Trim Router Collet Wrench

[jackellis]

I have a Porter Cable trim router bought used and cheap. I though the wrenches came with it but now that I finally want to use it, the wrenches are nowhere to be found. I can use a 11/16 open end wrench on the nut, but the arbor requires a 1/2" open end wrench that is thinner than a standard SAE wrench. Toolparts Direct shows $21 for a replacement and I'm not quite sure it's the right one.

A flat wrench made out of 1/8" thick steel would be fine for this application. If I had metalworking equipment, I'd just make it but I don't have either the equipment or the skill.

Any thoughts before I spring for a replacement wrench?

[BigguyZ]

Find a cheap wrench from HF or something like that, and flatten it out with a grinder? If you don't have a grinder, buy a cheap file and use that. Though the file may take a while to do....

[LarryG]

A 13mm bicycle cone wrench would probably work. That's less than 1/64" oversize (if cone wrenches come in SAE sizes, I've never seen one). Six or eight bucks, if you can find one locally.

I thought about an ignition wrench, but I think those top out around 7/16" and might be too short to provide enough leverage.

Bigguyz's cheap-wrench-and-grinder idea might well be your best bet.

[LinuxRandal]

Bicycle wrenches should work (when right size is known). You could download the pdf of the owners manual and get the wrench sizes (then check ebay, cl, etc for used). Also, if you have a local Sears, a tappet wrench might work (thin line wrenches).

[LCHIEN]

if you're on the cheap, a single open-stock 1/2" open end wrench from Sears will cost you $5-6 or more. Go to a pawn shop and look thru their loose tools and pick a 1/2" wrench and offer them $1 and be prepared to pay $2. Then take it to your grinder and thin to fit.

I might point out that of you have a BT3 then the smaller of its two wrenches is a 1/2", I think and quite thin. You can always use that in a pinch. OH, sorry, that's not an open end wrench, which you would need for a collet wrench! never mind. If you have an extra then you can always grind the closed end off.