Hi Hood,

You might want to take a look at Wolfgang Engineering on eBay.

http://shop.ebay.com/wolfgang314/m.html?_nkw=tb&_sacat=0&_odkw=&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3911.c0.m270.l1313

Sounds like just what you're looking for.

Thanks bill, looks good but the 3mm cutter size is a killer as the nine9 engraving cutter I use has a 6mm shank

Hood

I don't know how much he would charge, but I'm pretty sure he could/would make a custom collet for you.

At least it wouldn't cost you anything to ask

I've had good results with NSK spindles.  They're small, powerful, run up to 50,000 rpm no problem with less than 5 micron runout!  Price tag is the killer in that case though!  I could afford to put them on machines for customers but never afford to keep one for myself lol.

Are import duties and wait times that bad in the UK?  I bought some fishing tackle from a Chinese company in Hong Kong a couple years ago and it seemed to arrive a lot faster than I expected. I'm in the USA. 

Bill,
 may do that

ASC
 I think NSK is out of my price range as well due to the limited use it would be put to.

Bob
 Times are usually not to bad from the USA but certainly longer than from Asia. Added to that is items from Asia usually slip through unnoticed by customs where I dont think I have ever had anything from the USA that has not been grabbed by UK Customs.
The charges involved are a flat fee of £12 per package for customs handling and 17.5% VAT (soon to be 20%), occasionally I have also been charged import duty which I think was around 10% so it can end up being expensive.

Hood

12 pounds plus 30%.  WOW! 

12 pounds plus 30%.  WOW! 

WOW is not the word I use

Hood

That's the Ebay guy I was thinking of. 

Hi Hood,

You might want to take a look at Wolfgang Engineering on eBay.

http://shop.ebay.com/wolfgang314/m.html?_nkw=tb&_sacat=0&_odkw=&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3911.c0.m270.l1313

Sounds like just what you're looking for.

Hi Hood,

I was looking at using a router...
Not sure if the spindle bearings are up to it, but maybe possible to retrofit an additional bearing??.

Bosch do a nice little palm router 600W about 30k RPM
http://www.powertools2u.co.uk/routers-and-trimmers/bosch-gkf600-professional-palm-router.htm

Just an idea?

ATB
Derek