Dirty Router Collet? Do This If your router bit isn’t seating properly or feels sticky going in and out, there’s a good chance the collet is gummed up. Oils and resins from wood build up over time, and it doesn’t take much to cause problems. The fix is simple: use a gun cleaning kit. The brass wire brushes are perfect for scrubbing out collets without damaging them. Pair that with a little solvent like mineral spirits or denatured alcohol, and you’ll have the collet clean and gripping properly a