Are 5c collets all the same?

I've had perfect luck with the cheapies.

Depends upon how you define value and what sort of work you intend to do. 5C collets should be sprung ever so slightly open so that exact size stock will readily slip through the collet without marring the surface. Hardinge talks about this. Hardinge, Royal, Lyndex are the top names in descending order of quality, but really, are very close.

I've never found significant runout in a Chinese collet but have heard of it. What I have found are collets that are sprung small so that it's difficult to get say, .500 material in a 1/2" collet. If you have time, collect your collets on ebay. I've got nearly a full set now, at less than 1/4 the price of new, shipping included.

For occasional hobby use though, chinese collets will probably suffice.

Jon

I'm fond of Lyndex, Japanese made and less expensive than Hardinge.

My first purchase a was 1/8 - 1 by eights set with a separatedly purchased 5/16.

Assuming you are doing hobby work, you can buy any other sizes you find you have need of when the need actually comes.

Wes

My collets are a mix of new Enco and used ones of uncertain ancestry. None of them run true to 0.0001" and IIRC a few show some noticeable wobble, the hole is slightly angled. The worst one is a Hardinge with about 0.002" of wear but since it springs open it's good for heavily anodized aluminum rod from the hardware store that's rarely to size.

For non-commercial hobby work I suggest buying good ones for the sizes of ground drill rod you use and accumulate others as needed.

You can wedge those tight collets open with three small screwdrivers.