Using the wrench and the button to tighten… I know I know I shouldn’t have done that but I did.
Cracked the casing, I did use it anyways to do the quick little MDF test carve for a first altmill project, and it seemed to work fine.
Does cracking the casing at that point make the router less accurate? I did get some chatter around the outline of the piece. Is it safe to use? Is it totally ruined?
Need to run a Makita until the spindles are ready!
Ouch, that sounds nasty. I have ruined a makita in my days but not by cracking it. I tighten my mills using both wrenches as if it was rule number one edged in a stone tablet brought down from a mountain. I am not a religious person, but that rule I follow to the letter.
If I would crack it, however, I would check if there was more slop in the router by pullingpushing on the endmill. If you notice any excess wiggle room, its prolyy better to not use the wounded smurf any longer. Things that spin at 15k plus rpm need to be pretty tight.
On a tangential note, I would love to have a button on my spindle - not to tighten the collet nut against but to immobilize the spindle when I pull the collet nut or put it back on. Changing bits would be easier as well since you could easily hand-tighten the collet so there isn’t a problem with the bit falling out of the collet. I find it tedious and annoying to try and hold the spindle from turning while hand tightening the collet nut while also holding a bit in position. God only gave me two hands and this is definitively a three handed job 
If the button had a friction hold so you can’t possibly use the button while tightening the collet nut and if it had an interlock to prevent turning on the spindle while pressed, I would be in heaven.
Hmmmm …. I do have a 3D printer ….. (the sound of rapidly turning wheels can be heard)
That, dear Jens, is exactly how I use the red button on my smurf. I just got thinking, if it didn’t have the button, would it be possible to hold a bit in the router, slowly lower the z untill the endmill rests on a.. say.. piece of scrap and fasten it while it rests on the scrap with both wrenches? Gonna look into this tomorow, just for the lulsz.
Love to see you print a working holding button for a spindle though. That would be some awe!
@Jens Ditto. Use button only to hand tighten collet while placing a bit. Definitely a three handed job, especially on the spindle with the BAW (big ass wrench) it comes with.