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pfulghum
10-25-2005, 01:05 AM
I have an Alpha96 with a porter cable.

I'm trying to figure out the best cutter to use to "drill" the 5mm system holes in my Melamine Coated Particle Board (MCPB).

Onsrud seems to have the right cutter (57-411), but it has a 6mm shank.

Porter Cable does not make a 6mm collet for the router.


I assume that this is a common practice to drill (actually peck route) the 5mm system holes.

What do you do?

-- Pat

richards
10-25-2005, 08:03 AM
www.routerbitworld.com (http://www.routerbitworld.com) sells the Freud 04-512 cutter for about $10. The cutter is 5mm diameter, cutter length of 15/32-inch, and a 1/4-inch shaft.

srwtlc
10-25-2005, 06:54 PM
I've been using a CMT 5mm right hand dowel bit (10mm shank) with a 10mm Porter-Cable collet. Just got done running a bunch of shelf pin holes in melamine with excellent results. I get CMT bits from Hardware Distributers Ltd.

Here's the bit (http://www.hdlusa.com/catalog.cfm?ProductID=CMT310%2E050%2E11) on their site.

Scott

pfulghum
10-25-2005, 11:49 PM
Can you safely run a drill bit at router speeds?

Drill speeds are upto 2000rpm...a PC router's lowest speed is 10000 rpm.

I was hoping to find one bit to cut cabinet parts and drill holes.

gerald_d
10-26-2005, 01:15 AM
Pat, on drill bit safe speeds, have a look at this thread (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/29/1798.html). Some references were made to recommended cutting speeds (in metals), but this is different to safe speeds

hippo
10-26-2005, 10:01 AM
Okay, here's a somewhat on topic question...

I was making some storage cabinets here at home, and I thought I was being clever, I'd use the hole system for the shelves, just like "real" furniture. So, I measure the pegs and holes from our furniture here, and got to work.

But then, when I went to the store, all the pegs were 1/4" !!! Where do you buy the 5mm ones? Thanks...

-Dan

hippo
10-26-2005, 10:04 AM
Oh yeah, to be ON topic, I cut all my holes with a 1/8" bit. Took a bit longer but I was only making one set of parts...

ron brown
10-26-2005, 08:05 PM
A 6mm shank bit should clamp in a 1/4" collet. There is .010" or .25mm difference between the the two sizes.

Ron

srwtlc
10-27-2005, 12:51 AM
Dan,

Try here (http://wwhardware.com/), or if you qualify for a business account, go here (http://www.hdlusa.com//).

mikejohn
10-27-2005, 01:16 AM
Ron
a 6mm bit will clamp in a 1/4" collet (.36mm difference) but it can make it so that, when reverting to a 1/4" bit, the collet is tight, making the bit difficult to remove.
I have to remove the complete nut, tap the bit from the collet, and then tap the collet back onto the next bit.
Doesnt effect performance though.
..............Mike

gerald_d
10-27-2005, 02:42 AM
So Mike, if you weren't that stingy, you could buy another 1/4" collet and mark it 6mm?

stickman
10-27-2005, 08:20 AM
Speaking of collets, where is a good place to purchase porter cable collets?

You can get 5mm shelf pins from alot of places.

Rockler.com
Woodworker.com

mikejohn
10-27-2005, 10:40 AM
Gerald
at £20 a time?

.................Mike

stickman
10-27-2005, 01:26 PM
Mike.. What Gerald means.. is continue to use the collet for 6mm bits all the time. Marked for use only with the 6mm bit and have another for the 1/4" bits.

mikejohn
10-28-2005, 01:40 AM
Jay
I have to admit having a 1/4" on order.
It's just that I can't let Gerald think he's right every time.

................Mike

stickman
10-28-2005, 11:37 AM
Mike...where are you ordering your collets.. if I understand correctly.. PC has a 1/4", 3/8" and a 1/2"

mikejohn
10-28-2005, 01:03 PM
Sorry Jay, it's not a PC.
...............Mike

srwtlc
10-28-2005, 03:02 PM
Jay,

You should be able to get a 10mm collet from Porter-Cable or from any dealers. I have been able to get mine on Amazon.com for a better price than direct. Besides the 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2", they have 6mm, 8mm ,10mm, and 12mm.

Scott

ron brown
10-30-2005, 09:56 AM
Just a short note - The Porter-Cable "nut assembly" was about twice the expense of just the collet insert and 'clip ring'. Any "odd size" collet I have always had to order. I have yet to wear out the nut itself. I now order and keep spare inserts as opposed to complete spare assemblies.

Ron