R8 collet sets

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Given these 3 options which would get. Would not likely use the 3 largest collets in the first set. Obviously the differences are the smallest sizes and the largest. TIR is < 0.0005 for all sets.

  • Includes 29 piece set: 1/32-25/32" x 1/32", 27/32, 29/32, 31/32 and 1" collets (this set lacks 7/8”)
  • 24 Piece set Includes 1/8-7/8" x 1/32" collets (less 17/32" )
  • 23 Piece set Includes 1/16-3/4" x 1/32" collets
Thanks in advance for the suggestions.
 
I have a 13 piece set by sixteenths from 1/8 to 7/8". The only ones I have used are the 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, and 3/4". I use all of them a lot. Maybe the 5/16" once or twice. Having more would just make the ones I actually use harder to find. They hold tooling, and I try to be careful about what size shanks my tooling has. The more your tooling is only in a few shank sizes, the less time you spend changing out collets.
 
Includes 29 piece set: 1/32-25/32" x 1/32", 27/32, 29/32, 31/32 and 1" collets (this set lacks 7/8”)
FYI, in case you did not know, R8 collets above 3/4" are only to size for about 1" into the bore, then are stepped down.
 
Thanks for the input to all. I don’t have a chuck for the mill at this point so figured a larger collet set would be helpful with drilling until I get a chuck. Seems like a smaller set of collets would be fine. Thanks again.
 
Thanks for the input to all. I don’t have a chuck for the mill at this point so figured a larger collet set would be helpful with drilling until I get a chuck. Seems like a smaller set of collets would be fine. Thanks again.

I have used collets rather than a chuck for drills because they generally have less runout and they provide a shorter overall tool assembly which is a plus on mills that are vertically challenged. Use of collets will shorten the overall tool assembly length by about 3" for a 1/2" keyed chuck and 4" for a keyless chuck. This will virtually eliminate the need to raise the head on a round column mill with the subsequent loss of registration.

I cannot think of a time when I have had a drill slip when using collets while I certainly have had that experience with chucks. My collet set goes from 1`/8" to 3/4" by 1/32nds.
 
I have used collets rather than a chuck for drills because they generally have less runout and they provide a shorter overall tool assembly which is a plus on mills that are vertically challenged.
I have followed this method of tool holding for about a year now, it was actually you RJ and Mikey who convinced me that not only it is alright to use collets to hold drill bit but it is a big improvement in drilling more precise holes with the right size collets, I hardly use my keyed or keyless chucks since I bought the whole set of imperial and metric collets.
 
For those that are using r8 collets for holding drills, how many collets do you have? Thanks
 
What do you need 23 R8 collets for? Please explain this.

The thought process was to use collets with my screw machine drills since I don’t have a chuck for the mill yet. This should produce more accurate holes. Do you use a chuck exclusively for drilling or do you use collets as well? Thanks
 
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