Chinese collets…

[tmac1956]

All:

Has anyone tried these WW 8mm Chinese made collets? I just wonder how accurate they are… Here’s the link.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW-Size-Spring-Collet-for-8mm-Watchmaker-lathe-Select-/141117404263?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item20db40b467

Thanks,
Tom

[david pierce]

Tom,
You don’t know until you try. Merlin is charging $15.00 apiece so if it turns out to be horrible you will be out $15.00. I purchased a lot of ER-11, ER-16 and ER-32 collets from Merlin, CTC and other Chinese suppliers and they were excellent. I would guess that these 8mm WW collets are excellent as well. I would start with a number 50 but pick a size and try it out.
david

[tmac1956]

daivd:

I bought a full set (minus a #1) of Starrets and only paid $12.50 each (only?). However, I might order a #50 as that is the one that I seem to be using the most so it wouldn’t hurt to get a backup.

Thanks!
Tom

[david pierce]

Tom,
Did you get brand new collets from Starret? Which sizes did you get? Where did you purchase them?
david

[tmac1956]

@david pierce wrote:

Tom,
Did you get brand new collets from Starret? Which sizes did you get? Where did you purchase them?
david

David:

There was a guy on eBay who was selling them and they were new. I got most of mine through him, but at the end he told me that he couldn’t get Starrett to fill new orders. The remaining ones I got at a place called Twin City http://twincitysupply.net. Ultimately, I managed to get them all from #2 up to #80. It took a lot of effort, searching, and money but I finally completed the set. I never could find a #1, but I’d probably never use it anyway.

I think this fellow still sells on eBay. I contacted him outside of eBay and bought them in quantity directly. Here is the link…
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Starrett-WW-Collet-42-New-for-Watchmakers-Lathe-NEW-8mm-Jewelers-Lathe-Size-/261361695727?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cda5efbef

Thanks!
Tom

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