I'd leave a bit more meat for the reamer to bite into.

I usually ream brass dry, but sometimes use paraffin if needed.

Martin.

I bought some strange reamers some time ago, they have 3 or 4 flutes machined on a quadrant of about about 100degrees and on the rest of the diameter (260 deg) there are NO flutes.. I was told that they may be for thin sheet. This probably doesn't hep you, but another trick was to put some rag around the reamer to 'fill' the flutes and reduce chatter. Use talow or lard as cutting lubricant.

hi live,

Use an accurate D bit. Can be made easily at home using silver steel. Inexpensive, very accurate and no chance of chatter. G H Thomas gives a good account of how to make one in his book 'The Model Engineers Workshop Manual',

Regards

Terry

Hi,

Speedy Builder,

This type of reamer are called "alesoir facon paris"

http://magafor.net/article.php?grp=822&famille=675

very good finish

brgds

pierre

I'd go with Dick's tool makers reamer, I often use these, usually un hardened for one off jobs. If you use an ordenary reamer on brass, it should be one that is reserved for brass only, just as with files. Use it with steel, and it looses its edge. Ian S C

Yes I often use tool maker's broaches unhardened. I also hone the small ones in a clock makers screwdrivers honing jig I can get them razor sharp that way.

a 4mm hole 12 mm deep is a doodle. But go slow and use only a light pressure they can be greedy things.

Rdgs

Dick