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5C Square Collets from Amazon

YotaBota

YotaBota

Mike
Premium Member
I bought a set (6) of cheap collets from Amazon figuring "how bad can they be",,,, found out the hard way. They're crap, so tight I had to literally force the stock in and then when I pulled the stock out it left these scratches on all four sides. The other two collets I didn't have stock for but I imagine they'd be the same and this is on steel and brass so I didn't even bother with aluminium.

1734198184847.jpeg


I tried doing a return through the vendor (China) and heard crickets from them them. Amazon said if I don't hear from them in three days to file a claim. After five days I filed the claim and almost instantly the claim was approved and two days later the money was back in my account. That was a kind of a shock, no pi55ing around Amazon just refunded the money and I still have the collets and still haven't heard from the vendor.

That's the story so now the question, can the collets be cleaned up inside to be usable? I'm still going to buy a set from Accusize but I'm just curious about cleaning up the inside of these ones. TIA
 
I’d be trying a set of riffler files to clean up the collets. You’ve got nothing to lose.
 
DavidR8 said:
They are likely hardened but I'd try wrapping some 600gr paper around some wood and see if you can take off the burrs.
Click to expand...
They're supposed to be hardened so yes you need to grind them without distorting them. I'd my diamond files but if you dont have such tools then I'd try silicone carbide paper but in 400 grit first. Not to just be a contrarian, I think you'd need more cutting action than polishing.

Be great to have an experiment to see what method works best...

Mind if I ask what you paid for the amazon collets? I was just at accusize yesterday, but was saddened to discover that they have indeed eliminated their old showroom that allowed people to inspect products before purchasing them. It was colder than a worlocks left testicle and they make you stand at a shipping door now. I was going to look at their hex 5C collets and 4 jaw chuck and backplate among other thngs and had to say screw it and leave without buying anything
 
TorontoBuilder said:
They're supposed to be hardened so yes you need to grind them without distorting them. I'd my diamond files but if you dont have such tools then I'd try silicone carbide paper but in 400 grit first. Not to just be a contrarian, I think you'd need more cutting action than polishing.

Be great to have an experiment to see what method works best...

Mind if I ask what you paid for the amazon collets? I was just at accusize yesterday, but was saddened to discover that they have indeed eliminated their old showroom that allowed people to inspect products before purchasing them. It was colder than a worlocks left testicle and they make you stand at a shipping door now. I was going to look at their hex 5C collets and 4 jaw chuck and backplate among other thngs and had to say screw it and leave without buying anything
Click to expand...
Amazon U.S. lists two sets:

$US 69

$US55
 
I haven't bought the Accusize collets yet but that will be happening shortly.

Here's the ones to stay away from,


I have a set of diamond files but I think it will take more than a low speed file.
 
Well you have them for free so a good deal. I would not complain too much.

Fix them as others suggested. They may have some burrs etc. that prevent proper use.
 
YotaBota said:
I bought a set (6) of cheap collets from Amazon figuring "how bad can they be",,,, found out the hard way. They're crap, so tight I had to literally force the stock in and then when I pulled the stock out it left these scratches on all four sides. The other two collets I didn't have stock for but I imagine they'd be the same and this is on steel and brass so I didn't even bother with aluminium.

View attachment 55885

I tried doing a return through the vendor (China) and heard crickets from them them. Amazon said if I don't hear from them in three days to file a claim. After five days I filed the claim and almost instantly the claim was approved and two days later the money was back in my account. That was a kind of a shock, no pi55ing around Amazon just refunded the money and I still have the collets and still haven't heard from the vendor.

That's the story so now the question, can the collets be cleaned up inside to be usable? I'm still going to buy a set from Accusize but I'm just curious about cleaning up the inside of these ones. TIA
Click to expand...

It looks to me as if their broaching was done with a punch that did not penetrate fully and left curled burs at the end of the hole, and post hardening they never ground that internal surface.

I'd inspect the back side from the threaded bore, maybe an internal grinding burr can reach and clean up that surface it that is the cause
 
Looking at mine I see the inner surface appears to have been initially bored and then the corners squared. Perhaps by broaching? So my square stock is held by the edges not then entire flat surface.

I got mine through AliExpress. Have only used two of the square ones and one hex. Here's the label from the box of square ones which came in individual round red plastic 5C collet boxes. I tried the fit of the 3/8" one just now on a piece of square CRS that had rusted badly on the end so first I had to sand off the rust. It slides in an out of the collet nicely. But with the calipers the piece also measures 0.372"

Mine did not mark up my material.

1734215919609.png
 
YotaBota said:
I bought a set (6) of cheap collets from Amazon figuring "how bad can they be",,,, found out the hard way. They're crap, so tight I had to literally force the stock in and then when I pulled the stock out it left these scratches on all four sides.
Click to expand...

Trust me, I've come across some collet misfits in my Asian purchases, even the odd bad one in an otherwise good set. Deburring & thread inspection has almost become a Zen thing with me now. But I've also experienced very good value in certain names.

But before you start attacking them with a diamond file or whatever, take a step back & evaluate what you are attempting to shove in the hole. Bar stock, key stock, even some ground stock is often 'nominally sized' which means not very accurate. Some products like ground tool steel may a good surface finish consciously slightly oversized for various reasons. But anyways, typical bar stock off a rolling mill process is pretty variable relative to collet sizes. If anything on the larger size, which of course 5C collets are not very tolerant of.
 
Did you measure your stock to be certain that it is nominal? If something doesn't fit, hammering/forcing it in won't solve anything.

I would love to see how you grind a square hole, personally I would use some emery cloth on a wooden backing to get rid of burrs/crud leftover from machining (broaching) the holes. You need to get to the edges of the flats, files likely won't do that.
The collets are likely sprung, not unusual since the slits are put in after broaching. Rob Renzetti and Stefan G both have YT videos on how to deal with that using bits of O-ring. Works very well and simple todo.
 
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