REAMING SPEEDS
In most of my reaming I find that a good starting point is about two-thirds the drilling speed for a given
material. If you ream to slow, it takes too long to ream a barrel, and very few barrels can be turned out. If
too high a feed or speed premature dulling, chatter, and usually a rough finish is the result.
REAMING FEEDS
In reaming, feeds are usually much higher than those employed for drilling, often being 200 to 300%
greater. To low a feed may result in excessive reamer wear. Always, the feed must be high enough so
that the tool cuts, rather than rubs. I find that to high a feed will cause the hole to be oversize, and rough. I
also have that a good starting point is somewhere between .0015 to .004 feed per flute per revolution.
The smaller bores such as .17- .224 a .001-.003 per revolution is a good start. I can only recommend
that you find the highest feed that will produce the required finish and accuracy.
STOCK ALLOWANCES
This is covered in the chapter on barrel reaming and reamers.
LUBRICANTS
This is very an important item in barrel making, as the type of lubricant that you use for reaming will
determine the quality of the reamed bore. The lubricant is used to cool the reamer, remove the chips
from the barrel, and to improve the finish of the work. Normally for most steel a sulfurize oil, or a high
E.P. value mineral oil. Contact a business that supplies cutting oil and they will be able to help you. You
will have times when you are unable to get a smooth reamed hole.
THE MOST COMMON ARE;
CHATTERING
When the flutes are not evenly stoned, or the flutes are cut back of centerline, stoned with to great a
clearance. Chips clinging to the flutes - caused by to high a revolving velocity.
REAMER PLUGGING
Reamer plugging up by not having enough oil pressure and flow through the flutes, or flutes not being
stoned out, and allowing saw teeth to form on the cutting edge. Enlarged holes caused by the reamer
being over sized.