While most have been exposed to this item and I’m just preaching
to the converted, one day there just may be a newbie that will see the light and pay homage to the author of this review… though I would prefer shekels.
As I was planning to repost this review I made at LJ on the 30th. Sep, 2020, I did a quick surf on the net and found mixed feedback to the source/supplier of this item.
IT seems that the name has been bandied about between what I knew a “The Eliminator Chuck” to a more common tag of “Muscle Chuck”… and a few other aliases in between.
IF you can manage to get your hands onto one of these, it’ll be well worth the asking price, all be it more than you would like to spend… the convenience and speed of change is priceless.
The other alternative is the “Xtreme Xtension colletes”,
(more on this below). The main issue I have with these is that they mount into the existing ½” collet and depending on the quality of your router, they could exacerbate any undue runout. Nevertheless you could do worse than to also add these to your Google search.
----------------------------------------- ooooOOOO From LJ OOOOooooo ---------------------------------------------
Eliminate Chucking a Routing Fit
Boys and Girls,
This review follows up reviews by harry1 and GaryK …
Both were posted circa 2009 and I thought it’s time to resurrect the product for all the new members over the last 11 years that may not have ferreted through the archives looking for this little gem and the old (sorry, long serving) members that can't remember.
I don't profess to know the real manufacturer/patent-holder, as in one of the above reviews it was attributed to Whiteside, however, my purchases were made from a chap named Joe Marmo under the tag of The Eliminator Chuck... a very pleasant chap who will go out of his way to assist you and answer all your queries.
The site lists the more common routers it will fit and if your router is not listed, either ring Joe and ask or buy a quality router.
To clear up any misconceptions, the Eliminator (gallery picture #1), replaces the original chuck. Gallery picture #2 shows the Eliminator next to the original chuck it replaces.
I have one fitted to my Porter Cable 7518 (motor only) router mounted in my router table,
The router is mounted to my preference with the collet’s "top" when fully lifted, a fraction below tabletop, and still permit access using an allen key.
You no longer need to battle with the traditional 2 handed spanners…
and don't be a smart arse and say your router has a locking knob… you still have to use one hand to hold down/in that knob while cranking the spanner with the other…
Now all I need to do is choose which of these allen keys to use,
... yep, only one. Surprise yourself and use a different one each time.
I also have one of these chucks attached to one of my Makita 3612 routers,
Prior to discovering these Eliminator Chucks, I used to use these Xtreme Xtension collets,
It does extend the reach by about 33mm, which may be of benefit under some circumstances.
I have one permanently mounted in another Makita 3612 router that is dedicated for use on a routing jig,
where I explicitly need that extended reach, made for creating oversized dowels on my lathe,
When I first discovered these Xtreme Xtension collets, I bought a number of them (like I did this reviewed Collete), and still use it on my Triton router on my 2nd router table,
Don't know whether the Eliminator fits the Triton or if its guilty of potential run-out issues, however, this is not an Xtreme review, so get off my back.
The Eliminator is made to fit Fe$tool, however, I have not taken that plunge as Fe$tool make dedicated collets
which I feel is a better option that a collet reducer sleeve.
Nevertheless, if I ever decided to use my Fe$tool router (or buy the big daddy OF2200) in a router table, I would not hesitate to fit it with an appropriate Eliminator.
Finally, go out and have a few drinks, so you can chuck up afterwards!
----------------------------------------- ooooOOOO The End OOOOooooo ---------------------------------------------
Don’t be crafty Craftisians,... SHARE your craft!
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
Solid write up, ducky! I love mine…it’s definitely machined to tight tolerances…using cheap(er) bits can mean the shaft on the cutter isn’t perfectly smooth and concentric and may bind a bit in the muscle chuck. High end bits have more properly tuned and finished shafts and aren’t usually an issue, in my experience…
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
I've had a Musclechuck on my CNC router for several months now. I love how easy it is to make bit changes now but I've been having a problem lately. It is almost impossible to get 1/2" shafts to slide into and out of the chuck now. I have to insert a small screwdriver into the gap that closes when you tighten the screw to wedge it apart enough to get the bit to move. Even then, I have to pull/push pretty hard to get it to move. I have tried it with several bits, both cheap and expensive bits. and it happens regardless of which one I use. Caliper seems to indicate that they are exactly 1/2" in diameter. Even the 1/4" collet slides more difficultly than it used to, though I don't have to pry the jaws open to slide it in or out.
Have any of you experienced this issue? I guess I am going to have to take it off to see if there some build up or something inside.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
I believe that may be the result of over tightening at some time. I have been told that over tightening may bend/distort the bolt (or something like that). I did that once and sent it back to have the dodgy part replaced.... that was back when international shipping did not fall into the hands of the greedy Philistines and the two was plane trip was cheaper than a replacement.
My symptoms was actually a slipping bit, however, when discussing with the manufacturer, I was informed that over tightening can cause all sorts of issues... however, they did mention that the level of over tightening would not be an "accidental" occurrence but a concerted effort.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
Well, I had to remove the Muscle Chuck from my CNC router. It was causing serious vibration issues, especially when I use a long 1/2" bit. The bit is over 3" long because I am carving a very thick piece from both sides that requires at least 1.5" of cutting depth. I actually bought 2 of the chucks for different router types and had the same issue on the second one, even though it was the first time I had used that chuck. In fact, the vibrations seemed to cause that second router to over heat and caused its speed control to falter (speed was fluctuating or pulsing) and had to shut down the CNC job. That router has only been used a few times with short runs so it is practically new. After letting it cool down and running without a bit in it, the overheating problem seems to have gone away. Switching back to the original router and its normal collet made the vibrations go away too, even with the long 1/2" bit, so I am pretty sure that the problem was with the chuck. Fortunately I was able to finish the job using the normal collet with the same bit.
when discussing with the manufacturer, I was informed that over tightening can cause all sorts of issues... however, they did mention that the level of over tightening would not be an "accidental" occurrence but a concerted effort.
I am not sure how you would over tighten the MC with a bit mounted in it. It can only tighten down so far. I suppose you could strip out the tightening bolt. I suspect that my issues with having problems getting bits in and out of the chuck are related to the vibration issues when using the long 1/2" bits. The vibrations may have somehow distorted the chuck, though I cannot see anything obviously wrong with it other than it is now impossible to put a 1/2" shank bit into it. I can still put the 1/4" collet into it since it is compressible but it does not slide in and out as smoothly as it did when I first got it.
Long story short...If i were reviewing/rating it I would give it 5 stars for easy of use but I would have to lower it to 2 stars due to my experience with long bits on my CNC.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
Yeah, I have been meaning to contact him. In the meantime, I have decided to upgrade my CNC from a router to a water cooled spindle so preparing for that has been taking most of my time.
BTW, I am using two different long 1/2" Amana bits (an end mill and a ball nose) so I do not think that bit quality is the issue. I initially thought my problem was that a cheaper long end mill might be contributing but the problem was pretty much the same with the Amana bits and also when I first used the Amana bits in the second router.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
The bloke I had dealings with was Joe Marmo who I believed was instrumental behind The Eliminator Chuck... I don't know if that and the Muscle Chuck are exactly the same. He advised that tightening up the chuck too tight bends the small bolt which I don't doubt would unbalance the chuck.
I have several of The Eliminators and after he fixed mine up (the first I got), I've never had issues with any of them... however, I never take to the output with callipers to a decimal mm.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
I will have to think through that. The chuck works fine with with shorter 1/2" bits, even a fairly hefty V-bit and it works fine with a 1/4" collet and end mills with 1" cutting depth. If it was just the longer 1/2" bits, I would expect to have at least a little bit of problem with with the standard router collet but it runs smoothly with the standard collet.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
Sorry Lazy..,. I can only state it as I see it. Maybe my tolerances are a tad over generous, but I can only suggest what I know, not ratify what is fact.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
I wanted to do a comparo between the MC, and the eliminator. Not sure about that Marmo fella, but over here we had both, but whoever was behind the Eliminator, at least over here wasn't up to the marketing of the item, pretty much a machinist doing a second job making router collets to spec. or so it seemed, by what was written.
Now today, there was a time when Eliminator just went away, near, or around Covid, maybe went out of biz? I kept seeing Muscle Chuck, and had purchased one to make that dodgy POS Bosch router I bought based on reviews, at least usable. Before the chuck was so poor it was unusable in my experience. It is a wonderful piece of work, and I think well worth the cost, which most find a bit high. Since I rarely use that Bosch router I an able to use it on a router motor I use in the table, and it makes bit swaps even easier. I have not had any balance issues, but they have a part of the site where they deal with balance issues. He did back then, and still does have a 30 day, use the MC, and if not delighted, he'll refund at 100%. I do not believe I ever saw that on the eliminator, and don't "see" it on the Infinity info. I think thats a big deal, but I'll admit to being kinda weird.
Now I see Infinity has at least either bought, or stolen the Eliminator name, and are starting production of a few routers. they are listed on the sales page at the link just above. I am heavily invested in several of their products, and for an American based company they offer very well made products
A comparison today would no doubt have the Muscle Chuck as winner, just because Derosa engineering has their poop all in one bag, and it's a large bag, with lots of product choices, and a darn good product. Infinity looks to be in early development, and just plain doesn't have enough routers they can be used on, plus that 30 day use it, and return if not delighted thing.
One visible difference between the Muscle Chuck and the Eliminator is that the MC has a split and the Eliminator does not seem to have a visible one, which is a little puzzling. What exactly is it tightening?
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
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