, but never really liked them, given a choice I will always buy a tool with a chuck; when I'm lost in the middle of a job I can't put up with having to change collett because the bit I want to use is too big or too snall for the one in the tool, always assuming I can find the right size on the bench in what someone described as Clutter's last stand.

With a chuck it's always there on the tool when you need it.

Chucks are good Mike but with the smaller type tools like a dremel you don't get a choice.

One reason I've always used Minicraft, although you can buy chucks which might fit Dremel (if the shaft is 8mm it should fit)

I didn't know that Mike although i don't have a problem with the colletts.

Just checked the Dremel site Alan, they do offer a chuck as an extra for £9+.

Must admit most of my modelling work with rotary power tools tends to be with slitting discs, burrs and abrasive bits, drilling is more likely to be done with and Archimedian drill, -  I tend to break the smaller bits when used in a power tool!

Interesting to know about the chuck though.

I have a Dremel and do quite like the collett fitting although it is very limited in the shank size.

I think you get a better grip with a collett than with a chuck hence the collett for smaller drill sizes which might be difficult to grip in a chuck, or be difficult to centre properly.

The grip becomes very important when you move on to routers which, as far as I'm aware, exclusively use colletts although the cutter shank would easily fit in a chuck.

Regarding the capacity of both, it's just as annoying to have to change a chuck when your drill bit is just a mm or so too big for the handy chuck you "normally" use.  That usually happens just after you've balanced several bits of timber on your third hand, set everything up perfectly then you find out the blooming 18mm drill bit doesn't fit your 15mm chuck !!!! :twisted::twisted::twisted:

Like Alan, I have no problem with either colletts or chucks.

Chucks are handy.
Collets are for more accurate work as they are a fixed size and don,t tend to wear like a chucks jaws will. Which tend not to close evenly after a while giving you a nice little drill wobble which can be a right pain with small drills and delicate materials.

regards,

Derek.