Measuring reamers

[6ply]

I have a lot of reamers that I need to clear. Too many duplicates and sizes I never/rarely use. Problem is I can't be sure about the sizes as some could be out of tolerance or reground. Whilst I'm happy to measure for my own use (with the inaccuracy that entails) I would not wish to mislead potential buyers. Is there an easy/recommended way to measure them to say 0.02mm / 0.001" without a whole load of time or expense? Or is there a market for job lots of reamers sold as is?

I will post a pic or two in due course.

 

[6ply]

Started sorting through them. Didn't realise how many duplicates I had. When they taught us fractions in school I might have found it more interesting if I had to sort piles of reamers.

 

[6ply]

My excessive collection of taps is worse.

 

[Agroshield]

...some could be out of tolerance or reground...

I was vaguely of the impression that you sharpen a reamer on the end.

From a practical perspective, for use in a busy commercial machine shop (i.e. where they were used before you obtained them), it would not be a good idea to have a tool where the size written on it did not match the size it cuts. No one in that environment would have the time to measure (by whatsoever means) the reamer before using it.

Hence, I would say that it is safe to assume that what is written on the reamer is correct. The caution is perhaps to make sure you read the writing very well so you do not miss one with 3/4" + 0.001" written on it.

 

[6ply]

I was vaguely of the impression that you sharpen a reamer on the end.

From a practical perspective, for use in a busy commercial machine shop (i.e. where they were used before you obtained them), it would not be a good idea to have a tool where the size written on it did not match the size it cuts. No one in that environment would have the time to measure (by whatsoever means) the reamer before using it.

Hence, I would say that it is safe to assume that what is written on the reamer is correct. The caution is perhaps to make sure you read the writing very well so you do not miss one with 3/4" + 0.001" written on it.

Thanks for your reply.

I've never sharpened / reground a reamer but like you I think some may get "sharpened" on the end to counter wear or damage. I know that some do get reground to new sizes and I have some that have been marked up with those sizes. But bearing in mind I don't know where all these reamers come from I was hoping for a way to measure the reamers, just to be sure.

 

[Seadog]

Thanks for your reply.

I've never sharpened / reground a reamer but like you I think some may get "sharpened" on the end to counter wear or damage. I know that some do get reground to new sizes and I have some that have been marked up with those sizes. But bearing in mind I don't know where all these reamers come from I was hoping for a way to measure the reamers, just to be sure.

Drill a hole, ream it, measure diameter. Job done !

 

[Chippie]

Don’t forget that there is a H sizing for reamed holes….

 

[Seadog]

There are a lot more than just H.

 

[Chippie]

There are a lot more than just H.

Every day a skool day…

 

[Hopefuldave]

Any reamers I've seen that have been reground on the flutes have had the new size engraved between flutes and taper, pretty sure any toolmaker/toolgrinder worth his salt would do that? It's normally only done when a non-standard size is needed, or the flutes' edges have been knackered - usually by turning it backwards in a bore...