Tried to save a few bucks on a cheap collet set and it cost me a part

I was running a small batch of aluminum parts on the VMC last month and grabbed a no-name collet set I got online for like $40. The runout was terrible, maybe .002, and I didn't catch it until after I'd scrapped the first piece. The part was a one-off for a prototype, so that was about $150 in material and machine time gone. I should have just used the good tooling from the start. Anyone have a go-to brand for collets that won't let you down?

3 comments

3 Comments

oliviadixon2mo ago

Cheap tools can be a false economy for sure.

the_anthony2mo ago

Totally see that with so many things now. It's like buying the cheap version just means you'll buy it twice. Happens with everything from kitchen gear to phone chargers.

ivan21111d ago

Every time I buy a cheap gadget, I end up spending double in the long run. It's like my wallet has a learning disability. The worst one was a set of screwdrivers I got at a discount store. The handle literally snapped off on the second use. Now I just bite the bullet and get the mid-range stuff. My tool drawer is a graveyard of bad decisions.