Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 32
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Wodonga Vic
    Age
    38
    Posts
    633

    Default Cheap eBay Collet Chuck & Collets?

    G'day

    Does anybody have experience with the cheap, Chinese ER32 collet chucks and collets found on eBay?

    ER32 MT2 Collet Chuck Morse Taper Toolholder Milling Rod Straight Chuck Holder | eBay

    and

    NEW ER32 19 PCS SPRING COLLETS SET 2-20mm ER32 Collet For CNC Engraving Machine | eBay

    I'm setting up my Taiwanese Lantaine Lam lathe to do some light milling work with a vertical mill slide I picked up off Gumtree last week, my lathe came with a MT4 1/2 spindle sleeve adapter that reduces down to an MT2, the plan is to use the sleeve with a MT2 collet chuck and a drawbar to hold my end mills and such.

    Any hard earned prior experience with these Chinese collet chucks and collets would be appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Ben

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    They are fine in my experience.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,436

    Default

    Hi Ben,

    I have a set. Mine is ER32 on an MT3 collet holder with a 12 mm draw bar thread in the tail. I forget without going to look but the collet set has 13 or 15 collets, all nicely boxed in yellow plastic containers. I keep threatening to make a rack for them but since I've only actually used two of them, I've not gotten around to it. Their fine.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Australia east coast
    Age
    71
    Posts
    2,713

    Default

    Paid $65 for my set of ER32 collets, IIRC. No complaints, they work fine.

    Cost me $130 I think for a full set of ER40 collets also Chinese origin. Also no complaints.

    PDW

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Wodonga Vic
    Age
    38
    Posts
    633

    Default

    Thanks fellas I'll place an order, I'll grab some carbide end mills while I'm at it, apparently they're not bad quality either

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Vic
    Age
    48
    Posts
    544

    Default

    I have the Chinese set on the left and Taiwanese (supposed to be better) on the right.
    The Chinese set appears to be ok for what I do, I normally use them on the lathe and use the Taiwanese on the milling machine

    20170210_224237.jpg

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    BRISBANE BAYSIDE
    Posts
    90

    Default

    From your description, it appears that your lathe headstock spindle has an MT4 taper. Wouldn't it be better to buy an MT4 ER32 chuck and cut out the intermediate sleeve which can only be another potential source of misalignment. They are certainly available on ebay, although maybe not from the seller you linked. The MT4 chuck would certainly be a stronger unit than one with an MT2 taper, and for milling I would be looking for the strongest unit possible.
    I ran one of these on my lathe for milling before I bought a milling machine, although my lathe has an MT5 spindle taper, so had to use an MT5/MT4 sleeve. MT4 ER32 chuck is the largest made.
    Still use it for turning when the work is up to 20mm dia.
    Alan.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    SA
    Posts
    1,649

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by OLCDOG View Post
    Wouldn't it be better to buy an MT4 ER32 chuck and cut out the intermediate sleeve which can only be another potential source of misalignment.

    MT4 ER32 chuck is the largest made.

    Alan.
    Agree. Morse sleeve/adapters are not a great idea, unless you are desperate or need to conserve pennies and use the chuck in several different sized machines. They all have two chances of introducing run out.

    ER32 chucks are readily available in Morse 5 - generally more expensive though.

    Rob
    The worst that can happen is you will fail.
    But at least you tried.



  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    BRISBANE BAYSIDE
    Posts
    90

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by nearnexus View Post

    ER32 chucks are readily available in Morse 5 - generally more expensive though.

    Rob
    You are right Rob, it seems they are around but they certainly are expensive. Probably why CTC doesn't offer them above MT4. But then CTC appear to not be worth dealing with any more since the shift into Europe. I didn't realize that you could actually get them in MT5 when I bought mine some years back.
    Alan.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Wodonga Vic
    Age
    38
    Posts
    633

    Default

    I wish it was that simple, my lathe spindle has an MT (4-1/2), I did some searching around online for a collet chuck in the half size but came up empty, I figured the next best (and cheapest) option was to use the sleeve and an MT2 collet chuck, I would definitely prefer a more rigid set up but I figured for the light hobby work I'm doing, if I take light cuts and the run out isn't too bad, it would be OK.

    Ben

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Vic
    Age
    48
    Posts
    544

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    SA
    Posts
    1,649

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by OLCDOG View Post
    I didn't realize that you could actually get them in MT5 when I bought mine some years back.
    Alan.
    They have always been available, but mainly from specialist/industrial machine tooling suppliers - and very expensive (but top quality) compared to other options.

    Only in recent years have they appeared on Ebay at more reasonable prices. But then again, compared to the price of a good chuck, they are affordable.

    I would ditch that sleeve and get one if I was you. It's worth it just for peace of mind.

    Rob
    The worst that can happen is you will fail.
    But at least you tried.



  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    moonbi nsw Aus
    Age
    69
    Posts
    364

    Default

    Well I have done it again.....I have been looking with interest for some time now at whether I should get a set of Collets to add to the versatility of the 100 year old Metal Lathe and my home made wood lathe. I had ear marked a set of Collets and a MT 2 Collet Chuck and been seeing them in the Watch List over the last 3 months or so. Well seeing this thread and a reminder note from Ebay, I put the order in last night.

    Reading these Forums since 2009 has increased my "Tool Acquisition Program" by a significant amount. With these new tools I have been able to "Tinkter" with new interest in things. When I am gone someone will have some fun either selling my gear or "Tinker" them selves
    Just do it!

    Kind regards Rod

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Age
    73
    Posts
    459

    Default

    What is the benefit in using a collet rather than just chucking the end mill like I do?

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    SA
    Posts
    1,649

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sacc51 View Post
    What is the benefit in using a collet rather than just chucking the end mill like I do?
    Collets can grip ANY round item, including threaded round, mills with flats, and much more tightly than a chuck.

    They will not damage threaded components like chuck jaws will.

    They will not tear up mills or drill ends like a chuck can do, if they slip.

    They are quick to use and very accurate.

    Once you use collets, you will never go back to a chuck on a job of suitable size.

    Rob
    The worst that can happen is you will fail.
    But at least you tried.



Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. collets : to chuck or not to chuck
    By steamingbill in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 26th Jul 2014, 10:17 PM
  2. WIP - Collet Chuck
    By Vernonv in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 23rd Jan 2011, 11:53 AM
  3. cheap HM52 on ebay
    By eskimo in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 29th Nov 2010, 01:01 PM
  4. Cheap Sheraton on Ebay
    By nexusone in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 16th Nov 2008, 07:02 PM
  5. Cheap Hercus on Ebay - $250 BIN
    By hux in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 5th Feb 2008, 08:34 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •