Using collet instead of drill chuck? for drilling steel

[Rich05]

wondering if this is ok for 1/4-1/2 drills for mild steel. I was thinking maybe using collets is more accurate and ridged. but will the drill slip?

thanks R.

[Geof]

I use ER16 and ER32 collets all the time for drills, they get a much tighter and more accurate grip than drill chucks.

[guru]

Agreed with Geof.........collets are much more rigid and more accurate in term of drills running true but drill chucks are much cheaper than collets, if you running conventional machine drill chuck may be a way to go, but if you running CNC then go with collets, those cheaper double angle collets will work just fine for drilling operation.

[DareBee]

Make that 3X agreed.
I always use collet or rigid holder wherever possible.

[Rich05]

very cool, thanks!

I have R8 Collet. I saw my drill slip maybe just did not have it tight enough or might have been overdoing it.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by Rich05 very cool, thanks! I have R8 Collet. I saw my drill slip maybe just did not have it tight enough or might have been overdoing it.

What size drill? I have found R8 does not get the same grip as the ones I mentioned.

With R8 your drill shank must be the same size as the collet, R8 has no over- or undersize capacity.

On large drills, 1/2" and above, drilling into steel, sometimes it is best to put a spacer inside the collet behind the drill shank. The prevents the drill pushing back in the collet, but make sure the spacer is a slightly smaller diameter than the drill.

[KyleH2]

You can get very cheap made-in-china R8 collet chucks that use ER32, ER16 or ER40 collets on eBay if you are just drilling holes and them being perfectly round isn't a big deal. You can also get nice ones from MSC.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by guru Agreed with Geof.........collets are much more rigid and more accurate in term of drills running true but drill chucks are much cheaper than collets, if you running conventional machine drill chuck may be a way to go, but if you running CNC then go with collets, those cheaper double angle collets will work just fine for drilling operation.

I find drill chucks to be the same price, or more expensive than my collet chucks.

I use CT-40, ER-32, ER-16, and drill chucks. My drill chuck was like $200, my ER-32's $180 or so, and ER-16's $140?